The Makah Religion - Ramadan Day One

By Amir Makin

These are a collection of short articles written in honor of the month of fasting known as Ramadan. Each day we will examine another aspect from a different thirtieth of the Qur'an. Since the facts on all Sunni Muslims in the Islamic text clearly convey that we are directed to read the entire Qur'an in this month, it is only fitting we analyze some perspectives that are produced from each thirtieth part. Ramadan is significant not only because it is a time of fasting, but also because it is time where a believer can attain the mercy of Allah, His Forgiveness, and achieve a freedom and protection from the Hellfire. This was also the month the Holy Qur'an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It makes no sense if one completes a reading of it entirely if one does not understand its application. God willing, we will all achieve this objective.

"And recall when you said, "O Moses, we can never endure one [kind of] food. So call upon your Lord to bring forth for us from the earth its green herbs and its cucumbers and its garlic and its lentils and its onions." [Moses] said, "Would you exchange what is better for what is less? Go into [any] settlement and indeed, you will have what you asked." And they were covered with humiliation and poverty and returned with anger from Allah [upon them]." Qur'an 2:61

In this Surah or Chapter of the Qur'an, Allah is addressing the Children of Israel who were enslaved and oppressed by Pharaoh for multiple generations. Then from among their class of people, Allah produces Musa or Moses (peace be upon him) who by the assistance of Allah achieves freedom for a people who were considered unworthy of humanity. However, once they became free, the slave mindset which came as a result of Pharaoh's psychological conditioning began to take hold.

This particular verse recounts a conversation between Musa or Moses (peace be upon him) and the formerly enslaved community. Here they are saying that the sustenance which was coming from their Lord by way of miracles is inferior to the food they became accustomed to while enslaved. In doing so, they not only insulted Allah, showed a lack of regard for the leadership of Musa (PBUH), but subconsciously admitted that they preferred an aspect of slavery over a reality of freedom.

This slave mindset can be found amongst any who have ever found themselves oppressed. Whether in Russia, Germany or America this mindset can be produced given the reality of one's oppression. The beauty of this month is to understand that Muslims are fasting because Allah commands it. By fulfilling this command we are training our souls to be slaves of only Allah alone. This establishes the foundation by which can spring proper intellectual, and optimal psychological development. When the spiritual foundation is neglected it becomes weak thus directly weakening everything else the foundation is designed to support. This is why Muslims should be exuberant when this month appears, because it provides an opportunity to fortify the very foundation of their faith which is the Oneness of Allah. Without this understanding, the only culmination one will receive at the end of the month is nothing but a smaller waste line.