Fasting purges mind, body
Today more than one billion people worldwide, including an estimated six million Americans (by conservative counts), begin their observance of Ramadan. Beyond fasting, it means a month of deeper reflection and self-examination, of family ties, of cleaner living.
Ramadan, or Ramadhan, is the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar. Unlike solar calendars which are fixed, lunar calendars are based on the moon's natural phases, so Ramadan's start varies up to 11 days year by year.
In Arabic "ramadan" derives from the infinitive ramda, to burn. Summer is obviously hot, but in the areas of the Middle and Near East where Islam originated, the ground feels scorching to bare feet. The metaphor refers to the burning of sins. The "heat" of hunger rises through the body, purging one of impurities by burning not only the body's excess, but the mind's too.
Ramadan's rule of fasting is as much spiritual as physical.
It's also charitable. In addition to fasting from sun-up to sun-down (with pre-dawn "suhur" and post-sunset "iftar" meals, generally hearty and celebratory), Muslims are expected to be especially charitable during the Holy Month, with more donations of money and goods, meals provided to the poor, and good works. Ramadan teaches that fasting's sacrifice and pain brings compassion for others who suffer.
This holiest of times for Muslims originated when the Qur'an (apostrophe represents a pause in pronunciation) was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad in 610 CE - "Laylat al-Qadr," or "the Night of Power."
"The month of Ramadhan in which was revealed the Qur'an, guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful." - Qur'an, Surah 2, Ayah 185.
Note the passage allows an exception for those ill or traveling, proscribing medical risk or true hardship. Thus the very young and old, the ill, and pregnant or nursing women need not fast.
Accountability through self-reflection and self-restraint (and with the guidance of the holy book) are Ramadan's focus. Muslims are to make peace with those who have wronged them or whom they have wronged; strengthen ties with family and friends; and purge themselves of bad habits, thoughts and feelings.
The Arabic word for fasting, sawm, means "to refrain." During Ramadan every part of the body is restrained - the tongue (harmful words), eyes (improper looks, lust), mind (harmful thoughts, e.g. anger and greed), hands (taking what isn't yours), ears (listening to gossip or obscenities), even the feet (from going where one shouldn't). The whole body observes the "fast."
By removing all the body's desires, one is better able to reach the spirit. This is the essence of Ramadan. So if you want to respect a Muslim friend in the coming month, greet her with "Ramadan mubarak" (blessed Ramadan) and speak with kindness over a twilight dinner rather than suggesting lunch.
"Ramadan is a month whose beginning is mercy, whose middle is forgiveness and whose end is freedom from the fire." - Hadith (statement) of The Prophet Muhammad
Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network who lived in Iran as a child. Contact her at [email protected].