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This Ramadan, it’ll be interesting to see how the contradiction of society rears its head.
The first fast is here. Will it usher in a month of self-control in its entirety thereby bringing a sense of holiness to oneself? Or will it make one irritable and selfish to the point that nothing matters except his and only his fast, and anything which violates his self-inflicted attempts at an outer holiness is termed as sinful and the proponents of that sinfulness are not true Muslims?
Where does holiness begin? Does it begin with the act, with the reaction to an opposing act or with the end? And what end?
Does fasting bring about holiness? Or does fasting from everything else count? Is it enough that I fast from food? Does it matter that I deny my stomach the satiation of its cravings? Or does it matter more that I deny it, but also don’t let show the obvious irritance that comes with it?
Do I cover up my inability to cover up my craving and impatience by focusing on those who don’t fast? Or do I simply keep it within and pray for them? Do I treat another’s soul as inferior to my own if I fast and they don’t? And if I do, does that make me judgmental and thereby nullifies my fast in the spiritual context?
Where does the line between humility and self-knowledge during Ramadan get blurred?
Fasting is about starvation only. Gone are the days when Muslims used to fast in true spirit. On organization level you can see the element of corruption and doing-no-work prevails. Where is Ramzan ? In our culture we attend lavish Iftar parties though we do all this in ROZA but indulge all sins according to our potential. Price hike, indulging in un Islamic activities, corruption, terrorism everything remains there BUT in Roza. I don’t see any difference in Ramzan except a change in biological clock.
Tanzeel: agreed. Ramzan of the old days which we read in books is gone.
When I read stories of the great Islamic days of yore, I read the word ‘Ramzan’ and think ’spirituality’. Today when I read the word ‘Ramzan’ I think ‘food’.
not to forget the political iftar parties and business based iftar parties to achieve objectives .
Very well put together Anthony!!…Ramadan is only a festival for ”majority” muslims to wait for delicious iftaari snacks…and after 20th ramadan…just start rushing in the shopping malls to spend money for Eid!…i wonder how many get the actual essence of this holy months?…not many for sure!
Very well put Anthony.
Fasting is a sacrifice.
We have started treating it like a favour we are doing to Allah.
IMO The whole point of ramadan was to carry on the stuff you have been doing in the holy month throughout the year.
It’s really is a pity that the month has turned into a just a ‘festival’ with deals and sales.
I see more excess committed on the iftar dawats and parties than the rest of the year.
People eat all through the night and then sleep during the day.
thats roza nowadays.
Yaar Waleed one time in Karachi I was on a drive with friends after Iftari in Defence at one villa. Outside one other villa a servant was throwing away loads of food which was wasted because it got left over from an iftaar party.
as I said along with every other thing in Pakistan Ramzan have also been materialized.
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Rightly said. Agreed to each word. And IF I may add… same is the case with our Christian brothers and sisters in Lenten days. So; I guess Fasting is contradiction rather then any month relating to it.!!
Abida, true. I completely agree. However my article was with a focus on Pakistan, not on Muslims per se.
When we fit priorities under the frame of obligations by flooding immature brains with hate speeches and holier-than-thou sermons, this is what happens.
In Pakistan, the true essence & spirit of Ramadan has been lost.
Eeman, that only accounts for a minority. What about the majority of the so called educated masses of youth and their peers who are pseudo-intellectuals who throw scorn at these very holier-than-thou people? Those are the ones ridiculing Ramzaan and its spirit. The ones who pay lip service to the sacrifice by giving heed to the materialistic outer clothes than the inner ones.
Anthony,
Corruption, terrorism, show-offs are the off-springs of 11 month workout and it’s impossible to eradicate them in one month. As long as lavishing “Aftars” are concerned, there’s no restriction in having them. Given that, you don’t disconnect yourself from the string of righteousness.
Ramadan is an exercise to peel-off the sheets of desires that encompass our very being. But this exercise alone, of course, can’t help us to attain maximum from this holy month.
Ramadan is a month of self introspection and learning more and more about Islam…
which i never see happening…
it has instead become a month of festivities…
and why just one month of no corruption and good deeds… ?
why not to follow it the enitre calender year…
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/16-expensive-ramazan-hs-03
====” WHEN RAMADHAN ARRIVES “====
Abu Hurairah (r.a.) relates that the Holy Prophet (sa) said: When Ramadhan arrives, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of hell are locked up and satans are put in chains.
(Bokhari & Muslim)