NEITHER FEAR NOR GRIEF: Every car owner knows the importance of keeping the car in peak performance: smooth running engine firing on all cylinder, ever reliable ability to get to the destination without any sudden stop at a dark alley or in the middle of a lenghty bridge at night, always coming up on the first turn of the ignition key, etc. The prudent car owner makes deliberate effort to achieve this performance: regular major service of the car and constant check -up to ensure that everything is working well. Both the major service and the constant check-up are necessary otherwise the car will not give peak performance and it may stop abruptly at that lonely spot on a dark night.
ALMS GIVING: The prophet (PBUH) explained that :
"there is alms giving for every thing, and the almsgiving for the body is fasting" (lbn Majah).
Fasting is thus to the body and soul what major service arid regular checkup is to the car while taqwaa (piety and ever-present consciousness of Allah ) is the peak of performance which the body and soul should attain.The compulsory fast in the whole month of Ramadan is the major service while there are various check -ups of voluntary fasts on different virtuous days of the year.
The Noble Prophet (PBUH) said:
"He who observed the fast of Ramadan and then followed it up with six of Shawwal (10th lunar month) it would be as if he fasted perpetually (throughout the year). " (Muslim);
and he noted that "the most excellent fast after Ramadan is in Allah s month, al-Muharram" (1" lunar month):(Muslim). These regular check-ups are very rewarding for the body (It makes It healthy) an the soul (It stores up immense rewards for the Hereafter ). Aishaa (RA) reported that her husband, the Rasul (PBUH) "was diligent in observing the fast on Monday and Thursday" (Tirmidhi)
Why ? because he said:
"a Man's deeds are reported on Mondays and Thursdays and I prefer that I should observing the fast when my deeds are reported"(Tirmidhi).
Then he said: "The observance of three days fast every month and that of Ramadan every year is a perpetual last. I seek from Allah that fasting of the day of. Arafat (91 day of Dhul- Hajj) may a tone for the sins of the preceeding and the coming years, and! seek from Allah that fasting day of Ashura may atone for the sins of the preceeding year" (Muslim). Allah says "
all Proclaim the pilgrimage among men ...and celebrate the name of Allah through the days appointed ...(Q22:27-28).
Hence the Rasul (PBUH) declared these appointed first ten days of Dhul-Hijja (12th lunar month) as the best days on earth:
"There are no days which righteous action is so pleasing to Allah as righteous deeds in those days...not even jihad in the cause of Allah except in the case of one who goes forth with his. life and property and does not come back with either" (Bukhari).
Aside from hajj what better righteous deed should be done these days?
"Take-to fasting, there is nothing like it" (Nasai);
recommended the Prophet (PBUH). Be cautious and not exceed the limit of your body with respect to those recommended but voluntary fasting. Know that once the car is over-tuned, then its performance would not be optimal. The middle course is more-desirable for the Rasul (PBUH) never completed the fast of a month but that of Ramadan nor did he fast more in any other month than that of Shaban (Muslim). Therefore, do not yourself to the extent that you will not be able to do that which is more beneficial (e.g. observing the salaat (prayer) promptly and in congregation) then it Each individual has good knowledge of his body and of what will rectify it.
TASK ACCOMPLISHED?: Now that Ramadan fast is practically over, did you achieve the objective of this major service of your body? Fasting in Ramadan is made compulsory on believers to achieve the twin goal of taqwa (self-restraint) and using fasting as a means of attaining the consciousness of Allah at all times. The first goal is commanded by Allah:
"O you who believe !Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may learn taqwa (self-restraint)" (Q2:183)
while the several fasts recommended by the prophet (pBUH) are aimed at achieving the second goal. Each goal is amply rewarded as the Prophet (PBUH) said:
"Whoever fast a day in the way of Allah. Allah will place between him and fire a trench like that between the heavens and the earth" (Trimidh).
The concept of taqwa is to protect oneself from the wrath of Allah by doing the thing which are pleasing to Him and being in the state of constant remebrance of Allah. When a person posseses taqwa, he earns the status of being the waliyy (friend) of Allah :
"Behold! verily on the friend of Allah there is no fear nor shall they grieve; those who believe and have taqwaa (constantly guard against evil.,)" (QI0:62- 63)
When a person achieves taqwa (i.e. the muttaqi) then his heart comes to rest. Whenever problems arise, he is not in a state of confusion, fear or doubt; he understands the ups and downs of life and sees them as tests for which he would ultimately be rewarded if he relates well to them. For the muttaqi if good comes to him, he thanks Allah and Allah further rewards him for the good:
"And remember! Your Lord caused to be declared: If you are grateful, I will add more (favours) unto you; but if you show ingratitude, then truly My punishment is terrible indeed", (Q14:7).
Then if harm comes to him he is patient and again Allah rewards him for it "So, verily with every difficulty, there is relief (Q94: 5). This it is clear that happiness can only be achieved when we have taqwa and not when we posses material things that are limited and non-fulfilling: "..for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah of Allaah do hearts find satisfaction"(Q13: 28).
THE GOAL OF LIFE: Achieving taqwa and keeping it at high level thus becomes the goal of life. Because it brings remembrance of Allah which brings happiness and contentment at times of ease and difficulty .Doing that which consciously seeks to please Allah (i.e. righteous deeds) increase taqwaa; just as wrongful acts which lowers ones iman (faith) and is connected with forgetfulness of Allah weakens taqwaa. And this is where fasting comes in! Fasting is developing self-restraint and personal control over all our desires, whether food, sex, our tongues and each limb of our body.
When this restraint is achieved, taqwaa primary goal of fasting will be achieved and so will the consciousness of Allah at all times be achieved. Pity then those who abstain from food, sex and drink in the daylight of Ramadan but fail to achieve self-restraint and personal control. Real pity! "How many people fast who have nothing of fasting but thirst and how many people stand up (to pray all night) who have nothing of prayer except keeping awake? !"(Darimi) exclaimed the Prophet (PBUH). There may be so many of such people for he also said: "he who does not abandon speaking of falsehood and the doing of things like that. Allah has no need of his leaving off food and his drink" (Bukhari).
As this Ramadan rounds up, and the hilal (crescent)of Shawwal is being expected; examine how much of taqwaa (self restraint and consciousness of Allah) you have acquired, And if your bodys major service is satisfactory, will you faithfully conduct the regular check ups by making fasting a way of life and not just an annual ritual? Will you then start with sittat Shawwal.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited