Ramadan Is More Than Just Fasting
23 September 2007
That older clerk best demonstrates the true meaning and spirit of Ramadan. It is more than just fasting; it is about being generous to others, including a total stranger. The clerk could just as easily join his co-workers in eating or have the counter closed.
Ramadan As Allah’s Special Blessing
Ramadan is a season to be forgiving and to be forgiven. It distresses me that no Muslim nation, Malaysia included, have shown fit to grant their prisoners amnesty during Ramadan. Imagine the positive image of Islam if Muslim leaders were to be generous to their citizens, especially those prisoners of conscience.
Just as the day’s fasting heightens our sensitivity to the flavor of even the simplest food at dusk, likewise Allah heightens or enhances the spirituality and blessings of our regular ibadat (religious duties) when performed during Ramadan.
It is said that the virtue of praying on the “Night of Power” (one of the last ten nights of Ramadan) equals that of “a thousand months,” or that certain ibadat are worth “44 times more” if done during Ramadan. We should not be obsessed with the magnitude of the enhancements. Suffice to know that they are, and that should motivate us even more to perform them with even greater fervor and frequency during Ramadan.
In the documentary film “American Ramadan,” a Christian minister related his experience in Malaysia during that holy month. He was at the airport at dusk to retrieve his luggage, but every worker was rivetted on the clock, awaiting the breaking of fast. He did not know then the significance of the month and thus could not comprehend their obsession with time. An older clerk however came over to help him while the others were busy eating.
That older clerk best demonstrates the true meaning and spirit of Ramadan. It is more than just fasting; it is about being generous to others, including a total stranger. The clerk could just as easily join his co-workers in eating or have the counter closed.
Ramadan As Allah’s Special Blessing
Tradition has it that during Ramadan the doors to Hell are closed while the gates to Heaven are wide open, a reflection of Allah’s generosity. The best way for us to show our respect for Ramadan, and thus for Allah, is to reciprocate His generosity by being generous to our fellow humans and His other creations.
Ramadan is a season to be forgiving and to be forgiven. It distresses me that no Muslim nation, Malaysia included, have shown fit to grant their prisoners amnesty during Ramadan. Imagine the positive image of Islam if Muslim leaders were to be generous to their citizens, especially those prisoners of conscience.
Just as the day’s fasting heightens our sensitivity to the flavor of even the simplest food at dusk, likewise Allah heightens or enhances the spirituality and blessings of our regular ibadat (religious duties) when performed during Ramadan.
It is said that the virtue of praying on the “Night of Power” (one of the last ten nights of Ramadan) equals that of “a thousand months,” or that certain ibadat are worth “44 times more” if done during Ramadan. We should not be obsessed with the magnitude of the enhancements. Suffice to know that they are, and that should motivate us even more to perform them with even greater fervor and frequency during Ramadan.
[...]
These benefits of Ramadan would be negated if we were to be a glutton after sunset. With the increasingly common practice of indulging with elaborate iftars at fancy hotels, many Muslims gain weight! Such extravagances are certainly not in the spirit of a season that calls for restraint and moderation.
At the House of Kedah restaurant in Vancouver, Canada, there was a sign at its buffet table, “There will be $5.00 charge, donated to charity, for unfinished plate.” What a wonderful idea! It prevents waste and discourages gluttony.
Kedah, Perak religious authorities to step up enforcement during Ramadan
Pix for illustration purposes.
ALOR SETAR: The Kedah Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAIK) will increase monitoring at 71 restaurants and eateries in the state known to be frequent haunts for those who skip fasting during Ramadan.
State Religious, Education and Human Resource committee chairman Brig Gen (R) Datuk Najmi Ahmad said 200 JHEAIK enforcement personnel and officers will be mobilised to monitor and take action against individuals and businesses involved.
“Usually, businesses that operate during the fasting month are the same people every year and it might be their habit every Ramadan (to sell food and drink to those who skip fasting),” he said at a media conference here today.
Non-Muslim premises will also be monitored as there are Muslim traders who offer food and drink to those who skip their fast there in an effort to avoid detection by enforcement officers, he added.
Najmi said businesses that operate during non-reasonable hours (before from 3 or 4 pm) throughout Ramadan will have action taken against them.
Meanwhile, in IPOH, the Perak Islamic Religious Department (JAIPk) has identified at least three main locations where the ‘black plastic gang’ in the city will frequent during Ramadan. Named after the black plastic bags used to hide the food carried in them, these individuals have no qualms of buying food and drink from any business willing to provide them during Ramadan.
JAIPk director Datuk Mohd Yusof Husin said his department had prepared 100 enforcement personnel to raid these locations and detain anyone who was found to be skipping their fast, no matter what their excuse.
“These black plastic gang individuals will make excuses, claiming to be buying food for other people, the elderly and sick.
“We usually advise them because the most popular excuse used is they are hungry and dying for a smoke. But sterner action will be taken if they are caught for skipping their fast,” he said after presenting school uniforms to 100 students from B40 families today.
According to him, any Muslim found guilty of drinking or eating in public throughout Ramadan can be fined RM1,000 or jailed for six months, or both, adding that the issue was not something new but kept on reoccurring every year.
“So I urge all Muslims to uphold their dignity and that of Islam and do not bring disrepute to all devout Muslims,” he said. — Bernama
State Religious, Education and Human Resource committee chairman Brig Gen (R) Datuk Najmi Ahmad said 200 JHEAIK enforcement personnel and officers will be mobilised to monitor and take action against individuals and businesses involved.
“Usually, businesses that operate during the fasting month are the same people every year and it might be their habit every Ramadan (to sell food and drink to those who skip fasting),” he said at a media conference here today.
Non-Muslim premises will also be monitored as there are Muslim traders who offer food and drink to those who skip their fast there in an effort to avoid detection by enforcement officers, he added.
Najmi said businesses that operate during non-reasonable hours (before from 3 or 4 pm) throughout Ramadan will have action taken against them.
Meanwhile, in IPOH, the Perak Islamic Religious Department (JAIPk) has identified at least three main locations where the ‘black plastic gang’ in the city will frequent during Ramadan. Named after the black plastic bags used to hide the food carried in them, these individuals have no qualms of buying food and drink from any business willing to provide them during Ramadan.
JAIPk director Datuk Mohd Yusof Husin said his department had prepared 100 enforcement personnel to raid these locations and detain anyone who was found to be skipping their fast, no matter what their excuse.
“These black plastic gang individuals will make excuses, claiming to be buying food for other people, the elderly and sick.
“We usually advise them because the most popular excuse used is they are hungry and dying for a smoke. But sterner action will be taken if they are caught for skipping their fast,” he said after presenting school uniforms to 100 students from B40 families today.
According to him, any Muslim found guilty of drinking or eating in public throughout Ramadan can be fined RM1,000 or jailed for six months, or both, adding that the issue was not something new but kept on reoccurring every year.
“So I urge all Muslims to uphold their dignity and that of Islam and do not bring disrepute to all devout Muslims,” he said. — Bernama
MM Online:
Deputy minister vows action against Muslims who violate Ramadan fast
Deputy minister vows action against Muslims who violate Ramadan fast
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Religious Affairs Datuk Ahmad Marzuk Shaary speaks to reporters in Putrajaya, December 30, 2020. ― Picture by Shafwan Zaidon
KUALA LUMPUR, 13 April — The Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) will continue to monitor and carry out enforcement on Muslims who do not respect the Ramadan month, including eating in public places, although the three federal territories are currently under either the conditional movement control order (CMCO) or the recovery MCO (RMCO).
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Ahmad Marzuk Shaary said enforcement, monitoring and operations would be conducted.
“We will also conduct operations based on complaints,” he told the media after launching the “Kembara Al-Amin” programme here today.
Ahmad Marzuk said action would also be taken against business premises or restaurants that sell food to Muslims during the day.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Ahmad Marzuk Shaary said enforcement, monitoring and operations would be conducted.
“We will also conduct operations based on complaints,” he told the media after launching the “Kembara Al-Amin” programme here today.
Ahmad Marzuk said action would also be taken against business premises or restaurants that sell food to Muslims during the day.
Back in the day non-Muslims didn't even know it was Ramadan, as Muslims would fast and make no fuss about it. Just go about their day as normal, except no eating, drinking, smoking etc.
ReplyDeleteNowadays it is a such a huge deal, with adjusted working hours, religious polis enforcement, indulgent buka puasa feasts, non-Muslim students must eat under the pokok or in the toilet etc.
The legally enforceable ban was and is limited to Muslims eating in public in daylight hours during the Fasting month.
ReplyDeleteThe enforcement against Muslims buying food during daylight hours, even banning eateries from openingn during day time, now even talking about monitoring Non-Muslim food outlets,
is purely a Race and Religion Extremist Zombie self-invention.
Reminds me of my memory in Ningxia breaking fast with the Hui iman.
ReplyDeleteThere were not mountains of mutton - Rinse or Grabbed but enough. There were also more than enough naan & none stop free flowing goat milk tea.
Most of the guests & host only partake small portions of meal. Msny of them just enjoy the conversations & atmosphere.
A scene one would hardly see in visiting to a muslim family in bolihland.
Glutinous consumption of foods & wastage r the norm as if to replenish the lost food opportunit ies of the previous hours!
It's even more ridiculous about those showcasing hotel breaking fast scenes!
There is Islam & there is Islam!
china muslim live a frugal live unlike ccp communist, 2 zombies order 12 dishes.
DeleteYaloh, keep lying with farts that I have searched in those China media!
DeletePerhaps with some Formosa katak-ised favours!
dun lie, u live there once, sure know beter than me, maybe 12 not precise enough, its 11 or 13?
DeleteStill wanted to parade yr 南魔萬 England comprehension!
DeleteI said u r lying with facts I have searched from those China media.
What so difficult for u to understand?
Extravaganza dinner happens everywhere, China nevertheless. The Chinese leadership understood & criticized this kind of wasteful & show off behaviour, especially amongst officials!
President Xi even orders that no more such extravaganza be allowed in official functions!
Yet u twisted a common banality amongst all cultures to bullseyed JUST CCP communist! An oxymoron fart that only a katak-ised dickhead can uttered.
Again, lying?
Who's?
People spend more on food during Ramadhan compared to other non fasting months. Ironic, is it not??
ReplyDelete