The Lessons of Ramadan for Muslims

On August 22, Muslims in America began honoring our holy month of Ramadan -- a month of fasting, prayer and a renewed religious focus. It is a month of introspection, where Muslims around the world focus on the truly important elements of their lives; renewal of faith, family and strengthening one's relationship with God.

Many Americans are unaware of the significance of Ramadan for Muslims, both locally and abroad. It is celebrated in the ninth month of the lunar calendar during which Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad received the scripture of the Quran. From sun-up to sun-down we will fast from all food and drink in order to obey what we Muslims believe is God's commandment in the Quran to fast (2:185). It is a deeply challenging but spiritually rewarding month.

The fast is a symbolic equalizer for all Muslims from every part of humanity. From the very rich to the very poor, the fortunate or the less fortunate, during this month every Muslim finds common goodness in the challenge and rewards of the daily fast. The hunger and thirst is a remembrance of the cornerstone of free will and discipline in faith as much as it is a sign of health. It is a reminder of thanks for our health and a test for Muslims to see and feel the plight of those less fortunate. In hunger and in thirst, we are all equal. It is an equality that not only crosses social boundaries, but religious, political and geographical as well. It is a reminder of our shared humanity with every individual around the world.

In that equality, Ramadan bears significance beyond its spirituality for Muslims. Every year it reminds me of my love of personal liberty and free will from Islamist coercion. A respect for universal equality is a central community value vital to ultimately defeating the theocrats of political Islam. Muslims need an Islam whose laws stay out of government, and instead teach the equality of all humanity regardless of faith practice.

The spirit of Ramadan is a true example of how Islam can flourish under the separation of mosque and state.

You read that correctly. Ramadan illustrates the true potential of Islam under the separation of mosque and state. That's because no matter where you are in the world, the fast of Ramadan should be a personal practice of the heart shared by all Muslims but imposed by none. Choosing to partake in the daily fast and month of prayer must be an exercise of pure free will outside the purview of everyone but God. Those that partake must be willing and government should certainly stay out of it.

Religion, freely practiced without the oppression of government intervention, is one of the founding principles of America and a part of what makes our democracy, under God, so great.

My prayer is that this year during the month-long introspection, our Muslim faith communities begin to come to a universal understanding, that living under the oppressive rule of Shar'iah law (Islamic jurisprudence) is not only strangling our religion, but perverting it. The application of Shar'iah law in government suffocates the basic human right to practice our own beliefs how we freely choose. No matter how benevolent it is packaged, when Shar'iah law is imposed through religious mandate rather than through reason and liberty, it denies the very inalienable rights which Ramadan teaches us to cherish. It is my prayer that the introspection of the month brings millions of Muslims to the realization that the recurrent problem of radical Islam is a symptom of the underlying supremacism of political Islam.

At the culmination of Ramadan on the first day of the next lunar month is our major holiday Eid ul-Fitr ('holiday of the feast'), a celebration of the many blessings bestowed upon us and our families by God. As we make our way through Ramadan this year challenging our bodies in a fast and feeding our minds spiritually, it is my prayer that we wake up to the real blessings of the freedom to practice all aspects of our faith without political dictations. It is a goal for Muslims that will not come without strife and sacrifice. If our fasting does not teach us to respect the innate nature of individual religious freedom and the need for each to be able to choose or reject any aspect of faith then Ramadan teaches us nothing.

Religion, as in America, can only fully be realized as a personal relationship with God, freely practiced and without theocratic repression and direction. It is the Islam I, my family and many other American Muslims enjoy. It is the Islam I hope all Muslims will enjoy one day soon. With effort and a united purpose, we can.

M. Zuhdi Jasser is the founder and President of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy, based in Phoenix, Arizona. He can be reached at [e-mail].

Comments

[Torero126]

Check out this great article about Besa and it's connection to Muslims and Jews.

http://www.bloggingthecasbah.com/

[MARNIE2]

my observation to what your saying is that Islam is hitting some bumps in the road as in an Islamic govt. ?
thecratic rule - to much power & corruption in mullah's-supreme leader [word] or deeds !

[ModernTimes1]

"The spirit of Ramadan is a true example of how Islam can flourish under the separation of mosque and state."
Separation of religious and civic authorities is an important goal, of of course. This could lead to great benefits for people in Islamic countries.
I wish thouh this article would translated into Arabic and Persian and distributed where it is sorely needed.

"... Islam can florish"

I thought he goal is to have people flourish, not the religion!
Wherever religion flourishes, people wilt.

[longtimegone]

Believe it or not, MT, the two are not necessarily mutually exclusive. That they so often manifest as you say, is more demonstrative of the undeveloped hearts and intellects of the people of an age, not a measure of the original inspiration, whose seed may produce an ibn Arabi or ibn Sina or the Taliban; Shankara and Ramana Maharshi or Hare Krshnas at the airport, all determined by the soil on which the seed falls.

[ModernTimes1]

Well, there is some truth in what you say. But yours is simply a more eloquent version of faulty "if only they followed the 'true' Islam." argument.
Well, who is to say that Taliban's version is less true than Sufi's?
Certainly Sufi's is more agreeable, but true?
Was Mao's version of communism any less true than Soviet one?
Or perhaps the central point is that a religion which insists on control of all aspects of society and culture acts as a retardant to most progress.
To use your "seed" analogy, religion is the seed that produces the weeds that stifle the other, more noble plants of human inquiry.

[ModernTimes1]

The world is better off with least amount religion possible.

[calfacon]

As a former catholic, now deist, I want to thank you for this excellent post. It has provided me with a great deal of insight into Ramadan.

[Derek Flood - Huffpost Blogger]

Is there any causation as to why Ramadan is often the most violent period of the year in Afghanistan and Iraq (and Pakistan)? And why do militants specifically attack during iftaar? I was speaking to someone back home in US, who is Muslim, and saying that Ramazan was beginning here in Afghanistan. "Oh well then things should calm down there for a bit?" "No, unfortunately things often get worse during this time" was my reply. A few days ago not very far from here, a suicide bomber walked up to to group of Pakistani police officers on the border with Afghanistan carrying a gift of food to break the fast. He killed them as well as a number of civilians. Sure, I full well know the strategic importance of attacking men working for the state that these groups seek to inflict immense pain upon, but my question still begs, why Ramadan, why iftaar? Is it just a correlation without an actual causation?

[bermanator]

I was curious about this as well -- here's what I found:

'According to the many Islamic scholars I consulted, the Quran discourages violence during Ramadan but allows exceptions for self-defense and just causes. In Chapter 2, verse 217, Allah explains to Mohammed what he should tell people when they ask about Ramadan fighting: "Say: 'Fighting therein is a grave (offence); but graver is it in the sight of Allah to prevent access to the path of Allah, to deny Him, to prevent access to the Sacred Mosque, and drive out its members.' Tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter.'

'Ramadan traditionally magnifies all good deeds in Islam. According to the ahadith—traditions of the prophet recorded by early followers—"whoever discharges an obligatory deed in [Ramadan] shall receive the reward of performing 70 obligations at any other time."'

"What many do not know is that Ramadan is a month of commitment and renewal of Muslim faith and cause, whether by military or nonmilitary jihad. It is a month of martyrdom and commitment to one's Islamic ideology. Throughout Islamic history, Ramadan has been seen as a time of victory for Muslim armies and a period when those who are martyred have a greater assurance of a place in paradise."

http://www.jihadunspun.com/intheatre_internal.php?article=104660&list=/home.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_battles_fought_during_Ramadan_by_Muslims

http://www.slate.com/id/2057982/

[ModernTimes1]

rather enlightening. Terrifying that in 21st Century this passes for truth to some, but revealing nonetheless.

[BlackYowe]

Iraqi journalist who hurled shoe at Bush gets early release for good behaviour!

[MGarin]

Insh'allah, dude!

[mommadona]

"Religion, freely practiced without the oppression of government intervention, is one of the founding principles of America and a part of what makes our democracy, under God, so great."

YES - BUT

Religious freedom for YOUR religion ends at MY nose - and THAT is truly what makes America great.

Despite the last 8 years of "faith-based" BUSHCO, Inc embedding of theocrats into the government, I believe even with that 'licking' we'll 'keep on ticking'

[CherylMav]

I wish you a Ramadan Mubarak, Dr. Jasser, and may God bless you for all the work you do. All humanity benefits from having such a reasoned mind and kind heart as yours bringing us closer to the light!