_*💐 Assalamualaikum*_ _*Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barkatuhu 💐 🍁 Bismillahir Rehmanir Rahim 🍁*_
💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢
*Ramadan is approaching ...*
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```If one tries to find out the causes of human misfortunes and failures, in the final analysis one will discover that a human being is a bundle of various needs and a captive of many wants. No spiritual and physical action of his is free from need and want. Morality, which to some extent is concerned with spirituality, when analyzed, is also seen to be based on some kind of need. Therefore all human misfortunes and failures are simply the result of need or want. If a person frees himself of all needs then he becomes an angelic (angel like) being instead of a human being.
No doubt the needs and wants of human beings are vast and endless, but it is worth pondering what and how much are his real needs. He has in his heart a stockpile of desires, a collection of wishes and self-made needs, but he has to ask himself questions whether it is possible for him to live without fancy clothes, luxury houses, decadent foods and extravagant cars. Will he not be able to live if he is devoid of wealth, pomp and glory? There have been people who have given up all their comforts and yet have survived. Prophet Abraham and Adam, peace be upon them, are held up as examples of Allah's most devoted servants who gave up their kingship, and acquired an exulted spiritual life.
After negating and denying oneself the self-made needs, perhaps the vast assembly of so-called wants will shrink and be confined to a couple of real basic needs, such as food and drink, without which it is not possible to be alive. The physical and spiritual survival of the body depends only on the life-breath which itself is dependent on a few morsels of food and a few sips of water. The truth is that from that point onward any excess in food and drink is merely a desire for excessive pleasure and fun. On this account, if a dividing line is to be drawn separating a human being from an angel, this food and drink will be found to distinguish the two and to be the root of all the differences and distinctions between them. If all human crimes and sins are listed and if the basic reasons of greed, avarice, destruction and murder are sought, the ultimate link will be found in the excessive desire for pleasures and for these two things, namely food and drink.
To be continued...
In Sha Allah```
_*May Allah ﷻ Bless us and guide us in all our affairs*_
_*Aameen*_
_*💐 Assalamualaikum*_ _*Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barkatuhu 💐 🍁 Bismillahir Rehmanir Rahim 🍁*_
💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢
*Ramadan is approaching ...*
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```Continues...
In order to combat materialistic evils, all the religions of world have made it a primary condition of fasting from food and drinks to various extent. The real object is that a human being might gradually decrease the multiplicity of his needs and by continuous efforts of trying to free himself of excessive desire for power and want of food. All sins and crimes are the end results of these desires. If these desires and wants are lost, then surely he will be able to see a glimpse of the Angelic world in this human world. However, as long as a human being is alive it is impossible for him to avoid food completely, so all nations before have specified only a certain limited periods for abstaining from food. During this period, a human being should avoid all wants which can possibly be avoided and thus try to attain the status of an angelic being for that short while at least. Because the duty of an angel is the obedience and worship of Allah ﷻ, a human being should also regard this to be as far as possible the object and duty of his own life for that period.
The holy Quran has unveiled all these secrets and truths by one single word 'Taqwa' (self-restraint), and because the purpose of fasting was common to almost all nations before, the Holy Quran has mentioned them also.```
*Fasting is prescribed to you as It was prescribed to those before you, that you may (learn) self-restraint...* ```(Quran 2:183)
The object and purpose of fasting is self-restraint (Taqwa), i.e. to keep one's desires under control and to keep oneself safe from emotional turmoil. From this it is evident that fasting has been made compulsory to work as a spiritual treatment. Proceeding further, the Holy Quran has elucidated further the purpose of fasting in Islam:```
*The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, 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 Saum (fasts) that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Saum (fasts) must be made up] from other days. Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah [i.e. to say Takbir (Allahu-Akbar; Allah is the Most Great) on seeing the crescent of the months of Ramadan and Shawwal] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him.*
```(Surah Al-Baqara 2, Verse 185)
To be continued...
In Sha Allah```
_*May Allah ﷻ Bless us and guide us in all our affairs*_
*_Aameen_*
_*💐 Assalamualaikum*_ _*Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barkatuhu 💐 🍁 Bismillahir Rehmanir Rahim 🍁*_
💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢
*Ramadan is approaching ...*
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*The Purpose of Fasting in Islam*
```Continues...
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:```
*When one of you awakes in the morning for fasting, then he should not use obscene language or behave ignorantly. If anyone slanders him or tries to argue with him, he should say: Indeed, I am fasting. Indeed, I am fasting.* ```(Source: Ṣahiḥ Muslim 1151)
In another narration, the Prophet ﷺ said:```
*Verily, fasting is not only from eating and drinking. Rather, fasting is from vanity and obscenity. If someone abuses you or acts foolish against you, then say: Indeed, I am fasting.* ```(Source:Sahih ibn Hibban 3561, Grade: Sahih)
Saying this is as much a reminder to ourselves as it is to others. When we are tempted to commit sins or engage in bad thoughts while fasting, we should remind ourselves that we are fasting and change our thinking towards something good and beneficial.
If we do not abstain from bad words while fasting as well as sins and bad inward statements, then our fasting has not achieved one of its most important purposes. Allah ﷻ certainly does not need any of us to fast, so we must remember that the benefits our fasting might be nullified by these sins.
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:```
*Whoever does not give up false speech and evil deeds while fasting, then Allah is not in need of his leaving food and drink.* ```(Source:Sahih al-Bukhari 1804)
In another narration, the Prophet ﷺ said:```
*A person might fast and he gets nothing from his fast but hunger.* ```(Source: Sunan Ibn Majah 1690)
Umar ibn Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said:```
_Fasting is not merely from food and drink. Rather, it is from lies, falsehood, vain talk, and swearing._ ```(Source: Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah 8683)
In addition to keeping away from sins, we can use the exercise of fasting as a means to develop self-control over our low desires. Fasting generates will power within the heart that can be transferred to other situations in which we need to overcome temptation.
To be continued...
In Sha Allah```
_*May Allah ﷻ Bless us and guide us in all our affairs*_
*_Aameen_*
