instances of theft are reduced, and even television is shunned. Peace and tranquility reign in the neighbourhoods and even in market places. All these changes create a good environment for moral rectification. The bad become less so and the good become better.
Training in
Humility The Quran tells us that fasting is prescribed for you so that you may fear God (Al-Baqarah, 2:183). So what does it mean to fear God? Fearing God means that man should acknowledge his helplessness vis-à-vis God’s greatness. The feeling of helplessness (‘ijz) is not simply a feeling but is rather the greatest motivational force in the life of a person. The feeling of ‘ijz relates to God. But when this feeling of ‘ijz is produced in man in the real sense, it finds expression in human relations. One who becomes truly modest before God finds this same spirit making him modest before human beings. The height of spirituality is a person’s realization of his own helplessness and the supreme power of Allah. The biggest obstacle to a person’s spiritual The biggest growth is his own ego and false obstacle to a person’s spiritual pride. This leads to his being distanced. The sole concern growth is his own ego and false of a spiritually pure person is his earning God’s pleasure. pride.
The Month of
Sympathy The Prophet said: “The month of Ramadan is the month of sympathy.”
Ramadan The Month of
Fasting teaches a man what basic human requirements are. It tells him what hunger is and what thirst is. Those who do not get a chance to feel hungry or thirsty also experience this during this month. For some hour, the rich also come to live in the same conditions in which a poor man lives. Ramadan is thus a process of The best days rejuvenation of a believer. of this world are He can look forward to the last ten days of appl ying the lessons Ramadan. learnt during Ramadan to everyday life. A person The Prophet who has fasted in the true Muhammad œ spirit can count on drawing upon the reservoir of fortitude that he has built up, on the power of dua, of patience and gratefulness when he is faced with any trying situation. Maulana Wahiduddin Khan Center for Peace and Spirituality USA 2665 Byberry Road Bensalem, PA 19020 Cell: (617) 960-7156 cps@alrisala.org
Goodword Books 1, Nizamuddin West Market New Delhi-110 013 Tel. +9111-4182-7083, Mob. +91-8588822672 info@goodwordbooks.com
Center for Peace and Spirituality 1, Nizamuddin West Market New Delhi-110 013 info@cpsglobal.org
Goodword Books, Chennai 82/324, Triplicane High Road, Triplicane Chennai 600005 Mob. +91-9790853944
www.cpsglobal.org www.alquranmission.org www.goodwordbooks.com
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Fasting