Musings: Clarifying the Faith of Islam at Ramadan

Jibril would meet him every night of Ramadan and teach him the Quran. Then the Messenger of God would truly be more generous than a constant wind. The Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) being the soul of Islam in its zenith of perfection, like the air we share and breathe to live, constantly was imbued with love, compassion, and generosity of a merciful nature. By his selfless and indiscriminate mannerism of serving the less privileged, one can’t help but be utterly humbled via his example. When one thinks of the soul of an entity, one sees the very essence of its belonging. Merriam Webster defines the soul as “the immaterial essence, animating principle, or actuating cause of an individual life.”

A secondary definition defines the soul as “the spiritual principle embodied in human beings, all rational and spiritual beings, or the universe.” Thus if one could look into the soul of Islam, one would ultimately see enlightenment, peace, morality and divine order. For the word Islam means submission to a higher divine order, that of God. Subsequently, a Muslim is merely one who submits his or her will to that of God as depicted in the Quran (Intriguing “Ted Talk” link HERE). During Ramadan, the Holy Quran is recited by heart and listened to by millions around the globe. The Quran was revealed over a period of 23 years to the Prophet (pbuh). Thus, “Like a flower of tenderness and like the full moon in glory. Like the ocean in generosity and like time in grand intentions” the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) for Muslims is the walking, talking Quran in action.

The Quran is like a divine scripture which governs the functions of the secular and spiritual lives of millions. For one to understand the deepest meaning of the Quran, one must draw close to the soul of the Prophet Mohmmed (pbuh). His blessed life is the best exegesis of the Quran, and the surest guide to its meaning.

The Quran in its text, in context, declares that there is no sectarian divide. It refers to all mankind as the children of Adam, not differentiating between races, social classes or gender. In essence, the Quran was sent down to perfect human character. “And say: O my Lord! cause me to enter a rightful entrance and cause me to go forth a rightful outgoing.” (ch 17 v 80) The soul of Islam has no color, no social status, no nationality and no gender. Everyone is equal before God, and only by acknowledging God as the supreme and only Creator and following His mandates will one rise in esteem before God. In fact, the Quran tells us that the “roh” or breath of the soul is divine in nature. There is no inheritance of bad deeds, and no soul is born with the burden of sin of those before him. Humans are born pure, free of sin, and innately good. It is the influences around them they must watch for to remain on this spectrum.

The Quran outlines the very morality that has been taught in the untouched books of divinity, which came before it and calls the masses to morality yet promises mercy if humanity falls into sin but repents and seeks guidance from God. To remain moral in a world filled with immorality? God instructs Muslims to pray five times a day and stand before Him, reciting verses which not only humble His servants, but also remind them that there is a greater Power that is omniscient and sees not only their triumphs, but their struggles and despair. He tells us in the Quran that one must never lose hope in their supplication to Him, because loss of hope leads to disbelief and therein lies the real problem. As long as one is prostrating and submitting their will to God, one can hope for brighter days and ease from hardship. Thus the soul of Islam is not blind following, but active engagement and a rapport with God at all times. A Muslim can beseech God on any of his affairs while also repenting for any misgivings on his part.

Because the soul of Islam is divine in nature, so too are the characteristics attributed to it. In the Quran, God has 99 names, which are in fact attributes without any plurality. Merciful, Compassionate, Patient, Strong, Just, Great and Wise are just some of the names ascribed to Him. By knowing these attributes, one is drawn closer to the Creator. In the residence of these names one draws one’s purpose from these attributes.

Those of us who drive know well the purpose of a driving wheel. It is to change direction from left to right and right to left. Thus the soul of Islam puts strong emphasis in one’s character making it so much more precious than a vast empire. It ensures to inculcate the gnosis of God-consciousness, gaining in return, blessings, guidance and mercy.

Grounded firmly root and stem in the foundations of faith, it helps strengthen one’s soul, enabling it to conquer everything infinite, in comparison to victories vanquished of a material, ephemeral and finite in nature. Character building, like one builds a house brick by brick, is the real art upon which the soul of Islam rests, resides and gains restoration. Never does it remain static, instead its moral states are always evolving, coming closer to God rather than being utterly ruined and bulldozed by being away from God. In the Holy month of Ramadan, the work for nourishing and feeding the soul by testing human character becomes ever more prevalent in the daily lives of the Muslims.

The Message of Ramadan in the Quran is given thus: “O Believers! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become pious.” (ch 2 v 183)

Fasting is a religious duty incumbent upon Muslims. It gives one a lot of food for thought (pun intended). Indeed it involves difficulty with discipline and summons one’s inner abilities of patience and perseverance. Putting aside one’s self interest, God’s divine interests and commands become the primary focus, showing us utmost humility. So much so our soul remains at the beck and call of our Creator come what may. It helps one’s mind to be guided into practices of moral and ethical values.

The test of the soul of Islam does not end when the month of Ramadan departs. It continues on. Ramadan impacts our soul to learn and know the differences between the lawful and unlawful, discerning good and evil, and to overcome the impurities of one’s shortcomings. From dawn till dusk each day of Ramadan, not only are Muslims fasting from negative behavioral traits such as lying, anger, greed, gossip and slander, but they must abstain from things that are normally made lawful to them such as marital relations between husband and wife, food and drink. The purpose behind this practice is so that not only does one realize just how much control one has over one’s actions pertaining to human desires, but also to realize how grateful one must be to have the ability to choose those desires once the fast is over. In contrast, there are many who don’t have food, shelter and the basic necessities, and this is where the generous spirit of Islam comes in. During this month, charity is taken to the next level as one aspires to be like the Prophet (pbuh). The poor and needy are taken care of and homes are opened up to neighbors and friends to break the fast together.

This helps the whole community in coming together to not allow hearts to be hardened but rather to be softened by activities of feeding the poor, restoring hope for communities, and teaching us all as Gandhi said, “There is more to life than speeding up time.”

Ramadan is a renewal that brings back instilling in its followers the primordial vigor of Islam. One of our esteemed scholars and saints of Islam Shaikh Abu Bakar Sirajuddin Dr Martin – born as a Protestant and later converted to Islam Lings (See HERE) – said, “Renewal is thus for Muslims a movement of return, that is, a movement in a backward rather than a forward direction.”

It does not mean one becomes a hermit in a cave, rather it summons forth the soul of Islam to develop and progress to that which transcends towards the benefits of divine devotion, with hope springing eternal, via the path of the prayer: “Guide us upon the way of transcendence” into a return to the soul inside of us all.