Observing 2020 Ramadan in unthinkable Covid-19 lockdown must not diminish our spirit and pursuit of moral excellence in all its aspects. Adaptability of Islam to any conditions and yet remaining focused on its purpose is in itself evidence of its universality. The unchanging environment of a Muslim is the presence of Allah swt, nothing else; and his unchanging state of mind is the awareness of that presence, nothing obscures that. Even when locked down in a cave with friend Abu Bakr, facing imminent danger, the Prophet saw boosted his trust in Allah: “…Do not grieve; verily! Allah is with us…” [Qur’an, 9: 40] So with that unabated resolve, proceed:
The collective happiness of the society rests on human behavior alone. Yet, despite amazing progress in just about every field of human expedition, this quintessence of humanity remains completely in dark. Scientific, economic, and technological advances are essential fronts of human enterprise and must be pursued vigorously, optimizing the potential of the gifted intellect to explore and uncover the truth about this universe and our own existence in it. Man, however, remains mindlessly greedy, jealous, unjust, and vicious in the pursuit of his selfish earthly aspirations at the expense of society’s wellness. His barbarism to achieve his ill-conceived goals has reached a new level in contemporary times as even the babies are torn from the arms of their mothers and tossed into cages without even knowing if they would ever be able to get re-united.
One must not forget, this world is neither without its Creator nor has that Creator signed off His authority to the callousness of man endlessly. There is a check and balance mechanism in the Divine Administration: “…He (Allah) has the Supreme hold over His servants.” [Q, 6: 18] That Authority follows its own schedule. In the meanwhile, events occur out of the ordinary as wake-up calls. These events should not be dismissed as mere physical phenomena because, despite that being the case, the Framer of those laws beyond human comprehension that generate those phenomena also has underlying messages in them for those who can see beyond the obvious. The invisible Covid-19 pandemic, for instance, that has currently suffocated the entire world, causing deaths, destruction and disruption, and locking down people in their own cells, is not one of those routine physical catastrophes. It has left the experts clueless in unchartered territories against a microscopically invisible deadly adversary. As they desperately rush to develop a cure based on data yet to be generated by cases of infection and mounting deaths, they must also know who is really in-charge: “…Is it not that Allah is Mighty, Powerful to avenge? [Q, 39: 37]
Know, such decisions are not made thoughtlessly or aimlessly, nor are they random: “…We have not created the heaven and the earth and all that is between them in vain…” [Q, 38: 27] Changes that occur in the physical world that affect life provide guidance. There are innumerable forces and unknown variables that constantly crisscross, configure, reconfigure, and interact. The knowledge of their final configuration, fallout, and impact is in the domain of only the one who originates them in the first place. Many events which seem at first sheer coincidences turn out not to be so. There is some Divine Force which causes a successive chain of events and leaves messages replete with meaning for those who reflect. They all have a common thread displaying the Divine Power of the Supreme and the inevitable consequences of man’s corruption on earth.
Divine communication which can now be transmitted only through rare occurrences is necessary for moral guidance because the human life is layered into two components – physical and moral (see Q, 32: 7-9; 91: 7-10). Each plays a critical role in maintaining the physical existence of life and the moral integrity of personal character. Thus, each must be looked after carefully and excelled to operate at its prime. However, in order to meaningfully achieve the aimed purpose of life, they must be blended together such that the moral gear is always engaged in a commanding position. Unlike non-humans, they cannot be separated nor can they be practiced separately.
Against this backdrop, Islam views all citizens of the world as members of one family. They share collective happiness and pull together as a unit during times of adversity. Discrimination, based on race, color, religion, and the like, is enemy of humanity. The natural differences are meant for enrichment, not for warfare. Our origin is one, our natural distinctions are for collaboration, and the moral excellence in conduct is the only criterion for judging people. Thus, a peaceful co-existence with human dignity and respect for life is a moral imperative of Islam.
Muslims must advance this imperative by conducting themselves responsibly at all times and through civic engagement. They must seek inroads for refinements and stand firmly on higher moral grounds. They must project to the common people that the belief in the After-life, that inspires to live a restrained life of dignity and responsibility with beneficial effects of its merciful dispensation in the lives of righteous people, is a better basis for human life than its denial. Common grounds must be explored for working together in a spirit of cooperation. Shared concerns require collaborative effort in seeking practical solutions. Inter-personnel relations and basic human decency are essentials in Islam for a global order. Such a character requires rational thinking, self-control, and trust in Allah; and can be nurtured only through intense discipline.
In the month of Ramadan, while abstaining from eating and drinking during daylight hours, Muslims engage in spiritually nourishing activities. The goal is to attain moral excellence through self-reflection and re-connection with the Creator. This discipline is essential to re-ignite a sense of responsibility in daily conduct to be observed in all social interactions. The Prophet saw underscores the gravity of personal conduct so clearly: “The best of you is the one who is the best in conduct.” [Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi] Good conduct is a culmination of consistent observance of the Islamic norms. Liberation from ill habits and regaining self-control is the most tangible impact of fasting on human potential in redirecting personal behavior. The Qur’an calls this transformation taqwa achieved through fasting: “…that you acquire fear of Allah [Q; 2: 183]
The current environment of Covid-19 pandemic must not deter us from striving for our Ramadan goal of advancing moral excellence. It is heartbreaking that under the lockdown we cannot participate in outdoor Ramadan activities. However, you may consider this as an extended Aitikaf observing along with the family to achieve the same goal with even a higher degree of intensity. Come up with novel Ramadan projects to engage them in learning settings. Memorization of the Qur’an, study of Hadith, life of the Prophet saw, stories of the companions, and the like. Family members can still make Traweeh by simply repeating the memorized surah. Transform the novel Corona-lockdown into a novel Ramadan experience and thank Allah swt.
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Dr. Khan is a Professor of Operations Research at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Prophet’s Ramadan Sermon
The following is an extract of the sermon delivered by the Prophet Muhammad saw on the last Friday of Sha’ban in welcoming the month of Ramadan:
O People!
Indeed ahead of you is the blessed month of Allah.
A month of blessing, mercy and forgiveness;
a month that with Allah is the best of months.
Its days the best of days;
its nights the best of nights;
and its hours the best of hours.
It is the month which invites you to be the guests of Allah;
and invites you to be one of those near to Him.
Each breath you take glorifies him;
your sleep is worship;
your deeds are accepted;
and your supplications are answered.
So ask Allah, your Lord, to give you
a sound body and an enlightened heart.
Guard your tongues;
close your eyes to that which is not permissible for your sight;
close your ears to that which is forbidden to hear.
O People! One who gives Iftar to
a fasting person during this month will be like one who has freed
someone and his past sins will be forgiven.
One who has good morals (Akhlaq)
during this month will be able to pass the
‘Siraat’*…on the day that feet will slip…
Whoever performs an obligatory prayer
Allah will reward him with seventy prayers [worth] in this month.
He who recites one verse of the holy Qur’an
will be given the rewards of reciting the whole Qur’an during other months.
* A bridge across Hell, thinner than hair and sharper than razor.
Islamic Point of View 