By Mujlisul Ulama
FASTING in the Month of Ramadhaan is a wonderful spiritual and physical remedy. Allah Ta’ala is the Creator of the Rooh (Soul) and the physical body, and He has designed all practices of Ibaadat for the self are for the development of both the soul and the body. Although the intention underlying Fasting is only to gain Allah’s Pleasure by fulfilling His Command, the Fasting comes with many health benefits.
An expert non-Muslim naturopath observed that the Islamic practice of Fasting a month is a wonderful health benefit, however, Muslims nullify the beneficial effects of the Fasting when they break their fast in the evening. They go overboard in reckless gluttony. This gluttony commences immediately at Iftaar. Instead of heeding Rasulullah’s advice and command of breaking the fast frugally, Muslims nowadays indulge in nauseating gluttony.
The gluttony begins with the commencement of the Athaan. Elaborate meals are spread out in the Musaajid for anti-Sunnah and physically and spiritually ruinous feasting. The holy moments of Iftaar are treated as an occasion of haraam merrymaking. The fasting ones devour to the point of satiation or even more. Then generally they leave their mess on the Musjid carpets. After Maghrib Salaat, they rush home for the ‘primary’ and main meal. It boggles the mind to fathom how they manage to locate space in their bellies for the deluge of the harmful foods they ingest after Maghrib. Then after Taraaweeh, commences another round of feasting with deserts, etc.
A human being should utilize his intelligence to understand the physical and spiritual villainy perpetrated to the body and soul by such reckless gluttony unknown to even dogs and the beasts in the jungle. The inevitable consequence of this style of horrible, nauseating gluttony is the ultimate breakdown of the physical body which becomes afflicted with many diseases, and the utter ruin of the Muslim’s spiritual fibre. In the wake of this self-destruction the evil nafs becomes bloated and remains in full control of the intelligence.
Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) ordered us to make iftaar with only dates and/or water. This exhortation is for practical implementation and has been designed by Allah Ta’ala for our all round welfare.
Islam Reigns 