Ramadan Day 4: Is fasting a habit or an act of spiritual devotion?
Editor’s note: Muslims throughout the world are now observing Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting in accordance with the dictates of the Qur'an.
In this Ramadan lecture, Legit.ng examines why listening to music is forbidden for Muslims whether during Ramadan or in other eleven months of the lunar calendar according to Sunnah (traditions) of Prophet Muhammad bn Abdullah.
Verily the best of speech is the Book of Allah (Qur’an) and the best guidance is the guidance of Prophet Muhammad (May Allah give him peace and bless him), and the most evil matters are those that are newly invented, for every newly invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance is in the Hell fire. May Allah save us from the torment of Hell fire, (Aameen).
It is related that Prophet Muhammad said: "Good conduct is a habit, and bad conduct is just obnoxious." (Sahih Ibn Hibban and Sunan Ibn Majah with a good chain of transmission)
This prophetic statement brings up the question of the extent to which our formal worship is prescribed to us to positively develop our personalities and cultivate our spirituality.
This role for our worship is further reinforced by the prophet's words: "A man continues to speak the truth and verify the truth until it is written with Allah that he is an honest man... And another man continues to lie and chase after false reports until it is written with Allah that he is a habitual liar." (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).
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When we do an act over and over again, it becomes a habit. Carrying it out becomes part and parcel of our personalities and identities.
When a person strives to be honest by deliberately and consistently choosing to speak truly (even against self-interest), then honesty becomes a character trait. Ultimately, Allah elevates that person to the status of Siddiq (One who is truly honest).
For honest people, honesty is indeed a habit. However, this does not negate the fact that speaking the truth remains an act of worship and pious devotion.
Prophet Muhammad did not separate between habituation and devotion. In fact, he did the opposite. In fact, he said: "The most beloved of good deeds with Allah are those which are practiced with constancy over a long period of time, even if the deed is small." (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
Prophet Muhammad's wife, A'ishah (may Allah be please with her) relates that: "When Allah's messenger practised a good deed, he would do so consistently." (Sahih Muslim)
Devotion and piety can themselves become habits. When a person starts concentrating in prayer, it is difficult at first to keep focus. The mind is easily distracted. However, after years of persistence, devotion and presence of mind in prayer become second-nature.
It should be noted that fasting in Ramadan was prescribed by the One who is Most Generous, Most Kind, and Most Forgiving.
He did not prescribe fasting to punish us, but rather to purify our minds and hearts, and to make us more generous, compassionate, and healthy people. You will come away from such thinking looking forward to the arrival of Ramadan, thankful that you are able to fast.
Ramadan will become the beginning of a change for the better. It will be an experience of faith that will bring joy, new hope and greater happiness to your life.
Make it your habit in Ramadan to spend in charity. When you are shopping to choose nice foods to break your fast with, consider those who do not have enough to eat. Think about the mothers in the world who do not have enough food to feed their starving children and whose decision is to determine which of them is presently closer to death.
May Allah accept from us our worship during this blessed month.
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that listening to music is haraam (forbidden), whether in Ramadan or at other times, but it is more forbidden in Ramadan, and is a greater sin, because fasting does not only mean refraining from eating and drinking
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