After reciting the Tashahhud, the Ta’uz and the first chapter Al Fatiha of the Holy Quran, Hazrat Amirul Mo’emenine, Zafrullah Domun read the following verses of the Holy Quran:

Ayyamam ma'doodaat. Faman kaana minkum maridhan aw 'alaa sararin fa'iddatum min ayyaamin okhar. Wa 'alallazina yotwiqoonahu fidyatun twa'amu miskeen. Faman tatwawwa'a khairan fa huwa khairullah. Wa antaswoomoo khairullakum inkuntum ta'lamoon.

Then he said:

This Ramadan appears to be a rare and unique occasion because this year almost all Muslims have started the fast the same day. In fact even Saudi Arabia has started fasting on Saturday last. Usually they start one day earlier. At least this has been an event on which there is complete agreement in the umma whatever the sect they belong to. Hence as from Saturday last the whole Muslim world has started fasting for spiritual renewal. When I speak about spiritual renewal I am reminded of the hadith of our beloved prophet Mohammad ^saw where he said that if one fasts with all the requisites during the month of Ramadan one becomes as innocent as on the day one was born. In fact when we reflect about these words of wisdom for some time we will understand how generous Allah is with all of us. Despite our failings Allah continues to give us opportunities to mend our ways. By sending us the month of Ramadan and by helping us to be alive in that month Allah out of His Beneficence wants that His servants avails themselves of this great opportunity for self purification. In other words in our lifetime Allah gives us plenty of opportunities to have all our sins washed away before we present ourselves in front of Him. Let us hope that each Muslim around the world will recognize this annual opportunity and make the best of it incha Allah.

In fact when the believers understand the importance of the month of Ramadan either because of the words of the Holy Prophet ^saw or because of their own personal experience they are very happy with the arrival of the month of Ramadan. Some Sufis have qualified this month as “the spring for believers” Just imagine what a golden opportunity you have been given that you can have all your sins forgiven if you fast as you should by following the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Mohammad^saw. Remember that he has also said “How unfortunate is that person who had two things but could not get his sins forgiven- first he had his parents in old age and second he was able to witness a month of Ramadan in his life.” I have quoted this hadith from memory. The words may not be exact but the meaning is the same. Just think about this hadith and you will understand the wisdom that underlies it. The message is very simple. If one sees one’s parents in old age and one serves them selflessly one will get paradise and similarly if one meets with the month of Ramadan and observes its entire obligations one will have one’s sins forgiven. We see therefore that the month of Ramadan has come to greet us with all its blessings and we should welcome it and make the best use of what it has brought us from Allah.

Last week I said that I will comment upon the last part of verse 185 in my sermon for today. The phrase is “wa an tasoumou khayroul lakoum in kountoum ta’lamoune” which means “fasting is good for you if you but knew”. In fact we should understand the verse as follows: fasting has been primarily prescribed for us so that we might become God-conscious human beings. But it has several other benefits as well. Allah did not specify these benefits in the Holy Quran but in the hadiths His Beloved prophet has spoken more about the benefits of fasting. These benefits can be on the individual/personal level and they may also appear on the societal level as well. Unfortunately we will not have enough time to deal with all the benefits of fasting. But we will mention only some main ones besides the one that it will help us to acquire God-consciousness.

The Holy Prophet^saw is reported to have said “Fast and you shall be healthy.” These were the words of a person who received most of his knowledge from Allah. He was not a person who had studied medicine for seven years. But yet throughout the ages and especially during the twentieth century others are discovering how the words spoken by him are full of truth and wisdom. Unfortunately we do not have enough time to speak about these matters in detail. But I can tell you that these days there are many doctors around the world who are treating their patients’ illnesses through one form of fasting or other. Some persons fast for 24 hours or 36 hours at a stretch. But Allah tells us that He desires “ease” for us and “difficulty”. In the Holy Quran in verse 186 chapter two Allah says: “yoridoullaho be kmoul yousra wa laa yorido bekomoul ousra”. The translation is “Allah desires to give you facility and He does not desire to put you to hardship.” Hence for us there is no need to go for long fasts but if we follow the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet^saw we may also fast for three days in other months besides Ramadan. There are some hadiths which also report that the Holy prophet has also recommended that we might also fast on Mondays and Thursdays if we can. Mind you these are only recommendations. They are not at all obligatory. If you go on the net and google “fasting and health” you will get plenty of articles and studies that are being done on this subject. You may choose what may please you to know more.

I have read about the case of a gentleman of seventy years old who was suffering from many diseases for many years. He suffered from sickness of the lungs and asthma. He had been admitted in hospitals four or five times. He had been deaf in the left ear for six years. In addition he suffered also from enlarged prostrate gland. He had tried all prevalent medical therapies yet he did not benefit much. His condition was deteriorating day in day out. He was admitted in a clinic in India where they practice a naturopathic system of cure. He was advised to fast under medical supervision. After sometime he was cured of all these diseases even of his deafness also. This is just one example. There are many books about the benefits of fasting and how it has helped to improve the lives of the people. As I have said you may search for the books and read them if you are interested.

Another benefit of fasting according to the Holy Prophet Mohammad^saw is “an increase in the believers’ provisions”. I think this benefit of fasting has been enjoyed by almost all of us. During Ramadan we eat less. It is true that we still have two meals per day. But for those persons who are used to eating five or six times during the day and night this is a great advantage. They save the expenses on the other items that they eat or drink. Hence we spare these foods and so they add to our provisions. Let us take the example of someone who smokes ten cigarettes per day. During Ramadan he can cut it easily to two or three per day. So he will save the cost of seven cigarettes per day and it is quite a saving. But if a smoker decides to use this month to quit cigarette smoking he can easily do it and there are many persons who have succeeded in doing so also.

Fasting helps us to feel the pain of a hungry person who does not have enough to eat or drink almost everyday. Around the world such persons who live in extreme poverty amount to between one and two billions. Even in our own country there are some persons who are quite poor and they cannot eat to their fill everyday. During the month of Ramadan all well off people are able to figure out what it means to go without food. Fortunately for those who fast it is only for about thirteen hours that they remain without food depending on the country where you live, but for those who are poor at times it goes on for days. Hence while fasting we get the opportunity to reflect about the conditions of less fortunate people. Consequently we are in a better position to understand the situation of someone who may come to our place to beg for something. Therefore fasting motivates the well to do members of society to feel and know the pain the poor and to find means to relieve their distress. Had there not been fasting in the month of Ramadan those people who are well off in a society would never have known how hungry people feel.

The Holy Prophet is reported to have said “Whoever feeds a fasting person will be compensated with forgiveness of sins and salvation of his soul from Hell. He will also receive a reward equal to that of the person he feeds, without causing him any reduction (in his good deeds).” (The Companions) said: “Not all of us can find something to feed a fasting person.” The Prophet^saw said: “Allah gives this reward to whoever feeds a fasting person even with just a taste of milk or dates, or a drink of water. Whoever quenches the thirst of a fasting person, Allah the Almighty makes him drink from my pond such that he will never feel thirsty again until he enters Paradise.” By telling the people the merit of giving something to their brothers and sisters to break their fasts the Holy Prophet^saw has opened the gates of plenty of generosity among Muslims. When the time for breaking the fast nears we see that there is an exchange of cakes or dates. There are some others who buy dates and distribute among their fellow Muslims during the month. There are many other generous persons who send plenty of food to the mosques where the people gather to break their fast and to pray. In this way we see that there is an eagerness among Muslims to give to other Muslims during this month and all this promotes mutual affection amongst them and makes the group stronger.

There are two more hadiths which illustrate how Ramadan may be of benefit to the Muslim society. The Holy Prophet Mohammads^aw is reported to have said(1)”One who while fasting does not guard his tongue from telling lies and does not refrain from bad deeds, is not respecting his fast. Allah does not approve of mere abstention from food.”(2) “When you are fasting, you should not speak ill of anybody, nor should you be rough and noisy. If anybody speaks ill of you or tries to pick a quarrel with you, reply him not, but say to him that you are fasting.” In fact to speak lies is forbidden in Islam but unfortunately there are many Muslims who indulge in lies. But during the month of Ramadan if we do refrain from speaking lies we do not understand the objective of our fast. Hence many persons who under ordinary circumstances sometimes indulge in lies would refrain from doing so while they are fasting. Hence fasting helps us to avoid all bad habits and inculcate in us good ones. The fact that we are told to tell the person who wants to pick a quarrel with us “I am fasting” is a lesson in self restraint and self control. By following this instruction of the Holy Prophet ^saw a peaceful atmosphere is maintained in society at large.

If we reflect about fasting we will see that it inculcates in us many good qualities that can help us in our day to day life. Among these are self discipline, time management, perseverance and patience. To use time effectively and to do things on time and also to be on time for our appointments is an important personal habit that we are forced to do while fasting. We need to wake up on time and to break the fast on time and to sleep on time so that we may wake up again early the next day. Similarly despite the fact that we feel the pangs of hunger we have to carry on our duties. Despite odds we have to do what needs to be done. This helps us to learn to persevere despite all difficulties on the path. But to learn from Ramadan we need to open our mind and be in a learning mode. If we just take Ramadan to be a time of hardship, its more valuable lessons will escape us. We should have a positive attitude and reflect about what lessons of Ramadan we ca keep with us after Ramadan is gone. The training that we have in Ramadan about being on time can serve us in all other spheres of our life.

These are some of the other benefits of Ramadan that we could think about. There may be many others of which we are not aware yet. But overall we see that besides helping us to progress in God-consciousness, fasting in the month of Ramadan can also improve our health, help us to make savings, promote mutual affection and also create an awareness of the poor man’s lot and also create a more peaceful society.

Today a quarter of the month of Ramadan is already gone. Remember that the Holy Prophet^saw said that Ramadan is divided into three parts. Its first ten days are a period for the manifestation of Allah’s Mercy. Its next ten days manifests Allah’s forgiveness and its last ten days gives protection from fire. So let us avail ourselves of the coming days to ask plenty of forgiveness for our sins and beseech Allah to protect us from the fire of hell. May Allah give all of us the necessary courage and stamina to complete the days of fasting while we try to benefit from all its blessings incha Allah.