“…Allah wants you to complete the prescribed period (of Fasting) and to glorify Him for the Guidance…” [Qur’an, 2: 185]
The ethnic and religious polarization, cultivation of cultural divisions, relentless fueling of ideological differences, and geopolitical crises in an already troubled world suggest that a more tumultuous time lies ahead for humanity. It is disturbing to note that we have made amazing progress in just about every field of life except the one that matters the most for human development – the nobility of character, race relations, solidarity through diversity, and interconnectivity within our unison. The collective happiness of society is predicated on these virtues alone. Yet, man remains viciously fixated on his worldly ambitions of money and power to his peril.
As intelligent beings, we can take pride in making astonishing advances in science and technology conquering contemporaneously the land, waters, and space; and surmounting many challenges that adversely affect our lives. Today we are at a comfort level our ancestors could not even dream of. In sharp contrast, we watch vulgar displays of brutality and gore in public squares based on the color of skin or ethnicity. Incidents of systematic racism, extremism, supremacy, gun violence, and random shootings have become so familiar and too often to keep track of. Unceasing aggressions and invasions against the weak continue ruthlessly before the eyes of the powerful and the self-characterized civilized world. The crimes of occupation, genocide, and ethnic and religious capitulation are committed with jarring visuals around the world by the champions of human rights and custodians of freedom in partnership with their proxies. The mighty frame the rules and selectively apply them to their victims. They are not constrained by any norms, nor do any laws apply to them. The World Institutions are also controlled by the same forces that make a mockery of the international laws and use them as vehicles to continue their geopolitical misconduct. The reckless behavior of those in positions of authority is the worst legacy to leave behind for future generations.
Realistically, it seems that the conditions will continue to deteriorate and become increasingly more challenging. The family values, ethics, morality, justice, equality, peace, and prosperity will all be under assault. Freedom, democracy, and respect for life will continue to be undermined. On the other hand, aggression, exploitation, injustice, disparity, despair, and human miseries will continue to climb endlessly. Unlike other species, only man has the heart to savagely rip his kind with premeditation. Only he is capable of ending his life by kneeing the neck of someone he sees as inferior and finds weak. Violence has the same monstrous face whether committed by individuals or the regimes. It is a matter of scale. States are more resourceful, robustly equipped, and have political cover to legitimize their unlawful and unjust policies. Under these policies, people are driven out of their dwellings, their lands seized, generations destroyed, and imprisoned in their homelands. Cities may burn and the demonstrators may take to the streets to protest against brutality both as a show of empathy and a media bonanza. But, sadly, nothing is likely to subvert the insanity of tyranny when the conscience remains dead, the body soulless, and the politicians shamelessly hypocrites.
This self-destructive behavior should not be surprising, though. No product functions as designed if the manufacturer’s instructions are not followed. Man is not self-created. He has a Creator. The recognition of that Creator is intrinsic in his conscience and everything visible in the universe reinforces that conviction for all those who are capable of seeing and thinking normally. Every sane person feels the need for guidance from his Creator to conduct life on earth intelligently, gracefully, and responsibly. Such people are inspired to live a disciplined life by their instinctual understanding that every action has consequences and that life cannot be without purpose. They explore the purpose and seek guidance to live by it. On the contrary, those who suppress their conscience willfully and are subdued by their vile impulses begin to resemble visceral animals in practice despite their outer shell: “…they have hearts with which they fail to understand, and they have eyes with which they fail to see; and they have ears with which they fail to hear. They are like cattle – indeed, even more astray….” [Q, 7:179] This is a strong condemnation of those who fail to use their gifted talents and faculties. Instead of using them wisely to rise to human elegance, they abuse them viciously, falling below the level of animals that are not conferred with such faculties. Surely and gradually, material progress without moral navigation leads to the mutilation of humanness.
It is inconceivable that the Creator, Who has provided boundless provisions for man’s survival, would have left him without guidance to accomplish the purpose of his existence in this complex world. After his creation, the greatest favor that the Creator has done to man is the divine guidance he needed for self-realization. He promised to provide that guidance through His appointed Messengers. Accordingly, Prophets were sent periodically to reconnect people with their Creator and unify humanity under His Sovereignty. They all delivered the same universal message: “…The only command they were given was that they serve Allah, with utter sincerity, devoting themselves exclusively to Him …” [Q, 98: 5]; and informed that there is an eternal afterlife beyond this one, full of rewards for those who willfully submit to their Lord and punishment for the defiant: “…He will certainly gather you all together on the Day of Judgment…” [Q, 4: 87] The crux of accountability will be how closely a person followed the prescribed code of conduct: “…We have made all that on the earth an embellishment for it to test people as to who of them is better in conduct.” [Q, 18: 7]
The series of Messengers and the revealed Scriptures concluded with the advent of the Prophet Muhammad SAW and the Qur’an was revealed to him as the final Book. The Qur’an authenticates the teachings of all preceding Books and reinforces them: “…What is being narrated in the Qur’an is no fabrication; it is rather a confirmation of the Books that preceded it and a detailed exposition of everything…” [Q, 12: 111] It lays no claim of introducing anything novel or coming forth with any innovation at variance with the core teachings already communicated through preceding Prophets. Its claim merely consists of being in line with them: “O Prophet, nothing is being said to you (in Qur’an) that has not already been said to the messengers before you…” [Q, 41: 43].
The Qur’an began to be revealed to the Prophet SAW in the month of Ramadan: “During the month of Ramadan the Qur’an was sent down as guidance for mankind…” [Qur’an, 2:185] In fact, all divine Books were revealed to their Messengers in the same month, Ramadan. The purpose of divine guidance is to provide a code of life people must follow to fulfill the purpose of this life per the pleasure of their Creator. Like the previous Books, living up to the demands of the Qur’an is full of challenges. It requires conviction in Allah SWT, patience, perseverance, spirit of sacrifice, self-control, and much more to live a disciplined life with demonstrated commitment and devotion to the Creator. These attributes, in brief, are captured in the term “Taqwa,” which means awareness of the presence of Allah SWT – all the time and everywhere. This vigilance due to fear of the Merciful Allah SWT keeps a person on track under all circumstances and conditions without trembling. Precisely, the stated purpose of fasting is just that: “O’ Believers! Fasting is enjoined upon you…that you acquire taqwa.” [Q, 2: 183] Physically, fasting is to abstain from eating, drinking, and spousal relationships from dawn to dusk. Spiritually, it means a lot more. Control your hands, tongue, ears, eyes, thoughts, emotions, and actions. If someone fails to do that, the Prophet SAW reminds: “Whoever does not abandon falsehood in word and in action, then Allah does not need for him to leave his food and his drink. Allah does not need him to stay hungry and thirsty.”[Bukhari]
Thus, during the month of Ramadan, while abstaining from eating and drinking during the daylight hours, Muslims are commanded to engage in spiritually stimulating activities. The purpose of these efforts is to attain moral excellence through self-reflection, soul searching, and reconnecting with the Creator. The rationale behind periodic fasting is to re-ignite that sense and revitalize elegance in personal behavior to be observed in all human encounters. Thus, fasting facilitates the internalization of the Qur’anic principles and virtues in a person’s character. Liberation from ill habits and regaining self-control are the most tangible impacts of fasting on human potential in redirecting behavior.
The deteriorating human conditions, inequities, violation of human rights, uneven social justice, selective application of rules, widening gap between the so-called First World and the Third World, jealousy, hatred, greed, and vengeance are divisive practices. They demonize humanity. Those whose hearts are hardened and harbor xenophobic diseases have many brands. Fundamentally, however, they all are victims of the same propensities of untamed supremacy. In their orbit, there is no room for those who look different and, thus, have no right to exist. Islam is opposed to such tendencies because they are contrary to the divine scheme and detrimental to society. Natural variations are for interconnectivity, functional efficiency, and globalization of human enrichment. The path to superiority is only through humility and nobility of character: “…Indeed, the most honorable among you in the sight of Allah is he who is the most pious of you…” [Q, 49: 13] That path is open to every person aspiring to explore the purpose of life and live by it. The Qur’an spells it out and is accessible in every corner of the world, in every spoken language with the original text.
Despite the level of anguish and no silver lining in sight, Islam yields no room to hopelessness, however. It is a sign of disbelief. With trust in the Almighty, the struggle must continue for the higher objective that cannot be abandoned. The establishment of an enlightened society, enriched with virtues of justice, peace, and respect for human dignity is a moral imperative of every person of conscience and sanity. Muslims are under the mandate to take the lead by conducting themselves responsibly at all times and under all conditions. They are clearly instructed: “O Believers, be the fast bearer of witness for Allah and be just, and let not hatred of any people provoke you to turn away from justice…” [Q, 5: 8] It is not enough for Muslims to practice justice in their dealings; they must have a broader vision strive for its triumph, and do all within their reach to ensure that evil is replaced with goodness and injustice yields to fairness. Their testimony must be unbiased and every effort must be made to restore civility at all fronts in the society.
The process that leads to the realization of this worthy aspiration is built on many principles that must be adhered to for creating an environment conducive to mutual respect, understanding, and peaceful co-existence. Among them is the recognition of others’ right to expression, practice of religion, and lifestyle. Of course, the collective interests of the society precede the individuals’ rights. Such freedom cannot be allowed to interfere with the common good. Social justice, peace, prosperity, and the well-being of the society and its security cannot be compromised. Adherence to these standards provides evidence that diverse communities have lived peacefully and flourished in Muslim-ruled societies for centuries with freedom of religion, expression, and social justice.
Even in an ethnically and religiously diverse society, common grounds must be explored for working together in the spirit of cooperation and seeking practical solutions to shared concerns. Social injustice, suppression of human rights, drugs, gun violence, poverty, decaying family structure, and escalating obscenity – just to name a few – are problems that affect all of us indiscriminately. To the Prophet SAW, the entire human race on earth is an extended family of Allah SWT. After believing in Him, the best deed is to be good to fellow humans. Inter-personnel relations and basic human decency are essential in Islam for the global order. Whether as majority or minority, Muslims must remain engaged in the well-being of the society and its moral stability.
Further, Islam is an anti-violence force and is opposed to violence in all its forms and at all levels. The physical force is a sacred trust and its only use is to promote or protect the law and order for a just and peaceful society. Repelling naked aggression or defending the oppressed is its legitimate use. The Prophet SAW says: “Verily if people see an oppressor and they do not seize his hand, Allah SWT will soon send punishment upon all of them.” [Ahmad] This is essentially the alert notice that now clearly comes home when Allah SWTwarns: “…Guard against the mischief that will not only bring punishment to the wrong-doers among you.” [Q, 8: 25] All other conflicts must be resolved through peaceful means and compassion in the spirit of accommodation. If used, the force only suppresses but does not solve any problems other than seeding hatred to explode later. To the extent possible, repel evil with goodness: “…Repel evil with what is best…” [Q, 41: 34]; because evil is weak: “…Surely, Satan’s strategy is weak.” [Q, 4: 76] and, in face-to-face combat, it ultimately self-destructs: “…Surely, falsehood is ever bound to vanish.” [Q, 17: 81] Even under the most discouraging conditions, exert as best as possible to pave the way for reconciliation.
Although such a character is altruistic, it requires tremendous courage, resolve, and persistent trust in Allah SWT. This stamina is essential because when a struggle continues for years to defend what is right against those who observe no restraints to hostilities, it requires extraordinary grit to resist evil with good. Only a person, who commits to upholding the truth against all odds, has subdued his self to his intellect and rationality, and in whom the righteousness has taken deep roots, can demonstrate such a resilient character. This is the law of nature: “But none can attain this quality except those who endure with patience, and none is granted this rank except those who are people of great fortune.” [Q, 41:35] A person of such exceptional attributes cannot be intimidated or prevented by any power on earth from pursuing his goal of promoting goodness.
The month of Ramadan is designated for such an intense discipline. Rather than an end, its conclusion marks the beginning of a more scrutinizing phase of a Muslim’s life to robustly engage in the reformatory process by eradicating the repugnant conditions and fostering a healthy environment. Responding to this call gives tenure to his life: “Believers! Respond to Allah, and respond to the messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life…” [Q, 8: 24] The Qur’anic code displayed in action is an inspirational force for those faced in daily encounters and consistent with: “…Admonish with this Qur’an every such person who fears My warning.” [Q, 50: 45]
Getting to the point, Allah SWT commands that, soon after completing the days of fasting, engage in the eventful life beyond Ramadan and stand up to all repugnant challenges with full strength. Individually and collectively, untiringly exert to establish His Sovereignty in every function of life, public or private. This is the only way to meet the requirements of the Qur’an and express gratitude for the guidance it contains for uplifting the shared humanity and glorifying the Creator: “… glorify Him in that He has guided you; and, perchance, you shall be grateful (to Him).” [Q, 2: 185]
Islamic Point of View 