Fifth Pillar: Fasting ( in the blessed month of Ramadan)
You probably would have come across this pillar of fasting during the primary school days. And there is no doubt that it was superficially tackled. So let’s delve into the profundity of the term Sawm (fasting) and what it entails.
Ramadhan is a training program which all Muslims to go through once in a year, performing good deeds to become better Muslims. However, we should try our possible best to continue with these good deeds outside of Ramadhan – praying in the mosque, Tahajjud, Qiamu alyle (night prayer), reciting the Qur’an, helping and caring for others etc.
The Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, when he was asked what the best way is to finish reading the whole Qur’an, he said to do it in one month, i.e. one Juzuk per day. This is something we should engaged in all the time and not have to wait for Ramadhan to do it. If we cannot achieve this, at least try as much as you can, to read one or two pages a day (a quarter of a hizb).
Similarly we should try to observe the night prayers (tahajjud), be it only two raka’at and not everyday, outside of Ramadhan.
We should not make personal commitments in practicing these preferable actions where the
Shariah has not made this itself. This might result into we giving up on our commitment and hence, the good deed. The best way is to do it on ease and convenience aiming at the perpetuity of these good deeds.
Conclusion
How do we summarize everything embedded in the narration?
Each of the Pillars of Islam has rulings, conditions and mannerisms (ahkam wa adab) applied to it. It is important that we know these ahkam and adab and constantly remind ourselves,
especially before Ramadan or before performing the Hajj, so that we perform the Pillars
properly and according to the Shariah.
Let cluminate this write up by hastening to add some piece from which the wise one can derive wisdom and add to what he has already. Read below;
If you think education is expensive, give ignorance a try and come to a perfect conclusion yourself. And remember that the gate way to treading on the pathway of regret during your old age is by sleeping over the bed of heedlessness and amusement in your youthful age.
Do not engage yourself in unnecessary arguments, but if you must, remember to always respond to your opponent and avoid reacting to him. This is because, response is a thoughtful process which is pregnant with and concentrated with wisdom while reaction is instinctive which could be diluted with negative emotions.
We are humans, so let us be humane and know that the life we are living can be likened to a simple pendulum. It constantly swings from one point to the other point.
When faced with a tyrant, do not try to beat or overpower him with your strength or exchange of words, but overpower him in politeness, for that would be a disgraceful and a dishonoring defeat