What is Ramadan: The Main Purpose Explained

  • Ramadan is the sacred month of blessing and forgiveness.
  • Most people think that the purpose of Ramadan is only for abstaining from food and drinks.
  • The different purposes of fasting in Ramadan include heightening the religious experience, developing self-control, and increasing our sympathy for the poor.
  • Offering qiyam during Ramadan increases our communal kinship.

Ramadan is just around the corner. Muslims around the world eagerly wait for this month of blessing and forgiveness. Every healthy adult Muslim must fast during this sacred month. The purpose of this month is to rejuvenate your faith and purify your soul.

Fellow Muslims must realize the purpose of this blessed month!

 

Common Understanding of the Purpose of Ramadan Ramadan

Most people around the world believe that the only purpose of Ramadan is to abstain from food and drinks. Only a true believer knows that the month of Ramadan isn’t confined to this purpose only. 

Learning and mastering the art of self-control is one of the significant purposes of Ramadan. Fasting in the month of Ramadan involves controlling your mind, heart, hunger, thirst, lust, and spirit. It is also about developing empathy for the underprivileged and forming a close bond with the originator. 

The Different Purposes of Fasting 

One must fast so that he can understand the purposes of it. When you fast, you must stay away from all kinds of negative thoughts and desires.

1. It helps control your emotions and impulses.

You must avoid all such acts and feelings that may void your fast and lead you astray. Emotions like pride, envy, and jealousy must be prevented during the fasting period. Actions such as causing physical or verbal violence such as speaking ill of someone, smoking, and fighting are strictly prohibited.

The Holy Prophet is reported to have said the following, 

“Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.)” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

2. It helps enhance your spiritual experience.

Fasting involves controlling your hunger and thirst for a fixed period. Dry fasting for several hours while controlling and curbing hunger pangs has several benefits. 

In a longitudinal study, it was deduced that dry fasting helped heighten their religious experience. It also increased their mindfulness and led to a high sense of self-control during the fast period. 

 

3. It helps develop self-control.

Alongside these points, one must control their lust. Failure to do so may nullify your fast. Activities such as getting intimate with another individual, performing sexual intercourse, or doing anything that would cause the discharge of semen can void your fast.

 

4. It increases our sympathy for the poor.

We, as Muslims, must always have sympathy for the poor. One of the main purposes of Ramadan is to develop empathy for the needy. When we experience hunger and thirst, we tend to understand the feelings of those in need better. Consequently, we become more generous towards them. However, this purpose is limited to those who have sufficient resources to look after themselves.

 

5. It helps seek closeness to your originator.

Ramadan gives us a beautiful golden opportunity to open ourselves to our originator. It helps us seek forgiveness and mercy for all the wrong acts we have committed. This may be done through prayers and recitation. 

The best way to do this is to isolate yourself in a clean and comfortable place. You may recite prayers and the Holy Quran, as well as seek forgiveness from the originator for all the sins conducted intentionally and unintentionally.

Prophet P.B.U.H, the last messenger of the originator, used to spend several hours secluded in the Cave Of Hira. Muslims, inspired by Prophet P.B.U.H, spend several hours reconnecting with the divine revelation. It provides a chance to make ourselves better.

The Significance of Qiyam

Ramadan allows believers to engage in Jihad al-nafs on two levels: 

  1. fasting during the day and 
  2. offering Qiyam after breaking the fast. 

The purpose of Ramadan is to double your reward for all the good deeds and prayers that you offer.

Qiyam, also known as Taraweeh, roughly translates to “stand during the night.” Offering this night prayer in a congregation teaches us equality and enhances our communal kinship. 

It also teaches us that everyone is equal in the eyes of Allah. Offering these special prayers will help you seek forgiveness from even the major sins. It may also help you earn Allah’s mercy and receive greater reward during this blessed month.

Ramadan is not just a month that will help you earn your Lord’s forgiveness, mercy, and blessings. Rather, all the things Muslims have been asked to do in Ramadan have a meaningful purpose behind them. They will help you in this world as well as the one after.

We must understand that abstaining from food and drink is not the only purpose of Ramadan. If you are among the blessed ones, try to make the best out of this month. Understand the value of this significant month and follow the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W), He may serve as the best on how to pass this month.

Summary

The month of Ramadan provides a golden opportunity for the true believers to clean their bad deeds slate. Several people believe that the only purpose of Ramadan is to refrain oneself from eating and drinking. However, the purpose isn’t confined to only that. The holy month of Ramadan teaches Muslims to control their lust, develop empathy for the underprivileged, and seek closeness to the Almighty. Ramadan also comes with the special prayer called Taraweeh. This teaches us equality and provides us a beautiful chance to achieve forgiveness for our sins. 

Written by:
Syeda Muzaffar

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