Hossam Badrawi Official Website
A better human being project in Ramadan
Written by Hossam Badrawi
Why do many Muslims not work during Ramadan, and are lazy under the pretext of fasting, and go to work late and leave early, and argue in crowds, and why do they fight over food and sweets, in this particular month, and what does fasting have to do with all of this!!!!
Fasting has become an excuse for not performing one’s duty.
I have read the verses about fasting, and I wonder about those who were prescribed fasting before Islam. Did the Arabs on the peninsula fast during the same month? ??
As far as I know, even the ancient Egyptians used to fast, and yes, the Arabs before Islam used to fast and make pilgrimages to the Kaaba.
Sanctifying the month of Ramadan is not only an Islamic custom. Likewise, the Sabians, according to sources of Arab history, used to fast for thirty days, beginning the month with the appearance of the crescent moon, and ending it with the appearance of the new crescent moon. After the end of the month, they celebrated a feast also called Eid al-Fitr. This matter has a lot of consistency with Islamic fasting
Likewise, the Jews used to, and still do, fast several days of the year, as fasting for them is considered an expression of sadness, and the days on which they fast are considered mourning and atonement for sins, in addition to the fact that they believed that fasting protects them from the occurrence of calamities.
Christians also had specific and separate days in the year that they were keen to fast, and Christians today have their own fasts, as is the case with the ancient Egyptians who used to fast and specified specific days for that.
Fasting has returned now through science, which has proven that the body needs to fast from eating, and they have given it new names, such as intermittent fasting, but it requires drinking water.
As for the “Sabians,” for those who do not know, they are mentioned independently in the Holy Qur’an in Surat Al-Baqarah and in Surat Al-Ma’idah..
They are a group of believers in God who claim to be following the religion of Abraham and Adam, and they have customs that are close to Islam, and they still exist to this day.
The important thing is that fasting existed in different forms before the emergence of Islam, and God says in His Book in Surah Al-Baqarah: “O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.”
A curious young man said to me: I am afraid to say, Doctor, that completing the verses on fasting, according to my understanding, may give a person the right to break the fast if he wants to feed a poor person, as the verse says:
“A number of days, so whoever of you is sick or on a journey, then a number of other days, and for those who are able to do it, a ransom is to feed one poor person, so whoever volunteers good It is better for him, and that you fast is better for you, if you only knew.
I said: I am also confused by the interpretation of this verse because it gives a person the right to choose, but it motivates him that it is better for him to fast, but I tend not to argue about the interpretation because fasting is better in all circumstances.
Between myself and myself, I thought about what I was reading about philosophy and physical sciences, and then I thought about controversial issues about the astronomical date of Ramadan, since the lunar year, precisely calculated, is 354 days, 8 hours, 48 minutes, and 34 seconds, meaning that there is a difference between The solar year and the lunar year are 10 days, 16 hours, and 12 seconds long. It is known that terrain and climate change, on the basis of which the months are named, are linked to the movement of the Earth around the sun. Scientists have made adjustments to the solar calendar.
By adding a day in the month of February every 4 years to make the months compatible with the terrain, and the Egyptians before them did it in the months of the Coptic year for the same reason, as the names of the months have no value if they do not fit the terrain, and the Arabs used to do the same thing with the lunar year until The year is set, with the month of Rabi’ remaining in the spring, Ramadan in September, and Hajj in December, but our Arab ancestors, after the death of the Messenger, retreated from making the amendments. The arithmetic required in it, which made it incompatible with the movement of the seasons, so it became the month of Rabi’, which comes once in the winter and once in the Summer, and the dates of the month of Ramadan, the dates of Hajj, and other seasons were disturbed, and for this precise and clear detail, the Muslims were content to neglect its calculation, so the lunar months became distorted. In the Hijri calendar, religious rituals are no longer linked to the reality of their time cycle, and its benefit to human life has ceased. Then I said to myself, “No, this is not a time for controversial discussions, nor for shaking habits that have settled in people’s minds.” . It is better to advise young people from the Qur’an with some life wisdom, as we do in education, when we talk about Values and skills that must be applied.
So I went back to my research and told them:
Ramadan is a generous month regardless of astronomy studies, and it is an opportunity for all of us. It is a month in which souls prepare to get closer to God and in which we gather with loved ones, relatives, and friends. Let us take from the Qur’an its advice to us in practicing life and make this month the beginning of a better human project for each one of us. .
They said how and what do you mean?
I said, with the logic of education in explanation and simplification, that I will make them ten commandments that will make each one of us a better human being, all of which are taken from the verses of the Holy Qur’an:
First: Moderation in eating and drinking, as it is a month of fasting
“And eat and drink, and do not be extravagant. Indeed, He does not like the extravagant.”
Second: Moderation in spending and life in general. “And do not let your hand be shackled to your neck, nor spread it out completely, lest you sit blamed and distressed.”
Third: The way we speak, and speaking loudly with our voices, “And be intentional in your walk and lower your voice. Indeed, the most insignificant of sounds is the sound of donkeys.” Indeed, the Holy Qur’an has prescribed for us the way of this walking, whether it is in form or metaphor, and it said, “And do not walk.” On earth You will not penetrate the earth, nor will you reach the height of the mountains.”
Fourth: Parental care.
“And be kind to your parents. Whether one or both of them reach old age with you, do not say “unfavourable” to them, do not rebuke them, but speak to them with kind words.
Fifth: Controlling suspicions and seeking the truth
He said, “O you who have believed, avoid much suspicion. Indeed, some suspicion is sinful.”
Sixth: Honesty and avoiding lying
“God does not guide one who is extravagant and a liar.”
“And avoid false speech” “O you who have believed, fear God and be with the truthful”
Seventh: To say the best words to others. “And speak kindly to people.” “And speak to them an easy word.”
Eighth: The Qur’an teaches us to control our gatherings together or our dealings in social media, which came more than a thousand years after it, saying, God Almighty says: “And do not backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother, and you hated him? Fear God. Indeed, God is Forgiving and Merciful. “
Ninth: Let us use our minds and the wisdom God has given us
“And whoever is given wisdom has been given much good, and none remember except those of understanding.”
“Say: Are those who know equal to those who do not know?”
“Only those of His servants fear Allah who are scholars.”
Tenth: Let us read, educate and learn
Read in the name of your Lord who created. He created man from a clot. Read, and your Lord is Most Generous. He who taught by the pen. He taught man what he did not know.
I added, saying that fasting Ramadan is an opportunity for self-jihad, which is higher in value and greater in reward than any other jihad, if only you knew.
These are my tips to you from the beginning of the Holy Qur’an and the word of God Almighty. Let us take the initiative in Ramadan to begin or complete our good morals.
Written by Hossam Badrawi
Why do many Muslims not work during Ramadan, and are lazy under the pretext of fasting, and go to work late and leave early, and argue in crowds, and why do they fight over food and sweets, in this particular month, and what does fasting have to do with all of this!!!!
Fasting has become an excuse for not performing one’s duty.
I have read the verses about fasting, and I wonder about those who were prescribed fasting before Islam. Did the Arabs on the peninsula fast during the same month? ??
As far as I know, even the ancient Egyptians used to fast, and yes, the Arabs before Islam used to fast and make pilgrimages to the Kaaba.
Sanctifying the month of Ramadan is not only an Islamic custom. Likewise, the Sabians, according to sources of Arab history, used to fast for thirty days, beginning the month with the appearance of the crescent moon, and ending it with the appearance of the new crescent moon. After the end of the month, they celebrated a feast also called Eid al-Fitr. This matter has a lot of consistency with Islamic fasting
Likewise, the Jews used to, and still do, fast several days of the year, as fasting for them is considered an expression of sadness, and the days on which they fast are considered mourning and atonement for sins, in addition to the fact that they believed that fasting protects them from the occurrence of calamities.
Christians also had specific and separate days in the year that they were keen to fast, and Christians today have their own fasts, as is the case with the ancient Egyptians who used to fast and specified specific days for that.
Fasting has returned now through science, which has proven that the body needs to fast from eating, and they have given it new names, such as intermittent fasting, but it requires drinking water.
As for the “Sabians,” for those who do not know, they are mentioned independently in the Holy Qur’an in Surat Al-Baqarah and in Surat Al-Ma’idah..
They are a group of believers in God who claim to be following the religion of Abraham and Adam, and they have customs that are close to Islam, and they still exist to this day.
The important thing is that fasting existed in different forms before the emergence of Islam, and God says in His Book in Surah Al-Baqarah: “O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.”
A curious young man said to me: I am afraid to say, Doctor, that completing the verses on fasting, according to my understanding, may give a person the right to break the fast if he wants to feed a poor person, as the verse says:
“A number of days, so whoever of you is sick or on a journey, then a number of other days, and for those who are able to do it, a ransom is to feed one poor person, so whoever volunteers good It is better for him, and that you fast is better for you, if you only knew.
I said: I am also confused by the interpretation of this verse because it gives a person the right to choose, but it motivates him that it is better for him to fast, but I tend not to argue about the interpretation because fasting is better in all circumstances.
Between myself and myself, I thought about what I was reading about philosophy and physical sciences, and then I thought about controversial issues about the astronomical date of Ramadan, since the lunar year, precisely calculated, is 354 days, 8 hours, 48 minutes, and 34 seconds, meaning that there is a difference between The solar year and the lunar year are 10 days, 16 hours, and 12 seconds long. It is known that terrain and climate change, on the basis of which the months are named, are linked to the movement of the Earth around the sun. Scientists have made adjustments to the solar calendar.
By adding a day in the month of February every 4 years to make the months compatible with the terrain, and the Egyptians before them did it in the months of the Coptic year for the same reason, as the names of the months have no value if they do not fit the terrain, and the Arabs used to do the same thing with the lunar year until The year is set, with the month of Rabi’ remaining in the spring, Ramadan in September, and Hajj in December, but our Arab ancestors, after the death of the Messenger, retreated from making the amendments. The arithmetic required in it, which made it incompatible with the movement of the seasons, so it became the month of Rabi’, which comes once in the winter and once in the Summer, and the dates of the month of Ramadan, the dates of Hajj, and other seasons were disturbed, and for this precise and clear detail, the Muslims were content to neglect its calculation, so the lunar months became distorted. In the Hijri calendar, religious rituals are no longer linked to the reality of their time cycle, and its benefit to human life has ceased. Then I said to myself, “No, this is not a time for controversial discussions, nor for shaking habits that have settled in people’s minds.” . It is better to advise young people from the Qur’an with some life wisdom, as we do in education, when we talk about Values and skills that must be applied.
So I went back to my research and told them:
Ramadan is a generous month regardless of astronomy studies, and it is an opportunity for all of us. It is a month in which souls prepare to get closer to God and in which we gather with loved ones, relatives, and friends. Let us take from the Qur’an its advice to us in practicing life and make this month the beginning of a better human project for each one of us. .
They said how and what do you mean?
I said, with the logic of education in explanation and simplification, that I will make them ten commandments that will make each one of us a better human being, all of which are taken from the verses of the Holy Qur’an:
First: Moderation in eating and drinking, as it is a month of fasting
“And eat and drink, and do not be extravagant. Indeed, He does not like the extravagant.”
Second: Moderation in spending and life in general. “And do not let your hand be shackled to your neck, nor spread it out completely, lest you sit blamed and distressed.”
Third: The way we speak, and speaking loudly with our voices, “And be intentional in your walk and lower your voice. Indeed, the most insignificant of sounds is the sound of donkeys.” Indeed, the Holy Qur’an has prescribed for us the way of this walking, whether it is in form or metaphor, and it said, “And do not walk.” On earth You will not penetrate the earth, nor will you reach the height of the mountains.”
Fourth: Parental care.
“And be kind to your parents. Whether one or both of them reach old age with you, do not say “unfavourable” to them, do not rebuke them, but speak to them with kind words.
Fifth: Controlling suspicions and seeking the truth
He said, “O you who have believed, avoid much suspicion. Indeed, some suspicion is sinful.”
Sixth: Honesty and avoiding lying
“God does not guide one who is extravagant and a liar.”
“And avoid false speech” “O you who have believed, fear God and be with the truthful”
Seventh: To say the best words to others. “And speak kindly to people.” “And speak to them an easy word.”
Eighth: The Qur’an teaches us to control our gatherings together or our dealings in social media, which came more than a thousand years after it, saying, God Almighty says: “And do not backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother, and you hated him? Fear God. Indeed, God is Forgiving and Merciful. “
Ninth: Let us use our minds and the wisdom God has given us
“And whoever is given wisdom has been given much good, and none remember except those of understanding.”
“Say: Are those who know equal to those who do not know?”
“Only those of His servants fear Allah who are scholars.”
Tenth: Let us read, educate and learn
Read in the name of your Lord who created. He created man from a clot. Read, and your Lord is Most Generous. He who taught by the pen. He taught man what he did not know.
I added, saying that fasting Ramadan is an opportunity for self-jihad, which is higher in value and greater in reward than any other jihad, if only you knew.
These are my tips to you from the beginning of the Holy Qur’an and the word of God Almighty. Let us take the initiative in Ramadan to begin or complete our good morals.
