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Banquet
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Enthusiasm for the Divine Banquet
Fasting in the month of Ramadan, like Namaaz (prayers) is a divine command. Allah says in the Holy Quran, "O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard (against evil)." (2:183) It was reserved for Islam to formulate and perfect a form of spiritual purification for every one of its followers, notwithstanding the state of society they belonged to, and which could be performed without interfering with their normal avocations and callings in every day life. Whatever calling or vocation he is engaged in, does not hinder a Muslim from carrying out this annual requirement of the Faith, the fast of this month of Ramadan, which incidentally, is also one of the five cardinal points of Islamic tenet. The Muslim fast means a complete abstention from eating or drinking between daybreak and sunset. The sighting of the thin sickle of the new moon of Ramadan heralds for the Muslim the beginning of a month of glory and of spiritual elevation, when, at Allah's command, he voluntarily and of his own free will, denies himself between day-break and sunset, the blessing of food and drink, and surrenders himself up wholly to Allah, observing the same abstention throughout the whole month in his thoughts, his speech, his behavior, his every act. For this month, for the Muslim, means the triumph of the spiritual and the pure in his nature over all the grossness and carnation, which is an inevitable component of our human make-up. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in the following words beautifully explains the actual significance of the fast: - "One who, while fasting, does not guard his tongue from telling lies, does not refrain from doing bad deeds, is not respecting his fast and Allah does not approve of mere abstention from food". When you are keeping fast, you should not speak ill of anybody, nor should you be boisterous and noisy. If anybody speaks ill of you or tries to pick a quarrel with you return him not, but say unto him that you are fasting. Now that Ramadan has begun, different people have their own customs and their own way of spending the holy month. We found out more about the different Ramadan customs of many Islamic nations and how they vary; yet they are so much alike. Philippines Corona is from the Philippines, where more than 7 million Muslims live, mostly on the southern island of Mindanao. Here is what she recalls about the Ramadan celebration in her hometown: "I come from Mindanao, where most of the Filipino Muslims live. Our families get together and we go to the mosque for a weekly lesson, usually on Fridays after prayers. "We always have guests over or we are invited to someone's place during this month. Ramadan for us is about getting together and discussing issues about Islam with the kids. They enjoy it a lot because they get to see their cousins and friends. "We cook a lot of food during the month. Our main dishes -- fish and rice - are always favored in the Philippines in all seasons. When Ramadan ends, we do a seven-day visit to all the family members for Eid. First we visit the elders then the rest of the relatives." India Zarina, from India, says: "The holy month of Ramadan in India is great. More than 15 percent of Indians are Muslims. Everybody enjoys it. For iftar (Breaking the fast), we usually have dates. We pray and then we have the main meal. This time of the year, you will always find sweet on the table. We cook it salty with minced meat or vegetables, or sweet with dates, dried fruits and milk. "Mostly our daily routine remains the same - we go to work, kids go to school during the regular hours. We also sleep early and wake up to have ***suhur*** and pray Fajr prayers and go back to sleep. "On Eid, Indian Muslim women go for prayers together. Times are changing and the habits are changing, too. Girls like to go and join the prayers. Ramadan is one of the most memorable seasons of the year." Egypt "The most famous thing about Ramadan in Cairo," says Magda from Egypt "is the misaharaty. He's a man who in the past used to go around with his drum and a stick in his hand singing and trying to wake the people up to have their suhur and pray Fajr prayers. "Personally, I think that was the most beautiful thing in Ramadan. Unfortunately this isn't happening any more. There is also the major sign of Ramadan - and that's the Fawaness -- the lamps which the little kids go around with in Ramadan. Indonesia Rahman, an Indonesian, for her part says: "When it's Ramadan in Indonesia, everybody is busy cooking food. It's ironic and I don't understand why. But maybe it's the hunger when people fast. "We cook this special sweet soup with bananas, coconuts and sugar. The prayers and the daily trip to the mosque are essential in Ramadan, for both women and men and for the kids. We get together and read hadith and the Quran. "You always have to cook a lot of food. We enjoy this fasting month very much. During eid, we still have to cook because when people come to visit we not only offer them candy and sweets, but also rice and chicken." Ramadan has a different taste and flavor that we enjoy and wait for from year to year.
Enthusiasm for the Divine Banquet Once again a pleasant call invites us to a great banquet, and amidst the chaos of daily life, it guides us toward the eternal truth. It is the start of the month of Ramadan when God spreads out His spiritual banquet for mankind. It is a month in which rewards abound. So let us all thank Almighty God for once granting us the opportunity to partake of His Mercy. Let us contemplate on the purpose of creation and the meaning of life. The Almighty?s Last Messenger to mankind, Prophet Mohammad (blessings of Allah upon him and his progeny) has termed blessed Ramadan as the month that opens the gates of heaven for the creatures of God. Fasting has been prescribed for us from dawn to dusk during this month, so as to enable us to achieve the highest spiritual benefits. But attaining these spiritual pleasures requires conscious efforts. In part of his famous sermon on the advent of the blessed month of Ramadan the Prophet said: "O People! The month of Allah has come with His mercies, blessings and forgiveness. God has decreed this month the best of all months. Its days are the best of all days, its nights the best of all nights and its hours the best of all hours. In this month you have been invited by God to fast and to pray. Every breath you take is has the reward of glorifying God, your sleep is worship, your good deeds are accepted and your invocations answered. Therefore, you must invoke your Lord in right earnest with hearts that are free from sin and evil, and pray that Allah may help you to keep fasts, and to recite the Holy Quran. Indeed, miserable is the one who is deprived of Allah's forgiveness in this great month. How unfortunate are those who deprive themselves of the mercy of God and forgiveness in this month. It is related that among the Israelites was a man who for years habitually disobeyed God and violated every divine commandment. One day Prophet Moses (PBUH) went to Mount Sinai and on the way saw the sinner. The man sarcastically said to Moses: O? Moses tell your God that I have no need of Him and I do not want His sustenance. Moses went to Mount Sinai but felt ashamed to convey the disobedient man?s blasphemous message. When God the All-Knowing and All-Hearing asked Moses why you have not conveyed to me the message of sinful servant? Moses said: "O God! You know better what he said." God replied: "O Moses! Tell him if he is ashamed of acknowledging me as God, I am not ashamed of having a creature like him. And if he does not want My sustenance, tell him that I give sustenance regardless of his desires." Moses on returning from Mount Sinai conveyed to the sinner the message of God the All-Merciful. The sinful Israelite on Moses? statements got very ashamed of himself and began to cry. Then he said: "O Moses! I did not know that your God is so Kind and Merciful. But it is of no use since I have squandered away my life. I want you to teach me your beliefs. Moses who was amazed of the wisdom of the Almighty?s words guided that man to the divine religion. The man beseeched God for forgiveness and thanked the Almighty till the end of his life. What a wonderful lesson, isn?t it." Thus it is prayers and Fasting that build in us self control and restrain from wanton desires. This beautiful act of worship makes us feel the pangs of hunger of deprived people. Fasting prevents us form committing sins and abstinence from all evil. Ramadan inculcates in us urge to do good and serve humanity. The Prophet?s first infallible successor, Imam Ali (PBUH) says concerning the blessings of Ramadan: Pray and ask forgiveness as much as you can. Prayers and supplications keep calamities away from you, while forgiveness cleanses you of your sins. |
