Some people fast, others starve
We give gratitude to Allah who granted us the privilege to be part of this holy season of the year. Ramadan is a revered month which every Muslim is exhorted to take advantage of. The spiritual, physical and shared benefits that come along with Ramadan cannot be ignored. Besides, we must strive to avoid any […]
We give gratitude to Allah who granted us the privilege to be part of this holy season of the year. Ramadan is a revered month which every Muslim is exhorted to take advantage of. The spiritual, physical and shared benefits that come along with Ramadan cannot be ignored. Besides, we must strive to avoid any prohibition that vitiates or seeks to jeopardize the sanctity of our Ramadan fast. While some of these prohibitions (such as eating and drinking during the day) are handled by Muslims with extra caution, they treat others with triviality even though such have severe consequences on the value of the Ramadan fast. One of such prohibitions that many Muslims ignore but which could critically put the worth of a Muslim’s fast under threat is the injunction that prohibits telling lies.
In a hadith related by Ahmad, Muslim and An-Nasai on the authority of Abu Hurayarah (RA), the Prophet (SAW) said that Allah (SWT) has instructed believers to avoid vulgar speeches including lying while fasting. It is reported by all the authentic compilers of hadith except Imam Muslim on the authority of Abu Harayrah (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) said: “Whoever does not give up false speech and working with it, Allah has no need in his abstinence from food and drink.” Such a person’s fast is null and would have succeeded in just starving himself or herself.
While the phrase “false speech” includes lying, backbiting, character defamation, bearing false witness, gossiping, rumour mongering, fake news, photo-shopping, and every kind of speech that is haram; “acting upon it” means doing evil. Ramadan is a period during which we must shun all oral vices not just through physical interactions but also on social media platforms. If anyone provokes or vilifies you while fasting, you are advised to say, “I’m fasting” twice.
The phrase “Allah has no need in his abstinence from food and drink” does not mean that the person who engaged in false speech should be told to stop fasting. Rather, it means such a person shall have no reward for fasting. While those who abstain from lying and other sinful acts maybe fasting, a Muslim who tells lies while fasting would (as earlier mentioned) be as good as starving himself of food and drink. The Prophetic phrase also means that the sins of lying, deceiving and insulting others preclude a Muslim from receiving any rewards for his abstinence from food, drink and sexual intercourse during the daytime (which is what constitutes fasting). It maybe that some people just fast for the sake of it; not necessarily because it is a religious obligation to do so. This, perhaps, is why such people do not pay attention to the principles guiding the observance of the fast including restrictions.
Rather than speak the truth regardless of the subject matter, circumstances or consequences; many of us would prefer to tell a ‘white lie’ probably to protect ourselves, keep a relationship or prevent someone from being hurt. Islam rejects lying in all forms. Unfortunately, technology has made lying easier these days; and like the clothes we wear, everyone subscribes to it. To be dishonest in speech has almost become a pattern of the modern life in many societies today.
Some men would always lie to their wives for returning home late from work. Such women would give ‘thanks’ to the holy month of Ramadan when most husbands are compelled by the need to break their Ramadan fast to return home for iftar at sunset. The usual common excuse of ‘It’s been meetings after meetings’ habitually tendered by some husbands shall cease, at least, for this holy season of Ramadan. Many also lie when they fail to keep scheduled appointments. People tell lies to escape punishment or enjoy sympathy from others especially when they have erred against existing laws governing their conduct in a given human social environment. A worker finds it easy to say he or she is ill in order to stay off-work. Others lie in their CVs or at interview sessions in order to get a job.
In prophetic traditions, a liar is identical with a hypocrite. Imam Al-Bukhari reports that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “The signs of a hypocrite are three: Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie; whenever he promises, he breaks his promise; and whenever he is entrusted, he betrays the trust”. Imam Al-Bukhari also reports on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) observed and said, “There are three persons with whom Allah would neither speak, nor would He absolve them on the Day of Resurrection: The aged adulterer, the king that lies and the proud destitute.
In order to preserve the sanctity of our Ramadan fast, let us strive to shun everything that seeks to vitiate it. Let us remember that fasting is not all about abstaining from eating, drinking and conjugal relationship during the day time. It extends to avoiding every act that constitutes a sin. Let us remain righteous; preventing our senses and body from engaging in acts of disobedience. Our eyes, tongue, hands and legs must all be chained from treading the devil’s path.
When it is time to break the fast, let us rehearse the same supplication offered by the Prophet (SAW) at iftar. It is, “Allahumma Laka Sumtu Wa Alaa Rizkika Aftartu” meaning “O Allah! I fasted for you and (it is) with your wealth I’m breaking the fast”. Imam Tirmidhi reports that the Prophet (SAW) said the supplications of three persons are (accepted and) never turned down. They are: a man or woman that is fasting until he or she breaks the fast; a just leader; and a person who was unjustly wronged. May Allah (SWT) guide us towards a virtuous Ramadan fast, amin. Ramadan Kareem!