Improving Our Ramadan Culture
People in the Muslim world prepare for Ramadān in many different ways. Almost all believers change their habits of worship, at least a little, during this month. We are truly blessed when Allah turns our hearts to this aspect of Ramadān, and we strengthen it with acts of devotion. It is a blessing for us during this month of Allah inspires us to give in charity, show kindness to our relatives, help the poor and needy, and seek the pardon of the people around us for any wrongs we may have done to them.
It is vital for our imāms and preachers to consider the mindset of the people they address in their sermons and employ the best means to cultivate this spirit in them. They should not use negative reinforcement too much or emphasise the people’s shortcomings. Positive encouragement is just as important. The most important thing to emphasise is the love of Allah, because this is essential. Many scholars, like Ibn `Abd al-Barr and Ibn Bāz, have noted that at times when people are lax and negligent in their religious duties, the best strategy is one of encouragement. People are more receptive to it.
There are many cultural aspects of Ramadān in the Muslim world that can become problematic. For some people, Ramadān is the season for shopping. They spend many hours in the marketplace buying foodstuffs, drinks, and other things they need in the kitchen. This is good as long as it is done in moderation. It is good to show extra kindness to one’s family during this month. Money brings its benefits when it is spent, and generosity is blessed while stinginess is sinful.
At the same time, Ramadān is an opportunity for us to rid ourselves of the crass consumerism that steers our spirits most of the time. This is especially true for those of us who live in affluent societies. Sadly, some people prepare for Ramadān as if it were an impending crisis.
Excessive spending on food, drink, appliances, automobiles, clothing, and other consumer goods is a bad habit that needs to be rectified. It is not good for someone to enter a store to buy one thing and leave with a dozen others, simply because they might prove useful one day.
We need to safeguard our wealth, whether it takes the form of money, water, petroleum, or anything else. Our resources are for future generations as well as for us. Allah says: “And He it is who causes gardens to grow, [both] trellised and untrellised, and palm trees and crops of different [kinds of] food and olives and pomegranates, similar and dissimilar. Eat of [each of] its fruit when it yields and pay what is due on it on the harvest day. And be not wasteful. Indeed, He does not like those who squander.” [Sūrah al-An`ām: 141]
In this verse, Allah first mentions that we should use our wealth and eat of it, but He also says that there are others who need it and have a right to it. Then He goes on to prohibit wasting that wealth and squandering it. This is the way to achieve sustainable development in every aspect of life, for the present generation and the generations to come. Those who put this into practice are also among the beneficiaries of its success.
This blessed month is an opportunity for adults to learn how to be moderate in their spending and consumption. It is also a chance for them to impart these lessons to their children. It is natural for people to underestimate the value of the things they have and look longingly at what they do not possess. It is not prudent to replace your cell phone, laptop, or car simply because a new model has been rereleased on the market. On the larger scale, safeguarding the Earth’s resources is critical for the continuance of life in the future.
Chasing after fashion and replacing one’s wardrobe to keep up with the latest trends is both a waste of money and a denial of our individuality.
It has been reported that per capita consumption of water in the Gulf states is three times higher than normal. This is blatant waste. Allah says: “Eat and drink, but do not be excessive. Allah does not love those who are excessive.” [Sūrah al-A`rāf: 31]
Prophet Muhammad once passed by Sa`d b. Abī Waqqās while he was making his ablutions for prayer. The Prophet said to him: “What is this wastefulness I see?”
Sa`d replied: “Is there wastefulness in performing ablutions?”
The Prophet said: “Yes, there is, even if you are making your ablutions in a flowing river.” [Musnad Ahmad (7065) and Sunan Ibn Mājah (425)]
It has also been reported that Saudi Arabia consumes as much tea and rice as a nation of 100 million people. Other reports have uncovered that roughly fifty percent of the food prepared at home ends up in the garbage, while thirty percent of the people do not bother to seek out the needy – or even animals – to give them the excess food, nor do they donate it to charitable organisations for distribution.
The extra spending on food in Ramadān is often accompanied by inflated prices. This means that interventions are needed to ensure that the prices of necessary items are not raised unjustly so poorer people can meet their needs. Vendors and merchants need to be reminded of their duty to their Lord and ensure that their profits are lawful, even if they are less than they could be. Allah will bless their lawful wealth and increase it.
When we enrich ourselves at the expense of the poor and needy who are struggling to get the bare necessities, it can lead us to being deprived of blessing and coming to a bad end. This is especially true in the month of Ramadān when we are supposed to strive with one another for the chance to spend on others and help them fulfil their needs. Allah says: “And for this let the competitors compete.” [Sūrah al-Mutaffifīn: 26]
Some people see Ramadān as the time to watch the month’s special television programmes. A number of these appear on the satellite networks, the radio, and the Internet. Each participant contributes what he or she has to offer. There are some very good and appropriate programs that discuss building good moral values. However, there are also programs that seek merely to earn profits during the month, and care nothing for moral values. These programs do not pay any consideration for the sacredness of the month.
Some young people in Saudi Arabia spend most of their time in Ramadān engaging in sports programmes. They associate this month with night-time sporting events under the floodlights. Some of them spend the entire night playing games up until the time of the pre-dawn meal.
Sports in moderation is a good thing. It promotes physical fitness and helps prepare young people to meet life’s many challenges. `Umar b. al-Khattāb used to say: “Teach your children swimming, archery, and horsemanship.” However it becomes blameworthy when it is taken to excess and intrudes into the time for other things, and when it is shown too much importance. Bodily health is something that Islam seeks to ensure, and sensible recreation is also a good thing. Everything has its limits and its appropriate time.
When young people spend the night in Ramadān in sports, whether as players or as spectators, what are they going to do during the day? Will they have the energy to work, study at school, or engage in worship?
Ramadān is an opportunity to change our daily routine. This means it is a chance for us to make positive changes in our lives. It is a tragedy for this month to be employed to the opposite effect, so that one more bad habit is added to the list. This is the bad habit of staying up all night, which harms the body, has a negative effect on the brain cells, and makes the face and skin age faster. Its harmfulness extends to the mind and the spirit as well, compromising our sense of wellbeing and impairing our ability to enjoy life. This is why Allah says: “And We have made your sleep a means for rest, and made the night as a covering, and We made the day for seeking livelihood.” [Sūrah al-Naba’: 9-11]
It is odd that people living in the major cities in the Muslim world tend to stay up all night, whereas people elsewhere in the world generally go to bed early. When we compare the sleeping habits of people in Tokyo, Washington, and London with those of people in Riyadh, Dubai, and Cairo, we see a startling difference. In some cities of the Muslim world, many of the inhabitants stay up the entire night, sleeping only after daybreak. Yet, “Allah has given a due measure for everything.” [Sūrah al-Talāq: 3]
Muslims should try to realize the purpose of fasting, which is “that perchance you can be God-fearing.” [Sūrah al-Baqarah: 183] Therefore, it is essential to abandon false speech, looking at unlawful sights, lewdness, and wasting time in vain pursuits. If we cannot abandon these things, then Allah has no need for our abandoning food and drink.
We fast for Allah’s sake alone, intending to please Him and seeking His reward. However, the rewards and benefits of fasting are entirely for the worshippers themselves. Allah has no need for it. He says: “If you disbelieve (and are thankless), truly Allah has no need of you; but He likes not ingratitude from His servants. If you are grateful, He is pleased with you.” [Sūrah al-Zumar: 7]
Blessed are those who hasten to do good with their short lives and do not neglect the opportunities they have. Ramadān is indeed a most unique opportunity for us. None of us know if we will live to see another. We speak about our friends and loved ones who have passed away. Do we not realise that one day it will be others speaking about us like that?
Sheikh Salman al-Oadah
Source: en.islamtoday.net (Jun 28, 2014)
