– Hasan ul Banna Khan
Humans are a combination of physical, intellectual, and spiritual instincts. The physical instincts consist of the actions taken by the human body, which in turn are guided by the mind. However, it is the spirit or the soul that truly humanizes our actions. We pretty much understand the physical and intellectual aspects of our body and also work on strengthening them, but what about the soul? With a bit of contemplation, we realize that an imbalance of spirituality leads humans astray. Individuals devoid of soul resemble animals in the way they lead their lives, as mentioned in the Qur’an: “As for the unbelievers, they enjoy the pleasures of this transient life and eat as cattle eat” (47:12), whereas too much of it, and people go into monkhood.
Islam has provided us with the correct means of spiritual guidance through faith in Allah. Faith is the basis of responsible actions in this world by mankind. If not for faith, humans are nothing but a mere tool in the hands of their psyche, constantly in danger of getting driven by the infinite evil forces in the world. It is the faith that brings them back and directs them towards As Siraat al Mustaqeem (the right path). However, we live in a crooked world, and as humans, we are bound to make mistakes. Every time we make a mistake, our faith takes a hit. Hence, our faith is in continuous need of replenishment. Allah has provided us with the ways of constant spiritual upliftment through prayers Le.. Salah, Zakah, Sawm, and Hajj.
Fasting, Repentance, Forgiveness and Hope have a close relationship with each other
All these acts of worship are a means to get closer to Allah, but none of them is more effective than fasting. Its sole purpose is for the believers to become God-fearing, as Allah says in the Qur’an: “O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was for those before you, so you will become God-fearing” (2:183). Apart from fasting, the rest of the acts involve some degree of external display, whereas fasting is a completely private form of worship. A person abstains from food, drink as well as carnal desires and acts which are deemed lawful. Nobody other than Allah would come to know if he were to indulge in any of these deeds, but still, the person stops himself from doing so, with the sole purpose of pleasing Allah. This is the reason that Allah says in a Hadith e Qudsi: “Fasting is for me, and I will reward it.” (Bukhari, Muslim). This obligation of fasting is repeated daily for a month, during the blessed month of Ramadan, thus ensuring a sustained spiritual training exercise for the entire Ummah. This leads to an increase in the levels of their piety, which is stated to be a pre-requisite for a righteous life, as stated in the Qur’an: “This is the Book of Allah, there is no doubt in it; it is a guidance for the pious” (Qur’an 2:2). Ramadan also helps in reviving the relationship with the book of Allah, as it is the month in which it was revealed: “The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur’an was revealed as guidance for mankind, and as clear signs that show the right way and distinguish between right and wrong.” (Qur’an 2:185), resulting in a rejuvenation of spirit through the strengthening of this connection. The prolonged training in refraining from otherwise permissible activities results in gaining tremendous control of the human psyche. The person is in a much better position to refrain from all the desires and actions that are forbidden by Allah, and which destroy the spiritual existence of the human body. It also prepares a person to practice what is obligated by the Almighty, i.e., the essentials of spiritual development. Thus, fasting during Ramadan leads a person’s will into complete submission of Allah’s demands, a necessary trait for spiritual development. During the fast, when the body experiences hunger, it infuses the heart with empathy for those who are downtrodden and marginalized and struggle to fulfill their basic food requirement. On the one hand, this motivates the person to then serve these communities in any which way possible, whereas, on the other it makes him feel content with whatever resources he has got. As a result, a critical step for spiritual development is achieved as the person is empowered to not become a slave of his never-ending desire for material wealth and rather encouraged to spend it in the path of Allah. Ramadan also gives a chance for a person to repent for the sins that he had committed and ask for forgiveness, as Prophet (PBUH) has stated: “Whoever fasted the month of Ramadan out of sincere Faith (i.e. belief) and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his past sins will be forgiven” (Bukhari). Repentance and forgiveness from Allah is a necessary attribute for spiritual development, as it gives a chance for the soul to mend its scars that are in place because of sinning and reinstate its lost vigor.
Thus, at the end of the training cycle of Ramadan, having fulfilled its requirements, the person stands battle-ready to face the unlimited vices of the world, with a reinvigorated soul, renewed spirit, and the batteries of his faith recharged for the rest of the year. This surely is the apex of spiritual development, a precedent for which cannot be found.
