This morning, when I arrived at the mosque for Fajr prayer, I was surprised. It seemed as if an unusual incident had happened. The mosque, which did not even appear in the normal days, was completely full of worshipers today.
People were in a hurry to find a place in the first ranks, and the recitation of the Qur’an was spread everywhere. It seemed as if everyone’s hearts were drawn to a light, as if trying to take off the burden of sins.
When I left the house to go to the office, the outside scene had changed. On the streets, it was not normal disorder and noise, but a strange silence.
Shops, which used to open early in the morning, were surprisingly closed. People with pan, gutka and cigarettes, who were seen everywhere, were able to fulfill their habits everywhere, were seized today.
No one was smoking, nor was she wasting time at a tea hotel. I didn’t understand what was happening all this? Has a new law enforced in the city? Have people realized a new change? There was peace on all sides, there was a lot of seriousness and dignity on every face. All this was incredible to me.
Then suddenly I realized – today was the first fast of Ramadan! The month that changes the people. The blessed month that gives not only worship but also gives the whole existence of man a new purity, new light and new hope. When the evening turned to the market, the scene was completely reversed.
People who were repenting of sins for tears in prayer some time ago, the same people were now increasing the price of fruits, lying to the customers, heating the market for profitability and storage. On the one hand, the palm people engaged in the Zikr for the Iftar, and on the other hand the same palm traders who sell three times expensive. The rickshaws, who were trying to receive the fare all day long while fasting.
Fall storage investors who were preparing to stop cheap goods and sell expensive prices. I was wondering – what kind of contradiction is this? Ramadan has become only a month of worship, not to correct deeds.
In our society, religion has been divided into two parts: 1. Worship (prayer, fast, Zikr, Hajj and Umrah) 2. Acts (honesty, justice, truth, honesty, adherence to the rights of others). Review a person’s faith and faith. ” We have separated worship and deeds from each other, though in Islam, “actions” are not limited to worship, but cover the whole lifestyle.
Acts are all the work that shows the intention, behavior and character of a human being, whether it be good to anyone, honesty, justice or deception, oppression and misconduct with someone. To us, “good morals” are considered to be just a gentle tone, while true morals require that a person speak the truth, fulfill his promise, kill anyone’s right, not blend, bribe, and do justice to the people. Just talking and talking sweet words cannot be a complete standard of good morals, if human affairs include misconduct, lies and treachery. In Islam, actions and morals are not separated, but the purpose of worship is to lead man to good deeds and good morals.
If a person prays for five times, fasting, but his affairs include betrayal, deception, oppression, and lies, then the real purpose of worship is to die. This contradiction is not limited to Ramadan, but has been embedded throughout our lives. In the usual days, our mosques are full of worshipers, but at the same time dishonesty, lies, deception, bribery, theft, misconduct and oppression are on the rise.
This is the contradiction that we have to end. We have to think that our religion is limited to prayer, fasting and outward worship? Or are our actions in accordance with it? Have we only become accustomed to being good in Ramadan? Or do we follow the principles of religion even on the rest of the year? Will we only worship this Ramadan or correct our affairs?
Let’s make this Ramadan a source of real reform, not just a timely change! May Allah accept our worship, help our fasting and prayers connect with our actions, give us the courage to adopt good morals, and give us the consciousness of this contradiction.
Written by Abdul Basit Khan
Sir, writing is a resident of Karachi. Reading, writing and tourism. One of his books about the Northern Territory of Pakistan has been published on the moon palm. Lovers of music, movies and poetry.
