Ramadan: The Holy Month of Fasting-- A Reminder.

[Abu Hafsat]

As-Salaam alaikum,

The Holy Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, in the lunar month of Ramadan on the mysterious Night of Power..Laylatul Qadr, said to be ''greater than a thousand months'' (97:3) To celebrate the miracle of the Qur'an, Muslims spend the entire month of Ramadan in a state of self-purification, abstaining from food, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn until sundown.

Fasting is not about losing body weight, but more about losing weight of our sins and learning to detach from the ego that weighs us down.... as in Ramadan we are called upon to use the polish of prayer, the chisel of fasting and the cleanser of charity to break the veils of separation between us and Allahu Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala, through a practice of physical, emotional and spiritual detoxification, as hinted in ayat 183 of Surat Baqra:

                  ''Fasting is prescribed for you as was prescribed for those before you, that you might

                  remain God-Conscious'' (2:183)

As we fast in this month of Ramadan, let us ponder that just as we empty our stomachs of food for several hours during the day, we also are called to empty all of our senses from everything that does not bring us closer to Allah Ta'ala, because when we witness Allah in everything, every action becomes prayer, every moment becomes worship and every person, place, and every points back to Allah, Jallah-Jalalahu.

The Noble Prophet, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, said:--

       ''In each night of Ramadan, Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala, exempts 600,000 people from Hell and when the last night

      of Ramadan comes, He exempts as many people from Hell as He has exempted in the entire month up till that night.''  (At-Targheeb wa At-Tarheeb)

Allahu Akbar!!  What a Flood of Forgiveness!!  May we be among those to be so forgiven in this Holy month of Ramadan, ameen.

Best Wishes.