The emotional acknowledgement of accepting the existence of Allah Ta’ala is a natural disposition for all human beings at all periods since creation of the first human being. This condition will continue to manifest itself in human beings at all times despite there being various efforts termed ‘development’ that object to the whole concept of religion on the pretext of ‘sufficiency of science and technology’.
This feeling is the condition that stirs in a human being to a point that he directly senses the existence of the Creator of the world and Creator of all beings himself included. The Creator who has limitless authority over human beings and what surrounds them. A demonstration of this feeling is the sense of man that clearly shows his physical weakness e.g. his need for air to breathe, food, sickness and ultimately death. All these gives man an inner understanding about his weakness and acknowledgement of the existence of Allah Ta’ala, the Almighty, who has authority and abilities beyond limit. This is the meaning of ‘Fitra’ i.e. the natural disposition that man was created with.
However, some human beings are seen outwardly based on their pride and haughtiness to deny the existence of the Creator, but inwardly, this matter cannot be denied. Basically, it is intended to lie in front of people. Allah Ta’ala tells us of Firaun and his people:
وَجَحَدُوا بِهَا وَاسْتَيْقَنَتْهَا أَنْفُسُهُمْ ظُلْمًا وَعُلُوًّا فَانظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُفْسِدِينَ
“And they repudiated them wrongly and haughtily, in spite of their own certainty about them. See the final fate of the corrupters.”
(Al-Naml, 27:14]
Also the fourth Khilafah, Imam Ali (ra), says:
“Allah has two arguments against man i.e. the open argument (Dhwaahirah) and the hidden argument (Baatwinah). The open argument concerns Prophets and Messengers and the hidden argument is the mind”.
Darwin, the originator of the ‘evolution’ theory which presumes the origin of man is from apes! (May Allah protect us from this foolishness), was once asked while on his deathbed a few days before passing away: “What do you say about the beauty of various things. Is it possible that the handiwork of such things is the work of the human mind and not the work of Allah”? Darwin looked keenly at the Duke of Argyle and answered: “That feeling (of there being a Creator) has persistently been strong in me but at sometimes, it was as if it is not on my mind.” (Hayward Alan, God Is, uk.113)
After man attains this understanding of the existence of Allah Ta’ala, he has no option but require some form of worship to show his obedience and humility to his Creator who controls his life. Based on this reality, it is the reason that man at all times has been making various worships to demonstrate his obedience and humility to the God he worships. This condition was evident even during the period of threats, authoritarianism and dictatorship of the false communist ideology which was a major denier of religion. However, the greatest thing it could manage was to remove the public from their old worships and alternatively direct them to a new idol worship of communist leaders. Therefore, in earnest, Communism failed to prevent the natural perception of worship by their people but instead it changed the type of worship.
Following the natural requirement by man to worship Allah Ta’ala, at all times Allah Ta’ala has been sending Messengers (as). First, with the objective to elaborate to man the attributes of the Creator with comprehensive elaboration so that those attributes are not given to anyone else or being given attributes that are not His. Second is to inform man solutions to all their problems in life. Lastly, to educate them on the correct type of worship so that man attains peace by obeying his Lord and satisfying his natural thirst of worshipping his Creator.
Based on this, it is the reason our Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم who is the last Prophet was given various types of worship e.g. Salat (prayer), Hajj, Fasting etc. so that from those worships, we show our humility to our Creator Allah Ta’ala and satisfy our natural thirst of worshipping our Creator.
Therefore, from the mercy and glory of Allah, He has given us this noble worship of Fasting in Ramadhan. It is one of the major worships that he revealed to us so as to get the taste of submission and our hearts get tranquility by worshipping our only Lord.
It has strongly been recommended that we adhere to this worship. In a hadith of Abu Hurairah, quoting the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم as saying:
“When Ramadhan is with us, doors of the heavens (Paradise) are opened, the doors of Jahannam are closed and the devils are chained” (Bukhari).
Therefore, let’s enter the holy month of Ramadhan by striving to fast and perform various worships so as to get closer to Allah Ta’ala with one intention of cementing our bond with our Lord. It should not be for the purpose of haste to eat sweet meals or other worldly interests but to seek the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala while expecting his Paradise and fearing His Fire.
وَأَنْ تَصُومُوا خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
“But that you should fast is better for you, if you only knew.”
(Al-Baqara, 2:184)