Ramadan, spiritual rebirth and social change

Fasting in Ramadan develops in a person the real spirit of social belonging, of unity and brotherhood, and of equality before God. Ramadan offers Muslim faithful a unique opportunity to move closer to God and inspire spiritual rebirth and revival. In climes where nationalistic Muslim leaders and scholars exist, the month of Ramadan is a platform to use the guidance of Holy Scripture to rally the people and inspire spirit of identifying with the nation and proffer answers to some of the national questions as the month emphasizes mankind and not Muslims. National questions are solved easily where people, especially scholars understand their social responsibility and live up to standard.

As the fasting of this year Ramadan begins, it is important to understand that simply keeping away from food and drink is not sufficient to reap the benefits of fasting and to attain piety as mentioned in the Holy Qur’an. The purpose of the fast is to help develop self-restraint, self-purification, God-consciousness, compassion, the spirit of caring and sharing, love of humanity and God. Fasting in Ramadan must develop in a person the real spirit of social belonging, unity and brotherhood and of equality before God. This spirit is the natural product of the fact that when people fast they feel the hunger and hence worries and stresses of the less- privileged and the have-nots in the society. Fasting is a more comprehensive action that should help the leadership in striving to eradicate poverty and shun financial mismanagement of the nation’s resources.

Indeed, a fasting person is one whose limbs withhold from sins, his tongue from lies, foul speech and falsehood, his stomach from food and drink and his private parts from sexual intercourse. These he does, seeking nothing but the pleasure of Allah and Allah alone. ‘If you do not abstain from evil words and vile deeds,’ says the Holy Prophet, ‘God has no need of your abstinence from food and drink’. This is how Ramadan fast is meant to teach Muslims not only to lead an innocent and spotless life, but also to be peace-loving. How pathetic is our situation in this fantastically blessed nation? We have been fasting for ages, and yet poverty, corruption, terrorism, inequality and tribalism remain constant blights in our country.

Now, can we use the opportunity of this fasting month to critically examine our national problems and with the fear of Allah chart a progressive path for this fantastically blessed country? Will our leaders attain piety and sincerely face the task of serving the country and eschew corrupt tendencies?

Ramadan fasting should not be seen as a duty to be completed in any manner, but as a tremendous opportunity to elevate our ranks in the hereafter by becoming Pious with a desire for social change. Ramadan fasting should lead to improved moral and spiritual revival as the month ‘opens the gates of paradise and closes the gates of hellfire while the devils are chained.’ (Bukhari and Muslim).

A great opportunity for personal and national rebirth knocks at the door of Muslims with the arrival of this glorious month. Allah says: ‘O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed to you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain piety’ (Qur’an Chapter 2 vs 183). ‘When you are fasting,’ asserted the Apostle of Allah, ‘abuse not anybody, and if a person disputes or fights you, turn away from him by saying, ‘I cannot fight because I am fighting.’ Here, one wonder if members of devilish sect called Boko Haram and the murderous herdsmen would also be fasting.

We should have concern for our fellow countrymen at all times, but Ramadan is the time of the year when we can really feel for them and grab the rewards more than ever.  It can be said that Muslims watch television and listen to Radio mostly during the month of Ramadan. So, one of the best ways of doing Dawah is to directly engage in presenting programme on the media or be a sponsor. Late Chief Moshood Abiola and Alhaji Wahab Iyanda Folawiyo would not be forgotten on their efforts at sponsoring programmes both on Radio/Television during Ramadan.

Pitiably, while there is no argument about appropriateness of Radio/Television to reach out to a large number of people, the sponsors of most programmes do so for personal aggrandizement, unwarranted publicity for themselves and above all, for self-seeking motives. It is common for such people to make their anchor man somebody who sings their praises throughout the duration of the programme without disseminating convincing message at the end of the day. What a better time to give Islamic perspective to the challenges and solution to our nation’s myriad of problems. At least, with beautiful messages disseminated on electronic media, people, even if not converted, will better appreciate the essence of the religion.

However, Islamic scholars need to focus more on the education sector in the month of Ramadan. The way our education is, there is no theory of change that could really transform it. Most of our schools are mere literacy centers with little or no road map to change it. What we have can best be described as schools without education. It’s a vicious circle that has no end in sight and for this reason poverty persists in its gravest forms. We need compassionate leaders to change this as no foreign degree or articulate English speech of those who plan and re-plan the same thing without any aspiration to change can equal the compassion. It will tremendously achieve a lofty goal, during the month of Ramadan, if Islamic scholars focus some their public lectures on addressing the decay in the education sector.

Let me seize this opportunity to call attention of Muslim faithful in position of authority to reflect on the example of two of our heroes, Abubakr and Umar. Abubakr changed neither his residence nor his mode of living when he became a ruler. He refused to take a salary until his companions forced him. Abubakr was succeeded by Umar. When Umar was asked what his entitlement from the treasury should be, he replied: “Two sets of clothing, one for the summer, and one for the winter; enough to perform the Hajj and sufficient to provide me with food for myself and my household on the level of a man of Quraish who is neither over rich nor over poor`.

No doubt, most State governments will sponsor tafsir (commentary on Qur’an) during this month. Let me also call their attention and, indeed, attention of all to saying of Imam Shafii: All humans are dead except those who have knowledge;   and all those who have knowledge are asleep except those who do good deeds; and those who do good deeds are deceived; except those who are sincere and always in a state of worry”. Ramadan Kareem to all Muslim faithful!

RASAK MUSBAU