News:
It is that time of year again to renew our faith, seek the repentance and forgiveness, yearning for the Almighty to fill our lives in this life and the Hereafter with His Mercy. Millions of Muslims worldwide increase their good deeds seeking the limitless reward from Allah سبحانه وتعالى. Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said,
«مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ»
“Whoever observes fasts during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven.”
One example in following the Islamic traditions and Hukm Sharii’ is holding Iftars. This also includes governments seeking to improve their relations and interests with the Muslims like the White House Annual Iftar held on June 22, 2015. Speaking at the dinner, President Obama said that the annual Iftar was a ‘so-called’ reminder that “whatever our faith, we’re all one family.” In addition we have the leaders of the Muslims countries also holding extravagant Iftars in the name of the Holy Month of Ramadan. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has been harshly criticized for hosting an extravagant iftar at a cost alleged to be over TL 1 million at the presidential palace.
Comment:
There are numerous examples in the Sunnah of the great reward of feeding a fasting person. The Prophet ﷺ said, »
«من فطر صائمًا، كان له مثل أجره غير أنه لا ينقص من أجر الصائم شيء
“He who provides a fasting person something with which to break his fast, will earn the same reward as the one who was observing the fast, without diminishing in any way the reward of the latter.” (Tirmithi)
While this motivates Muslims to feed other fasting Muslims in hopes of the great reward as promised by the Almighty, however what we see today is not reminiscent of what is supposed to happen in regards to following the various Hukm Sharii’. We see the massive exuberant banquets exclusive for the wealthy and high ranks of society feeding, more accurately competing over the most extravagant food spreads while ignoring the fact that they are supposed to feed the needy population from the Muslims – even more the ones who fast continuously due to the tragic lack of food and clean water while their leaders are busy over-indulging in gluttonous events.
While we see the heart-wrenching pictures of the poor and displaced breaking their long tiresome fasts in front of where their homes would be – eating whatever they can afford of a meager meal because the Jewish entity blasted the homes of Palestinians in Gaza or the Pakistanis who suffer from poorly structured infrastructure of little electricity – or accurately the lack of – leaving thousands to suffer the heat wave without proper facilities. Then we have the Muslims eating atop of rubble in war-torn Afghanistan. Or those who cling to their Deen like those holding hot coals in their bare hands as in the case of the Uyghur Muslims in China who face dire consequences when seen or suspected of fasting which is considered illegal in China whom are then force fed in public. And the worst situation is that of the Rohingya Muslim population who are starving and thirsty all year round without any leader and its government of the Muslim countries to relieve their dire conditions.
Or even worse we see the mass killers of the Muslim and the occupiers of the Muslim lands holding Iftars for a hand-picked guest list and to give their hypocritical 2-minute speech of an encompassing land etc etc etc…. while the attendees clap and nod in full agreement irrelevant of their atrocities against their Muslim Ummah.
Yet we see the constant reminders of the good will reminders and the beautiful calligraphy of the ayaat of the Holy Quran blasted on posters all the while ignoring the purpose is not to feed the rich in elegant feasts through invites. Yet we still see the Ramadan nights in fancy tents hosted by Western hotels filled with countless dishes and then the entertainment that lasts into the early hours before fajr throughout the Middle East- of course there are exclusive events.
We as a Muslim Ummah must strive to implement the rulings as they were intended to be implemented. It is not a matter of physically starving our stomachs and then overindulging to compensate for the deprived hours of the day completely missing the point of the worship aspect and the duties entailed of this month. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
«أَطْعِمُوا الْجَائِعَ، وَعُودُوا الْمَرِيضَ، وَفُكُّوا الْعَانِيَ»
“Feed the hungry, visit the sick and set free the captives.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِ مِسْكِينًا وَيَتِيمًا وَأَسِيرًا * إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّـهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَاءً وَلَا شُكُورًا
“(The righteous are those) who feed the poor, the orphan and the captive for the love of God, saying: ‘We feed you for the sake of God Alone; we seek from you neither reward nor thanks.’”
(Al-Insan 76:8-9)
Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Manal Bader