Ramadhan And Fasting - A Festival?

We are now coming towards the end of the month of Sya’aban in the Hijri calendar. In less than a week will be the month of Ramadhan, a month of fasting during daylight hours and a month of submission to the Almighty in prayers and similar related activities like reading the Holy Book, silent chants, recitals and meditation in glorifying the Almighty and The Prophets. Other activities include taking care of the less fortunate, giving alms, charity and other good practices. There are many things that can be done to glorify the month and all shall be in submission to the Almighty. If we have funds to spare then spend it for and in charity but if we have not, then spare our physical efforts for charity. I learnt that even giving a smile is considered charity.

I have been taught, from small, that the month of Ramadhan is a month considered holy for the disciples and that we should do all that I mentioned earlier as much as we can and as best we can. I was also taught that we should not take pride in our efforts and any good we do must be sincere without need for recognition. It was said that if you give with the right hand make sure the left hand do not know about it, meaning give and give quietly, no fanfare. When praying or doing other deeds too, do them quietly and not with the intention of getting noticed by other people. That is considered ‘riyak’ or ‘show-off’ which is seriously frowned upon.

Ramadhan, to me, is time for renewing efforts towards submission to the Almighty. A time to do more than, what is normal, in the other months. A time to change, to be a better disciple. Therefore things worldly are secondary to the spiritual. Indeed over the years of my growing up and growing old, these have been practiced by all good followers of the religion. However, in recent years I have seen a slow and gradual change in perspective to the month. It has slowly become a month of food festivities. It is like a food carnival. From about three weeks ago I noticed buntings and banners stringed up in strategic places, and advertisements in the local newspapers, of food festivals during Ramadhan, of special buffets at hotels and restaurants. All hotels will have breaking of fast food promotions and all sorts of attractions for customers. Open areas in housing estates, towns and crowded places will have stalls selling all kinds of cooked food, cakes, sweets, drinks and what have you for the breaking of fast. Special permits will be issued by the authorities for small time retailers, food sellers, to operate stalls in these designated locations, allocated by the authorities. It is as though fasting is for eating in merriment at the end of the day!! No more glory in spiritual achievement but good food in anticipation. Most will purchase more than necessary, when hungry, only to end up throwing away excess food, which is contrary to the teaching of the religion. This is a fact. It is not my imagination as I have time and time again seen these excesses. The small time food sellers, the restaurant and hotel owners or operators will be laughing to the bank, the customers, all and including non followers of the religion, are happy that a wide variety of food is made available for them and in between…..? the very essence of Ramadhan is lost in food……

MKI Ramblings Unlimited
Petaling Jaya