Every year, Muslims eagerly await the month of Ramzan. Fasting and praying during the month prepares one to move closer to God. Fasting is not restricted to food and drink; it includes distancing oneself from negative attributes like hypocrisy, covetousness, falsity, backbiting and envy, among others.
The fast is mandatory for all adult Muslim men and women, the only exceptions being for the insane, infirm, sick or travelling and pregnant or feeding mothers. Those who are unable to fast should arrange to feed at least one needy person in lieu of the days missed out on fasting.
Fasting is the oldest known form of natural healing. Fasting is actually the epitome of a natural way of life and its benefits do not end at the correction of the body and restoration of health. The Quran states that a human cannot attain salvation unless the low desires are restrained.
The West is waking up to the medical benefits of fasting. Dr Alan Cott, a Texas-based physician, found that fasting treated many physical ailments ranging from migraine to high blood pressure, osteoarthritis and anemia.
A person who is fasting is not expected to use foul language, raise his voice unnecessarily, or misbehave. It was once said that the true meaning of fasting is to abstain from anything that distracts you from remembrance of God. I have loved that ever since I first read it. I think this became a shortcut for me to evaluate every situation before I get involved.Muslims must take care that Ramzan, instead, has become a season for culinary competition, gluttony and wasteful consumption becomes a period when the faithful do not only show piety and compassion but also try to send across a strong message of communal harmony among the compatriots and their poor brothers.
Firoz Ahmed, commentator on social and religious issues
(The author is a commentator on social and religious issues and the grand nephew of Maulana Azad)
Essence of festivals is diluted by politics
India has the largest number of festivals as we are a country of various religions and cultures. Festivals mean celebration, and celebration means collective consciousness where people share joy and happiness with one another.
They bring us together because as a society we like to share our joys and sorrows with others, no matter which religion they belong to. If we look at any festival, of any community, the main motto is to mingle with friends and family.
That is why people involve all kinds of delicious food and open their doors to everyone. For celebrating any festival together means to keep any kind of differences as rich or poor, religion or casteism away.
But today, even though we are celebrating the festivals there is no real feeling or purpose left. It is mainly due to the fact that festivals have now become a battleground for political war among different parties.
A certain festival might represent the domination of a certain political party which others might disagree to; and because of this people have lost the sense of bonding and the true meaning of festivals. People prefer to celebrate at their homes and have lost interest in celebrating as they used to in the past. Political colours have diminished the colours of festive joy.
B Manjula chairperson, Centre for Media and Cultural Studies, Tiss
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