علم و دین فرهنگستان جهانی مطالعات تطبیقی در علم و دین، عرفان ناب اسلامی، علم و دین، عرفان مقربین، علم، دین، حکمت ناب شیعی، استاد علوی، علم و دین
Although Ramadan is the 9th Month of Islamic Calendar, however, it is better known as The Spring Season for Spiritual Journey
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Fasting is obligatory for healthy and able adult Muslims, so those who are suffering from an illness, travelling, are elderly, pregnant, breastfeeding, diabetic or going through menstrual bleeding are exempt. While fasting from dawn until sunset, Muslims refrain from consuming food, drinking liquids, smoking, and engaging in sexual relations. Muslims are also instructed to refrain from sinful behavior that may negate the reward of fasting, such as false speech (insulting, backbiting, cursing, lying, etc.) and fighting.
Ramadan is the Minimum Starting Point
However, Ramadan is the starting point for all truth seekers to get to know how the journey should start. Month of Ramadan is the minimum that every Muslim should experience to step into the journey of self-improvement. Once a person gains momentum in this month, he should not let go or lose this light, he should follow the same practices he was making during the entire year. For example, Muslims spend more time reading the Quran and studying, less arguing and more compassionate feeling toward others, less spending on themselves and more charity to the poor, and many good behaviors are enforced as well as bad ones such as Smoking, Wasting time in front of Television, and other bad habits.
True Muslims Fast more than Just Ramadan
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) taught his true followers to fast from Rajab, two months before Ramadan, thru Shabaan to Ramadan for a period of 90 days with a ten days gap between two 40-day period lents to go through three phases of: cleansing process (Takhali), beautification (Tahali), and glowing phase (Tajali). Once a person reaches to the True Meaning of Night of Power (Lailatol Qadr) he will gain a light that guides him through his self-improvement and growth process throughout the year. He should keep this momentum by fasting at least two days a week on Mondays and Thursdays, and keep reminding himself to observe and keep this light.
Fasting for Truth Seekers and Non-Muslims
Fasting was not obligatory only for Muslims. Most religions and self-improvement programs recommend a dietary restriction and regulation on the body to improve other aspects of human life. Recent study has shown that 16 hours of hunger will cause the body to search for energy and food in other places in body that would improve memory and neurological aspects of human life. Social aspects of mutual feeling for the poor and hungry, less spending on food and more on charity, teaching self restrain on worldly desires are other good side effects of Fasting. However, a Truth Seeker seeking the right path would benefit greatly from hunger. Less time spent on thinking what to prepare, where to eat, and how to fulfill worldly desires, would allow more for the mind and heart to open for new ideas, subject matters, and issues.
If you are interested to learn more on how Fasting would help you in Self-improvement, please don’t hesitate to drop us a line or comment on the post.