My Ramadan….

A lot is spoken and written about the significance of the month of Ramadan. One will come across many posts and articles and pieces of literature on the conduct and approach to this month, but very rarely do you find something which defines what Ramadan really means to a Muslim.

I am surrounded predominantly by non-Muslims on a day to day basis, it is interesting to observe their reaction when I explain to them why I fast, and the purpose of this month. Year after year, I receive the same reaction, and year after year I feel perhaps I can do a better job of explaining what Ramadan is. Maybe, the best explanation would be to share what Ramadan really means to me.

For me, Ramadan is a month of giving, being generous. This act ofcourse, shouldn’t be restricted to a solitary month, but the benefit of being generous is greater in this of all months. But what defines giving? Giving money to charity? Giving support? Love? Ramadan is a spiritual month promoting self-restraint at every level. My Ramadan is about stepping up a level and improving yourself, giving and becoming a better person.

It is quite easy to talk about self betterment, but there isn’t a specific technique which works for everyone; every approach is unique and valid. So how does one indulge in self-improvement? In my opinion, it begins with talking to the Almighty, listening and reading to the prescribed words and giving your inner self the peace that it deserves. For those of you who don’t know – the Quran is the Islamic book containing the words as revealed by god. Think of it not as a religious text, but more like a set of guidance notes, a loose set of rules on the best path in life. At this point, I see a couple of you rolling your eyes; replace it with a self-improvement book if you have to – that is what the Quran is.

The next act of giving is to get out there and help those who are in greater need than yourself. Again, not something which should be restricted to a particular month! Helping someone can be in any shape or form. Ofcourse, one must give Zakaat [more here] early enough so that the needy can benefit from it in time, but the act of helping begins by carrying out a single good deed everyday. Be it buying the homeless guy a  meal, giving your time to help someone in education or work, or perhaps as simple as focusing and highlighting the difficulties faced by people in your local community. Helping someone doesn’t have to exist on a grand scale, the difference can quite easily be made difference on your doorstep.

My final act of giving is focused on giving opportunity; giving opportunity not to someone else, but to yourself. There is no point in achieving inner peace, and attempting to help others if you cannot improve yourself as a person in that process. Give yourself an opportunity to implement goodness within yourself, to apply self belief in yourself as a person, and to gain that excellence which can then spread like wildfire to those around you. This month provides you with a concentrated opportunity to make a dent in becoming the ‘right’ person.

I have a “new-age” approach with Ramadan; the generic prescription of this month may help you improve as a person, but the sustenance of that better person is far more difficult throughout the year. Ramadan is the start of this process, and like anything good, it is an annual iterative process towards betterment. It takes time, but one day, all those years of giving will make you the wealthiest person of all.

Ramadan for me has nothing to do with the fasting from dawn to dusk; MY Ramadan is all about becoming a better person.

This Ramadan has also seen the first fundraising campaign launched for this blog. I am attempting to raise $1,000 for charity: water, to help provide clean drinking water to those who don’t have access. 10 days into the 92 day campaign, we have reached half our target; help us go all the way and beyond! Visit my campaign page for further details.

Tagged as: books, Calendar, charity : water, fasting, islam, Qur'an, ramadan, Religion and Spirituality