Coming to Ramadan

It’s interesting but I have been aware of Ramadan and its practices of personal sacrifice to show devotion to Allah since about 1983 when my sister fell in love and eventually married and Egyptian man but I have never really understood it in all its depth and purpose. Of course I understood its purpose superficially but not deep down, deep inside me. But now I do.

I am not a Muslim and have no desire to follow any specific religion but that doesn’t mean I don’t respect their values and practices or at least some of them. I live in a region of Thailand where Muslims make up over 30% of the population and will soon move to an island where the vast majority are Muslim and though there are problems between the Buddhist and Muslim communities nearer to the Malay border, the region formerly part of Malaysia until my country did a deal and carved it up many years ago, generally the communities live together in harmony.

As a man committed to world peace and mankind unified as a single whole, respecting the views of others, the rich diversity of mankind on earth, is vital. So, my opening to the richness of the Ramadan duties is particularly welcome.

I am no expert on Ramadan despite the family connection and the close proximity of so many of the faith of Islam, but I recall that during this period, Muslims are expected to show devotion by doing without drink of any kind (including water) and food during daylight hours and throughout the entire period to avoid physical contact (sex and even kissing or hugging) and alcohol (the latter being prohibited altogether for some of the faith). How it occurred to me before was as an obligation with more suffering than merit, especially for Muslim in Northern Europe where the daylight hours if Ramadan falls in summer are so long it is sheer torture.

But in recent years of my own hardships I have had to scrape by, though never once have I gone hungry, and I have been aware for some years that I am likely to earn large sums of money in the end and will be free to have anything material I may want, but the effect of the hardships has not been to drive me to want all those things and shower myself in possessions and excesses of food and drink.

Though I will undoubtedly have much of what I want if I am right about my future, I actually enjoy the restraint, the need to “make do” and be grateful for what I have. In fact, I am going through such a period right now and it is remarkable how well I can now “make do” and I am happy for it because it sharpens my sensitivity to the issue and above all it heightens my gratitude for what I have. And it is in this that lies the core of the benefit of Ramadan, to show devotion and gratitude and not to take for granted. That I have food and drink is at Allah’s grace and something I still too often forget, especially when money becomes tight, yet I am so blessed, so provided for that never once have I gone hungry even though there are many who do. It would be a “dis-grace” not to appreciate what Allah provides for me so loyally if I keep my faith. I don’t have anything as of right but only by His/Her loving grace.

Thank you Allah. Allah is indeed great!