What lesson does Ramadan teach you, Atok?

By Rohiman Haroon

I was sitting idle attempting to continue with my dzikir (remembrance of Allah) in Surau Al-Islah after the Asar prayer when Hisyam, a 13-year-old tahfiz student, started a curious conversation that included a question I had difficulty answering.

The inquisitive Hisyam asked: “What lesson does Ramadan teach you, Atok?”

“Why do you ask?” I asked him.

“I’m just curious whether adults and children have the same lesson to learn from Ramadan,” he replied.

I was stumped by this rather “philosophical question” coming from the young person.

I wondered whether adults asked the same question. What lessons have we learnt as Ramadan draws to and end?

To understand the spirit of Islam, it is essential to comprehend the devotional religious experience and behaviour together. To understand the spirit of the Quran’s message to humanity, fasting in Ramadan is a good example.

Although Muslims observe fasting as a religious obligation ordained by Allah, we believe that there are purposes and wisdom in fasting. Ramadan, thus, has far-reaching meanings and lessons for Muslims.

I simply told Hisyam that Ramadan is a month of deep reflection, devotion and worship. That it’s not just about fasting, it’s about attaining self-purification and spiritual cleansing of our heart and soul, as well as our thoughts.

I told this curious boy that this was the reason why we fast and pray intensively during Ramadan, as God demands from us the acts of sacrifice, worship, supplication and repentance to purify ourselves.

But some are not lucky. The faith of millions of Muslims around the world is tested more severely than most of us who have food on the table to break the fast.

Palestinians, Syrians, Uighurs, Rohingya and the Africans have their own sets of bitter challenges to remain steadfast as they face oppression, violence of war, religious persecution and prejudices, and poverty.

Muslim minorities in some developed countries still face Islamophobic provocations such as fear, hatred and prejudice.

Case in point is the recent burning of the Quran in a heavily populated Muslim neighbourhood in Sweden by a man, who leads a far-right Danish anti-immigration party.

It triggered conflicts and social unrest across Sweden, which happens to be one of the world’s happiest countries in the World Happiness Report rankings by the Gallup World Poll.

Nevertheless, we do not have to go to faraway lands to reflect on human challenges. We can see the vagrants on the streets of Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman or the extreme poor in Baling or Tawau and the urban poor, from the Klang Valley to Johor.

They daily face uphill battles to feed, clothe and shelter themselves and their families.

The good thing is that the government and volunteers from non-governmental organisations are helping to see them through.

During Ramadan, Muslims are strongly encouraged to engage in charity. Such a deed is mentioned in Surah Al-Hadid verse 18: “For those who give in charity, men and women, and loan to Allah a beautiful loan, it shall be increased manifold (to their credit), and they shall have (besides) a liberal reward.”

In the past two years, Ramadan has, undoubtedly, been different but it did not stop the spirit of charity and helping others in society.

We acknowledge that the Covid-19 pandemic has affected us in many ways. We have seen how communities united to help each other. Hence, let’s continue the spirit of charity.

Let’s take the opportunity during the Raya celebrations in Syawal to show what Islam preaches about forging good relationships with our non-Muslim friends.

It is good that we can invite friends and neighbours of different races and religions to our homes and serve them Raya delicacies since some Covid-19 standard operating procedures have been relaxed.

As Ramadan comes to an end and we move into the endemic stage of the pandemic, let’s reflect on how we can make Raya celebrations more meaningful.