THIS POST IS FOR 2010. FOR THE LATEST 2011 INFO PLEASE GO TO THIS LINK:
https://muslimvillage.com/2011/07/30/welcome-to-ramadan-2011-1432/
Aug 10 2010
UPDATE: 6:30pm Aug 11 2010 – Moon Sighted in Sydney, Australia at Maghrib today.
Muslims around the world celebrated the first day of Ramadan today. As with most years, controversy over the start of Ramadan again surfaced. In Australia, just like the situation globally, some Muslims will start fasting on Wed (calculators), others on Thurs (moonsighters). MuslimVillage.com will keep you updated of the lastest information (we will update info as we receive it – keep checking our homepage). Alternatively, please check with your local Mosque/Islamic Centre. Ramadan Kareem to you all.
OFFICIAL 1st Day of Ramadan 2010 – 1431 in Different Countries
August 11, 2010 (Wednesday):
- France (Official Announcement)
- Australia (Calculations – Lakemba Mosque, Turkish Mosques; ASWJ – Follow Indonesia)
- Indonesia (sighting – Official Announcement)
- Jordan (Follow Saudi)
- Kuwait (Follow Saudi)
- Lebanon (Follow Saudi)
- Libya (Calculations)
- Luxembourg (Follow Saudi)
- Malaysia (Calculations)
- Netherlands (Follow Saudi)
- Norway (Calculations)
- Palestine (Follow Saudi)
- Qatar (Follow Saudi)
- Saudi Arabia (sighting – Official Announcement)
- Spain (Official Announcement)
- Sudan (Follow Saudi)
- Sweden (Follow Saudi)
- Syria (Follow Saudi)
- UAE (Follow Saudi)
- Taiwan (Follow Saudi)
- UK (Coordination Committee of Major Islamic Centres and Mosques of London)
- USA (FCNA and ISNA decision – Calculations)
- Yemen (Follow Saudi)
August 12, 2010 (Thursday):
- South Africa (30 days completion)
- Tanzania (30 days completion)
- UK (Wifaaqul ulama), (Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat)
- Australia (Board of Imams – Calculation), Local sighting
Bangladesh (Local Sighting)
Canada (Local Sighting) [Toronto Hilal Committee]
Kenya (Local Sighting)
Mauritius (Local Sighting)
Morocco (Local Sighting)
New Zealand (Local Sighting)
Oman (Local Sighting)
Pakistan (Local Sighting)
Philippines (Local Sighting)
South Africa (30 days completion)
Sri Lanka (Local Sighting)
Tanzania (30 days completion)
UK (30 days completion) [Wifaaqul ulama), (Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat]
USA (Local Sighting) [Shi’aa Community, Chicago Hilal Committee, Zaytuna Institute, CA, Imam W. D. Mohammed Community]
Here are the latest sighting reports from www.Moonsighting.com
Tuesday, 10 August 2010:
Australia:
Not Seen (cloudy and rainy): Muhammad Khatree (MCW member), Brisbane, QL reported: The moon was not sighted anywhere in Brisbane tonight. The weather has been cloudy and rainy throughout the entire day.
Cannot be Seen: ZS (zfrsdq@gmail.com) reported: Sydney Observatory report: http://www.sydneyobservatory.com.au/blog/?p=3908
Brunei:
Not Seen: Mr. Ideal Abi Hakims from Brunei Darussalam reported: I wish to inform you that Ramadhan crescent has not been sighted in Brunei Darussalam on August 10, 2010. Ramadhan will be on August 12, 2010 ( Syaaban 30 days completion )
Not Seen: Mr. Lukman Thalib from Brunei Darussalam reported: Brunei annonced just now that their fasting begins on Thursday 12th August as they failed to see the moon.
Chile:
Not Seen: Muhammad Sohail (MCW member) from Iquique reported: I have not seen the moon for Ramadan; I started looking for the moon from 18:25 upto 19:25. The sky was quite clear. So, Ramadan will satrt on Aug 12, 2010.
France:
Official Announcement: Rida Roty (MCW member) from Caen (Normandie) reported: Official announcement of first Ramadan on Wednesday, August 11 in France. Ramadan Mubarak
India:
Not Seen (cloudy): Abdul Gaffar (MCW member) from Manipur reported: On 10 Aust 2010 at 18:10 Indian Standard Time, no moon is sighted at Imphal town, Manipur, India. Tthe sky was cloudy.
Not Seen: Mazhar Pallumirah (MCW member) from Chennai reported: On 10th august 2010, Ramadhan new moon was not seen, in chennai/india despite of clear sky. I watched the sky from local time 18:33 until 18:42 i.e., from sunset till moonset time of astronomical calculation. Please note that here today is 28th Sha’ban as per physical moon sighting system.
Indonesia:
Not Seen (overcast in Yogyakarta – But Ramadan starts Wednesday Govt. Announcement based on sighting claims in two places): AR Sugeng Riyadi (MCW member) from Yogyakarta, Java reported: New crescent for Ramadhan 1431 AH could not be seen this evening (Tuesday, August 10, 2010) in Yogyakarta Indonesia, because the weather was overcast and the moon altitude is still below 3 degrees above the west horizon.
However, The Indonesian Government in this case the Ministry of Religious Affairs announced the beginning of a Ramadhan 1431 AH is on Wednesday, 11 August 2010, after confirmation hearing. Until now rukyat report obtained at two places i.e. at Porbolingo and Gresik, where the moon can be seen.”
Kuwait:
Not Seen: Dr Lukman Thalib (MCW member) reported: It appears that Kuwait might announce the beginning of fasting tonight and if that happens then the first day of fasting would be 11th of August like in North America. The first day of fasting in Kuwait is usually coordinated with neighbouring gulf arab countries particularly Saudi Arabia.
Leading Kuwaiti expert on Moonsighting has suggested it is most likely that 11 August 2010 becomes our first day of fasting.. So we begin Tueday night and fast on Wednessday as our first day if his predictions come true. Otherwise we begin fasting on Thursday. Saudi announcement is important in this matter though.
Insha Allah will send you a report as soon as Ramadhan is declared. It would take 6-8 hours from now for us to know if we would fast Wednessday or Thursday.
Malaysia:
Not Seen (But Ramadan starts Wednesday based on calculations): Zaki Afifi (MCW member) from Seremban reported: Today, August 10th 2010, I was not at a strategic location to perform moon sighting. Visibility was rather limited. Nonetheless, I still went out as an act of obedience, and the new moon was not sighted. Report from colleague at the nearest official moon sighting location (Teluk Kemang) also reported negative.
The government anyway has announced that Ramadhan in Malaysia starts tonight, meaning that the first day of saum will be on Wednesday, taking into account the hisab, that the new moon is already more than 8 hours old at maghrib.
Not Seen: Mohd Fahmi Bin Zakaria (MCW member) from Pontian Kechil, Johor reported: On Tuesday, August 10, 2010, we (Mohd Fahmi bin Zakaria and Firdaus bin Mazlan) cannot see the moon with naked eye; also cannot see through telescope. The place was at pontian kechil, johor, malaysia (1:29N 103:23E).
Nigeria:
Not Seen: Sheik A.A. Ishola (MCW member) from Ikorodu, Lagos reported: I am happy to report for the first time in history All South west moonsighting Committee gathered in a Lagos searching for the Ramadan Crescent at Marina Leventis B/Stop Lagos State on the top of Abadoned bridge searching for the moon with the distributed Telescope and Binocular given to us by The President of Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs unfortunately the Crescent of 14hr 55min age was not seen due to Cloudness same report from Ilorin Kaduna and Iseyin.and we reported negative to the Chief Imam of Lagosand Chairman of National moonsighting Committe all of negative. later on Sulton Announced the sighting of the Moon with the naked eyes from the 8-10 places of the Nothern Nigeria. we wonder what will be our fate on Sept 8 when age of moon will be 7hr 13 min.
Norway:
Not Seen: Milad Ali Ershaghi (MCW member) from Oslo reported: On Tuesday, August 10, 2010, sunset time in Oslo, Norway was 9:29pm and moonset time was 8:55pm. So it was not astronomically possible to see the moon. I tried to look for it anyhow at about 9:45pm – but did not see the moon.
Announcement: Imran Mushtaq (MCW member) from Oslo reported: Islamic Council of Norway have officcaly announed, based on conditions given by Hijri Calendar Agreement, that Norway will start inshaAllah 1st Ramadan on Wednesday, 11 August 2010. Ramadan Mubarak. >
Pakistan:
Not Seen: Sultan Alam (MCW member) from Karachi reported: Today (Tuesday, 10 August 2010) was 28th Shaban 1431 in Pakistan and the moon was so defective in whole Asia that there was no solid proof in the history of astronomy to sight such a moon even by a telescope, hence there was no need to try to sight the moon in Pakistan but in spite of this fact, just to increase the trust of common people in the Science of Moon-sighting and because the people were confused due to the 29th Shaban in Saudi Arab, I requested the people to sight the moon today. Resultantly, On my request, nearly 300 persons (members of the moon-sighting committees of our institute “JAMIA-TUR-RASHEED” + my friends + their companions) tried to sight the moon at nearly 60 places all over Pakistan but the moon could not be sighted, as it was astronomically expected tonight. It was almost cloudy today countrywide, due to monsoon season.
There is worst flood of history in Pakistan greater than Sonami etc. Nearly 14 million persons are directly affected. Pray and help your Pakistani brothers.
Saudi Arabia:
Not Seen: Sultan Alam (MCW member) from Karachi reported for Medinah, Saudi Arabia: My respected teachers and friends are this time in Madinah (Saudi Arabia). They tried to sight the moon by naked eyes but not sighted as it was expected astronomically. Sky was clear
Not Seen: Luqmaan Williams (MCW member) from Riyadh reported: I’m in Riyadh for testing. The conditions were dusty and didn’t see a thing… But the Maghrib prayer was made about 15 minutes after the adhan and it lasted about 10 minutes until 6:57 p.m. When I went outside after the praye, there was nothing to be seen.
Seen (Official Announcement). However, Moonsighting.com thinks, This does not qualify for Authentic Sighting: Mrs. Lubna Shawly (MCW member) from Jiddah reported: It is announced in the Saudi courts, according to the observation of the new moon (moon was sighted) the first day of Ramadan for the year 1431 Hijrah corresponding to the year 2010 will be on Wednesday the 11th of August 2010. And the month of Sha’ban is only 29 days. Ramadan Mubarak to all.
Senegal:
Not Seen: Ibrahima Thierno LO (MCW member) from Dakar reported: Sighting the crescent by naked eyes was tried on August 10, but it was not seen. The sky near the western horizon was partly cloudy.
South Africa:
Not Seen: Rashid Motala (MCW member) from Durban reported: The Hilaal for Ramadhan was not sighted this evening in S. Africa. Thursday will be the 1st. Ramadhan Mubaruk to all of you. May Allah shower his unlimited Mercy and Blessing upon the Ummah, and accept our Fasting and Ibadah. Ameen. A special dua for those in Pakistan affected by the terrible floods.
Spain:
Not Seen: Gabriel Jairodín Riaza from Madrid, spain reported: The Union of Islamic Communities of Spain (Islamic Commission of Spain) announces that tomorrow, August 11, 2010, is the first day of the holy month Ramadan 1431. Ramadan Karim.
Sri Lanka:
Not Seen: Nular Bary (MCW member) from Colombo reported: Today 28th Shaban 1431H,(10/08/2010 Tuesday) in Sri Lanka, I went to my observing point just after Maharib prays and waited till 7:30 Pm.(our sun set was at 6:29 Pm.) scanning the western sky it was fairly clear but I couldn’t see the Crescent of Ramadan by naked eye. Tomorrow we have a good chance of sighting it. “Inshaallah”
Sweden:
Not Seen: Tanzil Abbas from Sweden reported: The Islamic Federation of Sweden has announced that the first day of Ramadan in Sweden will be Wednesday 11th August. Source: Following Saudi Arabias annoncement.
Taiwan:
Not Seen (But follow Saudi Arabia): Imam Husein Chen from Kaohsiung, Taiwan reported: We have not seen the new moon in Taiwan, but follow the imformation of Saudi Arabia in fasting. So, 11 Aug 2010 is the fhst Ramadhan for us.
Tanzania:
Not Seen: Hamza Rijal (MCW member) from Island of Zanzibar reported: From the tiny island of Zanzibar the weather of Unguja Island was hazy in the evening of Tuesday 10 August 2010. I tried to observe the Hilal of Month of 1431 Ramadhan 1431. I was not able to see it by naked eye, The Sunset was at 1825 Local time (1525GMT). I communicate with number of people to get their respond; none came forward to say hilal is beeng observed, so we complete 30 days of the month of Ramadhan, and Thursday 12 August will be officially first day of Ramadhan in Zanzibar.
Trinidad and Tobago:
Not Seen (Clouds): Isa Mohammed (MCW member) from Chguanas reported: I am reporting that the moon was not sighted from my location in Trinidad on August 10th, 2010. It was not seen with either naked eye or a 120mm telescope. There was significant cloud cover that interfered with observations as well.
UK:
Official Statement, London, UK: Danyal Shoaib from UK reported: The decision for London is as follows (from an official statement by Regents Park and East London Mosque and others):
The Coordination Committee of Major Islamic Centres and Mosques of London has agreed that 1st Ramadan 1431 will be on Wednesday 11th August 2010. Tarawih prayers will begin on Tuesday evening.
Royal Observatory, UK: Saleem Adam reported: Here is a link for the Start date of Ramadan 2010.
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/rog/2010/07/start_and_end_dates_of_ramadan.html
The link is from the Royal Observatory and gives a clear indication when Ramadan should start in the UK.
Not Seen: Qamar Uddin (MCW member) from York reported: On Tuesday 10 August 2010 (29 Shaban 1431 AH) many people from throughout UK have attempted to sight the crescent moon (Hilal) of Ramadan after sunset. Some places were clear but none of the groups were able to sight Hilal. We have not received any reliable sighting news from countries from East of UK/Morocco either. But we have received negative sighting reports from South Africa, Oman, India, Pakistan etc. Therefore, the Ulama have decided that the month of Shaban 1431 AH will complete 30 days and the month of Ramadan 1431 AH will start from Thursday 12 August 2010 (which means the night of 26 Ramadan will be on Monday 6 September 2010), Insha-Allah. May Allah rewards all those who have attempted to revive the Sunnah of moon sighting, this month.
Not Seen: Saleem Adam from UK reported: The decision for London from the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat is as follows:
It has been agreed by all Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat Imams in accordance with the UK Observatory the 1st of Ramadan 1431 will be on Thursday 12th August 2010. Taraweeh prayers will begin on Wednesday evening.
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Wednesday, 11 August 2010:
Wednesday, 11 August 2010:
Australia:
Seen: Dr. Shabbir Ahmed (MCW member) Imam of Rooty Hill Mosque Sydney, NSW reported: The Hilaal of Ramadaan ul Mubaarak 1431 has been sighted in Sydney. The Hilaal Committee and Majlisul Ulamaa’ of Australia have hence declared that the month of Ramadaan ul Mubaarak 1431will commence from Thursday, 12th August 2010.
Seen: Aslam Hussain (MCW member) from Brisbane, Queensland reported: Alhamdulillah the crescent for Ramadan was sighted in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia today. Although it had been raining for the past couple of days and today, the sky cleared up before Maghrib, mashaAllah. I, my wife and others, sighted it just after Maghrib clearly in the clear part of the Brisbane sky, and the crescent was visible for long duration. The Council of Imams Queensland has declared the beginning of the month of Ramadan tonight (Wednesday Taraweeh) with the first fast tomorrow (Thursday).
Seen: Muhammad Khatree (MCW member), Brisbane, Queensland reported: Alhamdulillah the crescent moon has been sighted in Brisbane this evening. The weather was perfect for moonsighting as the sky was completely clear. Ramadhaan Mubaarak/Ramadhaan Kareem to all.
Seen: Habeeb Mohamed-Hussain (MCW member) from Gold Coast, Queensland reported: Moon was sighted in Gold Coast Quuensland Australia. Fasting will begin on 12 August 2010. Verified by Imam Imran of Gold Coast Mosque.
Not Seen (Cloud cover): Zahid Hafeez (MCW member) from Canberra, ACT reported: The new moon crescent for RAMADAN was not visible in Canberra, Australia on the evening of 11 August due to heavy cloud cover and rain.
Bangladesh:
Seen: F. R. Sarker from Dhaka reported: Thank you very much for your accurate calculation. Today, August 11, Ramadan Moon has been sighted over Bangladesh.
Seen: Engr. Azizul Huq (MCW member) from Dhaka reported: Lunar observation Committee of Islamic Foundation, Bangladesh announced the visibility of Crescent moon within one hour after Magrib prayer today, 11 August 2010. So Ramadan will start from 12th August, 2010 in Bangladesh. I could not see as sky was partly covered by cloud.
India:
Not Seen: Syed Thanveer Peeran (MCW member) from Coimbatore reported: On Wednesday, August 11, 2010, We could not see the MOON in Coimbatore, India. We tried to look from sunset 1845Hrs to moonrise 1920Hrs , but could not see the moon. Skies were not clear it was totally cloudy here.
Seen (by others): Mohammed Mohsin Khan (MCW member) from Mumbai reported: Today Wednesday 11 August 2010 / 29 Shabaan 1431 in India. Here in Mumbai Sunset was at 07:09 p.m LT and Moonset was at 08:02 pm LT. Sky was cloudy hence Crescent has not been sighted in Mumbai City and in most Parts of India BUT it was Sighted in Nasik City , after getting Shahadah from there Official Moon-Sighting Committee have officially announced just now at 01:00 a.m that Wednesday 11 August 2010 was 29 Shabaan 1431 and Thursday 12 August 2010 will be 1st Ramadaan-ul-Mubarak 1431 in India. Ramadaan Mubarak to All Muslims.
Indonesia:
Seen: Ahmad I. Adjie (MCW member) from Bandung reported: Hilal was SEEN in the hilly ourskirts of Bandung today, Wednesday 11 August 2010 by myself and team, therefore 1st day of fasting for Indonesia will be Thursday, 12 August 2010. Sky was partially cloudy but could make out the hilal easily as a large clear-sky gap near the horizon was present. Today was 29th of Shaban for us so our team did not bother to sight yesterday as according to our calendar yesterday was 28th Shaban 1431 as opposed to the 29th according to Indonesian official government Islamic calendar. There are many groups who did not start fasting today but will start tomorrow, Alhamdulillah.
Seen: AR Sugeng Riyadi (MCW member) from Surakarta, Java reported: The new Crescent of Ramadhan 1431 AH WAS SEEN from my location (Klaten – Central Java – INDONESIA) on Wednesday, August 11, 2010. The west horizon was very clear (see the photo).
Seen: Firdaus Mazlan (MCW member) from Johor Bahru reported: On Wednesday, August 11, 2010, my friend (Mr. Buang, Mr. Kamaruddin and Mr. Zainudin) see the new moon with NAKED EYE at Johor Bahru, Johor (01°28’N, 103°46’E) at 7.35 pm. My team went to Teluk Kemang, Negeri Sembilan (02°30’N 101°49’E) on the same day. But, we cannot see the moon because the sky is very cloudy. Base on our knowledge about Rukyatul Hilal, the first day of Ramadhan 1431H is on Thursday (12/8/2010).
Mauritius:
Seen: Goolam Tegally (MCW member) from Port Louis reported: Hilal was sighted easily this evening Wednesday 11 August in a clear sky in Mauritius. 1st Ramadhan will therefore be Thursday 12 August. (NOTE: Hilal was NOT visible evening of Tuesday 10 Aug despite clear sky)
Seen: Samser Ameeruddeen (MCW member) from Port-Louis reported: I am Samser Ameeruddeen, member from Mauritius. The announcement for Ramadan has been made after Salaat-ul- Maghrib, hence taraweeh starts tonight and tomorrow, Thursday 12th August will be the 1st Ramadan in Mauritius.
New Zealand:
Seen: Sadeed Zahid Tirmizey (MCW member) from Auckland reported: Just wanted to inform you that myself along with many other brothers were able to sight the Ramadan moon with naked eye soon after maghrib at 6:05 pm New Zealand time. We sighted the moon in Auckland outside of the Avondale Islamic Centre. Official announcement has also been made by The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) that Thursday, 12th August will be 1st of Ramadan in New Zealand.
Pakistan:
Seen: Asif Hussain (MCW member) from Hyderabad reported: I tried to find moon with my fellows at two different places but it was not visible due to scattered clouds in sky. Official announcement from governemnt declared that moon has been sighted successfully in many cities of the country including hyderabad.
Seen: Sultan Alam (MCW member) from Karachi reported: Although I could not sight the moon myself at my observing spot due to haze and partially clouds but Alhamdolillah our other members easily sighted the moon in Karachi and in many parts of country, as it was expected tonight astronomically. I requested many persons (members of the moon-sighting committees of our institute “JAMIA-TUR-RASHEED” + my friends + their companions) all over Pakistan to sight the moon. Many hundred Persons easily sighted the moon in all 4 provinces at these places: Karachi (at 5 places), Battal, Tando-Allah-Yar, Raheem-yar-khan, Panjgor, Aasia-abad, Swabi, Hyderabad, Badeen, Ghotki. These places were clear or little cloudy. Many other members also tried to sight at other locations but could not succeed due to clouds.
Note 1 : Chairman of central official moon sighting committee of Pakistan mufti Munee-bur-Rahman and other members of committee also sighted the moon themselves and they also received positive reports from many other locations, thus he officially announced that 1st Ramadhan 1431 will be on Thursday 12 August 2010 in Pakistan after finishing the 29 days of Shaban 1431.
Seen: Khurram Imtiaz (MCW member) from Lahore reported: On August 11, 2010, there are heavy clouds, from evening, in Lahore. So we are unable to see Ramazan moon in Lahore. However central moonsighting committee of Pakistan annouced the first Ramazan from tommorrow, as moon was sighted in Karachi, Hyderabad, many more sindh and south punjab areas.
Saudi Arabia:
Seen (by others): Luqmaan Williams (MCW member) from Ta’if reported: On August 11, I went out before and after the Maghreb prayer but I didn’t see anything as it had rained and was cloudy in Ta’if, Saudi Arabia. But Mr. Burheem Bakr along with his wife saw the sliver in Dammam, Saudi Arabia and said it was very faint.
Sri Lanka:
Seen: Nular Bary (MCW member) from Colombo reported: Today 29th of Shaban 1431H (Aug 11, 2010) Wednesday The new Moon of Ramadhan was sighted in many places in Sri Lanka, “MASHAALLAH’. Our Hilal Committee decided to start Ramadhan of 1431H on (Aug 12, 2010) Thursday “INSHAALLAH”.
Seen: Rasheed Farook (MCW member) from Colombo reported: The new moon was not sighted throughtout Sri lanka on 10th Tuesday 2010. On 11th evening the new moon was not sighted in Colombo and its suburbs. The sky was cloudy. By 7.00 pm, The Colombo Grand Mosque (The Official Body) gave an announcement that the new moon has been sighted in few parts of Sri Lanka and thus the First day of Ramadhan is 12th Thursday 2010.
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Ramadan: Striving for God Consciousness
Dr. Louay M. Safi – IslamiCity
http://www.islamicity.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=IC0510-2816
Ramadan is the month of fasting for Muslims the world over. Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, and sexual intercourse from dawn to dusk for the duration of Ramadan. For some, fasting may appear as a form of deprivation and of bodily exertion. On one level, abstaining from sensual needs and pleasures is indeed a physical experience. But those who stop at the physical aspects of fasting miss the essence of Ramadan and its purpose.
Fasting the month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. These are the foundation upon which the entire structure of Islam is built. These consist of the declaration of faith, prayer, fasting Ramadan, paying of Zakah [the annual charity payment], and performing the pilgrimage to Makkah, known as hajj. Three of the five pilars of Islam are rituals, that is, prescribed religious acts whose rationale is not immediately available for understanding. These are prayer, fasting, and hajj. Muslims are required to do them because they are part of their religious duties, that is, they are part of their covenant with God.
As a ritual, fasting is a symbolic act whose meaning becomes gradually apparent through experience. The meaning embodied in a ritual is always unveiled when one immerses himself or herself in the act itself. This does not mean that fasting is not open to intellectual delineation, but rather any intellectual delineation either presupposes or predicts a meaning that can best become apparent through performing the symbolic act itself.
Spiritual DevelopmentThe essence of fasting Ramadan and its goal is summed in the Qur’an in one word: taqwa. “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may attain taqwa.” (Qur’an 2:183)
But what is taqwa? And how does it relate to the physical act of fasting?
Taqwa is a recurring theme in the Qur’an and a paramount Qur’anic value. Taqwa is both an attitude and a process. It is the proper attitude of the human toward the divine that denotes love, devotion, and fear. Love to the source of good and beauty that make life worth living; devotion to God’s boundless wisdom and majesty; and fear of misunderstanding the divine intent or failing in maintaining the appropriate posture and relationship.
The attitude of taqwa cannot and does not stay in the confines of the human spirit, but is ultimately revealed in expression and action. The attitude of taqwa is ultimately revealed in, and in turn reveals, the true character it nurtures: the commitment to the sublime values stressed by divine revelations of courage, generosity, compassion, honesty, steadfastness, and cooperation in pursuing what is right and true.
Taqwa is equally the process by which the believers internalize the sublime values of revelation and develop their character. Thus the Qur’an reminds the believers that they should not reduce religious practices to a set of blind rituals, of religiously ordained procedures performed at the level of physical movement, and that they should always be mindful that religious practices, like praying and fasting, ultimately aim at bringing about moral and spiritual uplifting: “It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards East or West: But it is righteousness to believe in God and the Last day, and the Angels, the Book, and the Messengers; to give out of the things you hold dear to your kin, the orphans, the needy, the wayfarer, the one who asks, and to free the slave. And to be steadfast in prayer and to give for charity. To fulfill the covenants you have made, and to be firm and patient in times of pain, adversity, and panic. Such are the people of truth, and such are the God-conscious.” (Qur’an 2:177)
As Ramadan helps us to develop our moral discipline, it also reminds us of the plight of those who live in constant hunger and deprivation. We are reminded time and again by the revealed book that religiosity is meaningless and pointless if it does not lead people to care and share: “Have you seen one who belies judgment; it is the one who repulses the orphan, and does not insist on feeding the needy. So woe to those who pray but are neglectful of their prayers. Those who are guilty of duplicity and refuse to provide for the ones in need.” (Qur’an 107:1-7)
Commitment
Fasting Ramadan, like other religious practices in Islam, is an occasion for pursuing moral excellence that can also be translated into excellence in social organization and interaction. In a tradition that was reported in the books of Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet was once asked: “O messenger of God! who is the most honored of people? He said: the one who has most taqwa. They said: this is not what we are asking about…. He said: … the best of them prior to Islam is the best of them in Islam if they comprehend (the revealed message).”
It is not difficult to see that the Prophet’s companions did not have immediate access to the meaning of taqwq, as many Muslims today still don’t. When they did not accept his first statement as an answer, the Prophet gave them an explanation of what he meant when he responded to their question about “the most honored of people.” In responding with the question, the Prophet was reiterated the meaning provided by the Qur’an: “Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God is the most righteous (mutaqi).” (Qu’an 49:13) The Prophet’s statement underscores the fact that taqwa as a moral and spiritual quality is significant in the human world insofar as it leads people to act with compassion and respect toward others.
Empowerment
Nothing does empower a community more than the development of the moral character of its members. By embodying the moral values of revelation, people can have a higher social life, one that is based on mutual respect and help, as it is based on honest and fair dealings, and a sense of duty that encourages people to observe the principles of right and justice as they pursue their varying and competing interests. The theme that moral life based on the notion of taqwa leads to societal strength and prosperity is an oft repeated theme in the Qur’an: “Whoever has taqwa of God, He prepares a way out for them, and He provides them from sources they never could imagine.” (Qur’an 65:2-3) And again: “Verily the earth is God’s to give as a heritage to such of His servants as He pleases; and the end is best for the God-conscious.” (7:128)
Fasting is not simply a time during which people deprive themselves from physical pleasures, but is an occasion to exercise moral restrain and experience spiritual growth. Ramadan is a time of remembrance of God and renewal of commitment to the high and noble values he revealed to mankind. And nothing would give us the sense of spiritual fulfillment than a state of taqwq, of God-consciousness, that Ramadan helps us to realize.