Now that the fasting month of Ramadhan is over, Muslims worldwide should be able to reassess their potentials after being rejuvenated through fasting. We should realise that fasting in Ramadhan is not just a yearly exercise of restraint but instead it is the rejuvenation of the body, mind and soul towards its original created goals established by Allah Almighty.
The tendency is focus purely on the fast during the month of Ramadhan in terms of rewards does not do overall justice to the role of fasting in Ramadhan as one of the five pillars of Islam. As such, it is not an occasion or even that comes and goes but instead forms an integral part of human development, purification and readjustment when placed alongside the other four pillars of Islam i.e. the declaration of faith, establishing prayer, making payment of the obligatory alms (Zakat) and performing the Hajj.
The fasting month of Ramadhan which acts to redeem ourselves is in fact a preparatory package that helps us to face challenges in the coming months ahead. It will be further noted that the sole objective of fasting in Ramadhan according to the Qur’an is to acquire ‘taqwa’ (piety), which means that it is an exercise of restraint, determination, commitment through submission to Allah so that we may be able to strengthen ourselves and to become focused in our commitment towards Allah, the defence of Islam and upholding the good name of the Muslim community.
If we do not view Ramadhan in this context then it ends up being an occasion of denial of food and drink, culminating in celebrating Eidul Fitr in a purely worldly context. This truly defeats the whole purpose of fasting in Ramadhan. In this context it would be worthy to note that only countries in this region, namely southern Thailand, Malaysian, Indonesia and Brunei celebrate Eidul Fitr (Hari Raya Puasa) in a grand scale. The Middle East and other Islamic countries do not do so in any way as we do so which has taken on cultural dimensions of excesses.
As Muslims, what we need to focus on after being rejuvenated through the fasting month of Ramadhan is the challenges ahead. We need to take stock of our position locally, regionally and globally. We need to come out of the shell of complacency, defend our rights as part of the global community, develop character, be disciplined, acquire a proper understanding of Islam in a wholesome wider context, and not view it in segments through narrow interpretations.
In Malaysia, it is not only an issue of defending the constitution, the social contract and the status of the community but also an issue of character, where honesty, sincerity, love for Islam and for one’s country are all essential elements towards the founding of a progressive enlightened society that enjoys the right to rule the country. We need to remember that rights are bestowed upon a nation by Allah and that they are retained through His consent. All one has to do is look at the circumstances surrounding the battle of Uhud to understand why the Muslims lost even though the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) was present within their midst. If you want to extend this further, ask yourself why the Islamic world in such turmoil if we are truly serving Allah. The answer is: “We champion our own causes instead of Allah’s.” Hatam al-Asad said that Muslims claim three things and then do three other things:
1. They claim to be SLAVES of Allah but behave like MASTERS.
2. They claim to believe in the SUSTENANCE of Allah but FIGHT one another for it.
3. They claim to DIE for Allah`s sake but LIVE as if they are never going to die.
This is the state of the Ummah worldwide. You will not find a single so-called Islamic nation living in accordance with the tenants of Islam. They are filled with despotic, corrupt rulers and leaders who only are concerned with remaining in office at any cost. To be a leader, you need to ask yourself a simple question: "Are you serving Allah or yourself?”
As such, it is a clear indication that being a Muslim by name alone is not good enough. You have to live and conduct yourself as a true Muslim who submits himself to Allah completely. So look upon this Eidul Fitr as a new beginning to reviving the spirit of Islamic brotherhood by serving Allah through humanity in a righteous manner. Avoid bad behaviour, cheating, lying, corruption and deceit. If you have been able to restrain yourself during Ramadhan, try doing so throughout the year. [Mokhtar Stork] |
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