24. September 2006 - Casablanca
"It was strange. Nice, quiet and comfortable - something special, like
Christmas. The alarm rang 3:30 and I woke up Rakia. It was completely
silent. We walked to the kitchen; put the yoghurt, breiovet, shebekia,
dates, bread, strawberry jam, cheese, coffee and milk, thin cakes,
another type of bread and water on the table. We ate slowly, enjoyed the
silence of the night, watching the lights in the other windows. We knew
that millions of other homes, other families sit and eat just like
us. To finish the meal and hear the prayer-call from Hassan II .. and
I'm not even Muslim, was magical.
To not eat or drink from 03:30 to 18:30 made my stomach numb with hunger
and confusion - it didn’t quite understand what was going on. A slight
dull headache around three o-clock in the afternoon. I was hot and tired
around 16.00 - 17.00. The stomach-ache disappeared when it realized it
would get more food. The whole day I have been calm and under control,
as if the body had saved up energy while I had concentrated on other
things. As a Muslim though, you should spend your time thinking of
Allah."
I wrote this during the evening the first day of Ramadan 2006 in
Casablanca. But actually, my very first meeting with Ramadan, was during
my study time at the University of Oslo. This was years before I decided
to learn more about Islam, so all I knew about the fasting month, was
that it was one of Islam's five pillars. What made me curious was that
the Muslims I knew, talked with so much enthusiasm about Ramadan. But
what was so special about "starving for 30 days?" The best way to get
answers would be to test it out, I thought, so I tried, to my fellow
students’ amazement. The experiment lasted for approximately two weeks.
Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca –
Morocco (interior)
During my year in
Casablanca, the exploration of Islam had reached a point where I felt a
great admiration and respect for the religion. I would definitely try to
do Ramadan again, and I completed the entire month. I noticed early the
effect the fast had on the body: It was like the whole body machine was
cleaned and put back in balance. I saw that I could manage to
concentrate without food and water, and that it was easier to settle
down with something. Food also had never tasted so good, and I was more
careful with what I had ate. I enjoyed observing people just before
sunset as they hurried home with less patience and stabile nerves than
usual. The strong sense of community in the neighborhood warmed the
heart when we got up for breakfast before dawn and saw the lights
turning on in the dark apartments.
It was a little taste of Ramadan – But Ramadan without belief in God,
fear and love for God, and obedience and submission to Him, is like the
largest and most beautiful wedding, but without a spouse.
Good things to know about Ramadan
Ramadan is the name of one of the twelve Arabic months. Allah has made
fasting this month the fourth pillar of Islam,
(translated meaning):
“The month of Ramadan
in which was revealed the Qur’aan, a guidance for mankind and clear
proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So
whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of
Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Sawm (fasts) that
month…” Al Quran 2:185
Allah revealed the Quran during Ramadan - on a special night
which in Arabic is called Laylat al-Qadr (Decree). Allah has blessed
Ramadan with this blessed night, He in the Quran (sorah 97) describes as
better than a thousand months. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with
him) said: Allah's Messenger (Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)
said: “Whoever spends Laylat al-Qadr in prayer out of faith and in the
hope of reward, will be forgiven his previous sins.” Narrated by
al-Bukhaari, 1910; Muslim, 760.
Fasting in Ramadan is a
means of expiation for sins - The Prophet (Allah’s peace and
blessings be upon him), said: “The five daily prayers, from one Jumu’ah
to the next and from one Ramadaan to the next are expiation for (sins
committed) in between, so long as you avoid major sins.” Saheeh Muslim
(233)
In Ramadan, Muslims gather in the mosques for night prayer - The
Messenger of Allah (Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), said:
“Whoever prays qiyaam with the imam until he finishes, it will be
recorded for him that he spent the whole night in prayer.” Classified as
sahiih of al-Albaani in Salaat al-Taraawiih, p. 15. It is common for the
imam at the end of the month of Ramadan, has recited the entire Qur'an
in tarawiih.
I'tikaaf (retreat for
worship) is Sunnah in Ramadan - because the Prophet (Allah’s peace
and blessings be upon him) always did that, as retold in the hadith of
'Aa'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her): The Prophet (Allah's peace
and blessings be upon him) always spent the last ten days of Ramadan
observing i'tikaaf, then his wives observed i'tikaaf after him.
"al-Bukhaari, 1922; Muslim, 1172
Reading the Quran is generally mustahabb - (strongly
recommended), but more so in Ramadan. Recite it to someone or get
someone to recite it to you. The proof of this is that Jibreel met the
Prophet (Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) every night in Ramadan
and studied the Koran with him. al-Bukhaari, 6; Muslim, 2308.
It is mustahabb in Ramadan to arrange iftaar to a fasting person
- Allah's Messenger (Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), said:
“Whoever gives iftaar to one who is fasting will have a reward like his,
without that detracting from the fasting person’s reward in the
slightest.” Al-Tirmidhi, 807; Ibn Maajah , 1746; classified as sahiih of
al-Albaani in Sahiih al-Tirmidhi, 647
Be prepared for Ramadan
Traders around the world
are these days preparing for Ramadan, but are we? We still have some
days left to plan for a maximum utilization of this blessed month. I'm
not thinking of purchasing food, gifts and new clothes, but about
experiencing the spiritual journey that Ramadan can be. There are
several good "Ramadan Programs" that makes planning easier; for example
"A Mother's Ramadan Organizer" which is available on the following link
for free download:
[Click here]
May Allah Sobhaanahu wa Ta'ala – if He lets us live for that long,
bless us all with a memorable and beneficial Ramadan 2011. Amiin
May Allah forgive me if
something I wrote, is wrong.
OmmAisha, Sha'baan 1432/2011
