Ramadhan and Moral Development

  I remember trying to decipher the purpose of ramadhan last year writing for the message, and than coming to the next meeting feeling empty as there was so much more insight to ramadhan. If we were to sit down and count the billion blessings of fasting in ramadhan, and fasting properly, it is possible that each year, there is another source to be awed by another discovery about the benefits of fasting, or the benefits of wudu, or the benefits of eating halal, or the benefits of zakah in community. We cannot ever grasp the entirety of the divine wisdom behind the commands of Allah swt, so this year, I share more insight I gained regarding benefits of Ramadhan as well as how we can benefit from it. The focus of this year’s insight is towards fasting and moral development as well as practical implementation of internal states.

 The purpose of fasting is so that we can learn self restraint, so that we can be purified so that you may be rightly guided and attain taqwa. (Sh. Nouman Ali Khan) In brief, the purpose of fasting is so that you may attain taqwa. Taqwa is the goal. Let’s focus on a few aspects of moral development through this claim by Sh. Nouman Ali Khan.

Self Restraint:

·         DON’T EAT: Delay all gratification and be able to “not eat or drink” between sehri time till iftar time

·         DON”T LOOSE CONTROL of YOURSELF: Internalize values and be able to self regulate your own behavior:  quran recitation, attend halaqas (moral dialogues)/educational programs/peer discussion on moral issues and exploring solutions

·         Do not violating others rights through arguing, fighting, lying, backbiting (ghibat, or violence)

·         DO NOT INFLICT relational violence (destroying interpersonal relationships, excluding peers, besmirch others reputations, backstabbing, gossiping, causing social and psychological maladjustment) and physical violence (physical harm).

Purification: Your mind and body should look something like…

·         Do wudu and ghusl when required and be clean (cut nails and all bodily purification)

·         Pray. (5 regular prayers + sunnah prayers + nafl prayers + tahajjud, taraweeh)

·         Develop tawakkul (trust in Allah swt)

·         Swallow your anger. You will be rewarded for this

·         The Prophet pbuh said “IF any of you become angry while standing then let him sit down. Then if the anger leaves him, but if  not then let him lie down” (Abu Dawud) – COOL DOWN

·         “And those who swallow their rage and pardon people. Allah loves the doers of good.” (Surah Al Imran; 134)

·         Do not listen to music or watch anything with explicit, inappropriate content

·         And say to the believing men that they should lower your gaze and guard your modesty, that will be purer for them and Allah is aquinted with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty…...”(Qur’an 24:30-31)

·         Do not come near sin

·         Avoid inconsiderate Violence in video games, television, and other explicit content as this may immune you to becoming empathetic

·         Do not take out your anger on others/objects : This is known as catharsis (discharging aggressive impulses by engaging in symbolic aggressive acts that do not harm another person) i.e. a “punching bag”. Do not take out your frustrations on a chosen victim/object. This will not control/reduce your frustrations and is in fact related to elevated aggression. Find a cognitive solution + you will attain gunnah. This shows that the tactic of cooling down, sitting, lying down, and so on is more practical and beneficial (score for hadith :D)

·         Purify your mind body, and soul: Conflicts furthermore arise chemical imbalances and leakages of chemicals occur in the brain including High testosterone levels, High astradiol levels and Low serotonin (inability to control emotions) levels

·         Chemicals associated with appetite released when seeing food

·         If  you chose not to lower your gaze, purify your thoughts, hormones will be released so watch your activities, thoughts and behaviours carefully and purify your inner states.

Rightly Guided – Your activities should look something like….

·         Pray

·         Understand how It feels to not have food for those in poorer or less privilages societies

·         Donate and give charity and zakat to less privilaged

·         Be empathetic, speak politely, be kind, and considerate to those around you first to your parents, help in chores, give kind salutations with the assurance of peace, or a sincere “salam”, involve people in groups and be helpful

·         Help in chores

·         Give counsel

·         The Prophet pbuh said “Whoever eases a distress of the world for a mumin, Allah will ease one of the distresses of the Day of Rising for him. Whoever makes it easy for someone in difficulty, Allah will make it easy for him in the world and the Next Life. Whoever conceals the wrong action of a muslim, Allah will conceal his wrong action in the world and the next life. Allah is redy to help the slave as long as the slave is ready to help his brother…..” (Abu Hurayrah, Muslim)

·         Maintain good ties and relationships (visit relatives, do iftar get togethers)

·         Reciting and understanding the quran and praying regularly and try to internalize what the Qur’an is saying

·         No matter what! Be Honest, sincere, truthful, polite

·         Be prosocial (empathic, sharing, caring, considerate, kind, helpful, comforting, donating, cooperative, unified)

·         Internalized Values which result in higher self discipline and self regulation

Taqwa (God-Conscioucne) – You internal state should look something like…..

·         Pray – develop a close relationship and awareness of Allah swt

·         Fear Hell (avoid punishments, Fear Hell and be conscience of the result of your actions and what it may bring)

·         Try to attain Jannah (have hope that all of your efforts will be rewarded if they are done sincerely so keep working on your good deeds)

·         Respect the authority and keep good relations with family, community, society

·         Understand the shariah and system of the home/country/organization that you are a part of

·         Be empathetic and considerate and compassionate: Do not violate people’s rights

·         Understand a piece of the divine wisdom of the Allah swt, the omnipotent creator, the authority, Lord, Cherisher of the Universe and attain and listen to the voice of the consioucne

·         The Prophet pbuh said “Boy, I will teach you some words: Be mindful of Allah and He will be mindful of you. Be mindful of Allah and you will find Him facing you. When you ask, then ask Allah. When you seek help, then seek help from Allah. Know that if the Ummah gathered together to benefit you with something, they would only benefit you with something that Allah had already written for you. If they gathered together to harm you with something, they would only harm you with something that Allah had already written against you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried. (Tirmidhi & Sahih)

·         We have instructed those given the Book before you and you yourselves to have taqwa of Allah” (Surah Nisa; 131)

I hope that this article was beneficial and if I made any mistakes, it is of my own human capacities and Allah swt knows best. I also hope that this series of activities to do during ramadhan will be beneficial and that we may all develop morally in this blessed month. Ameen.