 |
Ramadan
101
16 AUG 08
Thanks
be to God. A year has passed and we are blessed to meet with Ramadan
again. Look at how merciful God is, for He is giving us ample chance
to mend our ways before death overtakes us. Since
Happeepill have non-Muslim readers, I thought of writing an article
about what I go through and my personal thoughts on Ramadan. Firstly,
the basic rule of Ramadan is: you cannot eat or drink from approximately
5:30am to 7:00pm. In order to combat the hunger and thirst, we
gotta wake up for “sahur”. It’s basically eating
breakfast at 4:30 am. My Mum would wake up earlier than that so
she can whip up a meal fast. I still don’t know how she
does it. Everybody would be snoring and she will be frying some
eggs in the kitchen. So its no surprise that Heaven is at the
feet of mothers. By the time the food is ready, my Mum would wake
everybody up. Usually my sisters and me will not be in chatty
mood because we are still sleepy |
 |
"Spray
water also cannot wake up ah?" |
|
Honestly,
the no eating part can be easy for me. I have sat in front of
the PC, skipping lunch and dinner numerous times to the extent
that my fingers would quiver out of hunger. A quick trip to the
coffeeshop and devouring a packet of nasi ayam would usually settle
that problem. But the no drinking part is the real challenge.
I have a deep appreciation of cold plain water whenever Ramadan
hits.
Anyway,
fasting when I was kid was the hardest. I mean, my parents never
did forced it on me. I remember I would curl up in bed in the
afternoon after school because of hunger pangs. My Mum would always
ask me if I can take it and she would tell me to eat if I can’t.
Sometimes I gave in, sometimes I did not.
I also
remember the time when we were in school, the fasting kids would
come up with theories to quench our thirst.
|
|
|
|
But
the time I really took Ramadan seriously is when I heard that
my cousin who is not far from my age have completed 1 full month
without any hiccups. I told myself to buck up and not give in
to Mum’s drumstick invitation.
When
I was older and read up more about Islam, I realized that fasting
is not just about abstaining food and drink. Being hungry and
thirsty is just the beginning. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:
“There
are many who observe fast, but they get nothing except hunger
and thirst. There are many who pray in the night, but they gain
nothing except sleepless nights.”
Now
this hadith brings a whole new meaning for me. It just brought
my fasting to a new level. Now I have to make a conscious effort
not to back bite, lie, curse, ogle at girls on the MRT etc.
I mean, I know I’m not suppose to do that even though
its not Ramadan, but in Ramadan you have to work double hard
because you want your fasting to count. You immediately make
a conscious effort to be aware of these sins I take so lightly.
What is the point of fasting when you say the “F”
word in every mid sentence or gossip behind other people’s
back?
|
|
| |
|
Yes,
I thought of that too. In my humble opinion, the act of fasting
is like a reminder for the ever forgetting human being. How
can you have the awareness that I mentioned above when you keep
forgetting? God can easily instruct every Muslim, to tie a string
on their finger, or whatever reminder alternative but hunger
and thirst works best. Your stomach starts hurting if you don’t
eat just within a couple of hours. And just when you want to
go and find something to eat, you realize that you are fasting,
and since you are reminded that you are fasting, you immediately
guard yourself from sin double time because you want you fast
to be accepted. Ahhh.. The best of planners God is!
To
conclude this fasting article, I would like to share with you
a fasting obstacle that to me is the most difficult/challenging
of all.. and that is lowering your gaze when it comes to women.
I realize how tough it is for me to lower my gaze when a girl
gets on the bus or train with cleavage and tight clothes. (Hey
I’m a guy!) I want to guard my fast so I try my best not
to look. But I live in a generation where these women are practically
EVERYWHERE! There was this one time it got so bad, I have to
actually move to another seat. And I do believe some Muslims
face the same problems too.
|
|
Hunger,
thirst and being weak at work or school is inevitable because
you are deprived of food and water but interestingly enough, not
being able to look at men or women with lust takes top spot, beating
cursing, gossiping and sex with your spouse! |
|
May
Allah accept our fast,
EB. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
