Ramadan is considered one of the holiest months of the year for Muslims. It is the month in which fasting has been made obligatory on every Muslim except those exempted from fasting, from dawn to sunset.
The faithful fast between 11 to 16 hours daily depending on the time of year for a period of 29-30 days as a means of drawing closer to Allah and cultivating self-control, gratitude, and compassion for the less fortunate.
Words of an Imam
Sheikh Ahmed Adjetey Adjei, Deputy Greater Accra Regional Imam of the Ghana Muslim Mission told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that the ultimate goal of fasting in the month of Ramadan is to gain Taqwah that is God-consciousness.
It signifies a state of constant awareness of Allah, through discipline, self-restraint and a greater incentive to do good and avoid evil.
He said the practice of fasting served several spiritual and social purposes: to remind Muslims of their human weakness and dependence on Allah for sustenance, to show how hunger and thirst are and to have compassion for, and a duty to help the poor and needy, and to reduce the distractions in life to clearly focus on their relationship with the Almighty Allah.
Implications
Muslims are also supposed to curb negative thoughts and emotions like jealousy and anger, and even lesser things like swearing, complaining, and gossiping, during the month. Some people may also choose to give up or limit activities like listening to music and watching television, often in favour of listening to recitations of the Quran, he said.
“Ramadan comes with a lot of benefits to the fasting Muslim with faith and hope for reward from Allah alone as stated by the Prophet (SAW), then his or her spiritual growth is enhanced through forgiveness of all previous sins by Allah.
“During this month, the doors of mercy, forgiveness and kindness are specially opened and the doors of evil, bad and wrong doing are specially closed.”
Sheikh Adjei said fasting in Ramadan helped to gain the fear and love of Allah, by drawing closer to him through the recitation and reflection on the Quran day and night, attending tawareeh (night) prayers, remembering Allah (dzikhir) and sitting in circles of knowledge.
He said the month of Ramadan also helped Muslims to acquire patience and strong will. It also helps the Muslim to re-inforce his or her manners especially that related to truthfulness and trust.
The Prophet Mohammed (SAW) is reported to have said that whoever does not abandon falsehood for truthfulness, then Allah does not need that he should leave his food and drink. So the Muslim should endeavour to refrain from any behaviour that would render the fast ineffective or worthless.