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I read an article about Yasin Bey, more popularly known as Mos Def who volunteered to undergo a procedure of force-feeding.
The same as the detainees at Guantanamo Bay are being put through in response to partaking in hunger strikes to protest their long detentions without a trial.
I barely can imagine what these detainees are going through, what’s even more insane after going through a day of fasting; Muslims at Guantanamo will be force-fed in the nights. And in some instances, the force-feeding may still be done during the day, preventing those who wish to observe Ramadan; from actually fasting.
So whilst I sit with family and enjoy ifthaar (breaking of fast at appointed time), free as a bird, there are my fellow Muslims being detained for almost a decade, their fasts get broken for them.
There are orphans, widows, elderly, and the oppressed who have no ifthaar. Imagine our hunger of choice is their hunger 24/7.
The forgotten people of our world who don’t even have a morsel or sip to break their fasts. We often become so obsessed with lavish ifthars; our freezers become prime property in our homes which we stock up with savouries and different eats.
I have paused to think. I decided this Ramadaan would be different, so I disembarked off the carriage and am sitting on the platform. A time to reflect, pray and taste the essence of a simpler life during this month.
In Islam, Ramadan holds special significance as the month when the first chapters of the holy Qur’an were first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. It is also the month of Mercy, Forgiveness and Redemption.
This is the month in which we try as best we can to shed our old self. We ascribe to sincerely changing into better human being. We try to break that ritualistic motion of Ramadaan in order to receive the downpour of mercy promised to us.
Do we simply read the Quran for the sake of it or to compare with others how many chapters we have completed? Instead shouldn’t it be transforming us into better beings?
Do we merely feed our bodies at sehri time or at ifthaar only to starve our hearts of Qiyam (awakening)?
Fasting is not just about food and drink; it has a deeper essence, not just a hunger pang or thirst. We have to fast from dawn till dusk.
Our Creator does not want us only to feast on what he thinks is best for us. We should fast for all those preconceived ideas in our heads and feast on embracing new thoughts. We should fast because of greed; we should fast because of our egos. We should fast because of becoming planners and controllers, because ultimately he (God) is the best of planners.
We should fast from treating each other badly and feast on doing good for our fellow brothers and sisters irrespective of religion, race or creed. Let us fast because of gossip and criticism of each other. Let us fast because of bragging about our material wealth whilst standing next to a man who barely can afford a plate of food.
Let us fast against all things that standing in our way of being better human beings. Let us fast because we think we are superior to the next person due to our religion: He might not be your brother in religion but he is your brother in humanity.
So with all the challenges I am facing at the moment, this month is helping me understand myself, what’s important and who I surround myself with. Trusting the plan in motion, letting go of fear, and embracing the transformation. A deeper self awareness and connection with my Creator.
These are my thoughts sitting on my platform of reflection and introspection. After all this is what our Creator wants for us to see the wood from the trees. Sitting here seeking my Creator; I am taking that step towards change. I feel his presence closer to me... closer than my jugular vein.
May the Almighty make things easy for all those men and women, who are less fortunate than us, who are living in war-torn countries, who are in famine inflicted countries, who are being detained indefinitely...
Let us never forget how fortunate we are and not be ungrateful for the blessings we have in our lives.
Ameen!
Check out Saffiya's blog or follow her on Twitter.
You can also Follow Women24 on Twitter.
The same as the detainees at Guantanamo Bay are being put through in response to partaking in hunger strikes to protest their long detentions without a trial.
I barely can imagine what these detainees are going through, what’s even more insane after going through a day of fasting; Muslims at Guantanamo will be force-fed in the nights. And in some instances, the force-feeding may still be done during the day, preventing those who wish to observe Ramadan; from actually fasting.
So whilst I sit with family and enjoy ifthaar (breaking of fast at appointed time), free as a bird, there are my fellow Muslims being detained for almost a decade, their fasts get broken for them.
There are orphans, widows, elderly, and the oppressed who have no ifthaar. Imagine our hunger of choice is their hunger 24/7.
The forgotten people of our world who don’t even have a morsel or sip to break their fasts. We often become so obsessed with lavish ifthars; our freezers become prime property in our homes which we stock up with savouries and different eats.
I have paused to think. I decided this Ramadaan would be different, so I disembarked off the carriage and am sitting on the platform. A time to reflect, pray and taste the essence of a simpler life during this month.
In Islam, Ramadan holds special significance as the month when the first chapters of the holy Qur’an were first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. It is also the month of Mercy, Forgiveness and Redemption.
This is the month in which we try as best we can to shed our old self. We ascribe to sincerely changing into better human being. We try to break that ritualistic motion of Ramadaan in order to receive the downpour of mercy promised to us.
Do we simply read the Quran for the sake of it or to compare with others how many chapters we have completed? Instead shouldn’t it be transforming us into better beings?
Do we merely feed our bodies at sehri time or at ifthaar only to starve our hearts of Qiyam (awakening)?
Fasting is not just about food and drink; it has a deeper essence, not just a hunger pang or thirst. We have to fast from dawn till dusk.
Our Creator does not want us only to feast on what he thinks is best for us. We should fast for all those preconceived ideas in our heads and feast on embracing new thoughts. We should fast because of greed; we should fast because of our egos. We should fast because of becoming planners and controllers, because ultimately he (God) is the best of planners.
We should fast from treating each other badly and feast on doing good for our fellow brothers and sisters irrespective of religion, race or creed. Let us fast because of gossip and criticism of each other. Let us fast because of bragging about our material wealth whilst standing next to a man who barely can afford a plate of food.
Let us fast against all things that standing in our way of being better human beings. Let us fast because we think we are superior to the next person due to our religion: He might not be your brother in religion but he is your brother in humanity.
So with all the challenges I am facing at the moment, this month is helping me understand myself, what’s important and who I surround myself with. Trusting the plan in motion, letting go of fear, and embracing the transformation. A deeper self awareness and connection with my Creator.
These are my thoughts sitting on my platform of reflection and introspection. After all this is what our Creator wants for us to see the wood from the trees. Sitting here seeking my Creator; I am taking that step towards change. I feel his presence closer to me... closer than my jugular vein.
May the Almighty make things easy for all those men and women, who are less fortunate than us, who are living in war-torn countries, who are in famine inflicted countries, who are being detained indefinitely...
Let us never forget how fortunate we are and not be ungrateful for the blessings we have in our lives.
Ameen!
Check out Saffiya's blog or follow her on Twitter.
You can also Follow Women24 on Twitter.
