Ramadan is the spur of inspiration, not inaction and laziness

Ramadan is the spur of inspiration, not inaction and laziness

Mr. Dr. Ali Hussain Khudair Al-Shimmari

Professor of applied linguistics at Strategic Studies Center

Al-Anbar University

 Khudhair.udhair@uoanbar.edu.iq

                To achieve excellence, belittling what’s below it is a requirement prestigious require the principle of Will and sharpening of the terminations. It’s about how the heart is guided, spiritually towards the right side to achieve perfection to itself or else.  Striving for the motive, motive of lofty determination, is considered as a person’s duty, because the frustration and coldness are ways to loss and failure. The blessed month (Ramadan) is mostly accused for inaction and apathy for not knowing the wisdom of fasting, perhaps this stems from the bad habits and traditions that we have inherited and think we are doing well. Staying awake and active until dawn has become one of the most important characteristics prevalent in societies, followed by sleeping until noon or even just before Iftar. Thus, Ramadan has become a month of eating, staying awake, and sleeping, which depletes its value. Some fail to realize that Ramadan is a school for instilling noble values in the souls of Muslims, especially the youth, as well as harnessing and renewing energies, organizing, wills, empowering determinations, and sharpening aspirations. Ramadan is a whiff of eternity which Allah has honored us by reaching it, so it is necessary to engage and deal with it, seeking forgiveness and satisfaction. Without a doubt, the highlights of aspirations include:

1-    Proper family upbringing: The family is the nucleus of society, as it is a microcosm of society.

The values and behaviors instilled in individuals from their families will inevitably reflect on the general society. Therefore, one of the highest and most important aspirations is righteous upbringing, where individuals in their families are encouraged and urged to embody noble qualities and virtuous traits, to strive for excellence and distance themselves from vices and faults. It is worth noting that the righteousness of parents impacts their children. History is rich with righteous parents who were truly exemplary figures, and the youth in such societies, without a doubt, will be strong, empowered, reflecting their aspirations onto their society. Politeness, manners, and learning in childhood are more likely to be engraved and sustained. As the poet said:

”when branches are well-rooted, they become balanced & wood doesn’t soften when made sturdy”

Because whoever is raised in a righteous family, will undoubtedly be a good figure to society if his ambition was noble, because ”who grew on something, will age with it.”

2-    Emulation and following societal role models:

Assimilating and achieving excellence with those who have achieved high human values and have borne the highest responsibilities, whether they are teachers or mentors, undoubtedly, they will pass on noble traits to the next generation, traits that instill patience and perseverance in their souls.

This positively impacts society after they lead it. These two traits, patience, and perseverance, are loved by God and His Prophet. It was reported by Ibn Abbas may be pleased by Allah said:

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to Ashajj Abd al-Qays: 'Indeed, in you are two qualities that Allah loves: forbearance and deliberation.' (Sahih Muslim) High aspirations are a sign of complete intellect and a noble soul with high aspirations.

3-    Seeking knowledge: Perhaps at the forefront of aspirations and their motives is the pursuit of knowledge. Seeking knowledge motivates the seeker to explore the sciences of people and histories of past nations, urging them towards perseverance and facing challenges and obstacles that hinder reaching the peaks. Success is not achieved except through the bridge of hardship and suffering. The student of knowledge, throughout history, has always been characterized by high aspirations, sincere intentions, and applying what they have learned. Therefore, it is said: "Knowledge and action are twins, their mother is high aspiration." The situation of the poet reflects this:

"My aspiration is the aspiration of kings, and my soul is a free soul that sees humiliation as disbelief."

4-    Society’s Interest in Skill and Creativity: It is imperative for societies that harbor a group of skilled and alert individuals to commit to them with care and attention. This is the most cautious way to preserve their talents and solidify them, in addition to stimulating competitiveness by organizing activities and events that suit them. This ignites their determination and spirit of competition, thus achieving the desired goal of this active and influential group in human communities. Conversely, in some societies where attention is focused on the superficial and trivial, disappointment and frustration befall the talented and creative individuals. They see that attention is directed towards superficiality and parasitism, rather than towards those who lack the basic elements of personality, authenticity, creativity, and value. This is due to the negligence of the officials in management and their slow response in curbing these elements that have become icons that inhibit ambitions and weaken determination among members of society. In this blessed month, we are targeted by thieves who conspire against us without negligence, stealing our time stealthily without the slightest awareness. Therefore, we must avoid them as much as we can, and here is how:

A. Sleep and excessive indulgence in it: It is a hidden thief that steals hours unnoticed, causing one to miss prayers, fostering laziness and lethargy, and dampening spirits.

B. Social media: Amidst the revolution of technologies and the massive changes it has brought, many advanced societies have progressed scientifically, economically, and socially due to their insightful and meticulous management of this scientific revolution. However, on the other hand, this technological revolution, especially social media platforms, has left us with a generation that disregards time, place, and societal norms, let alone religious ones. They have produced a generation with minds floating in the depths of ignorance, struggling with intellectual crises, discussing superficial matters in a diminished manner and creating halos around them based on their analysis lacking even the most basic scientific and cognitive elements. They live in their virtual reality far from actual reality, achieving failure due to the fake life they live in their fictitious world, where they receive a series of likes and praises even if it means violating habits that were once forbidden culturally before being forbidden religiously, but are now justified under the guise of shaping the future and securing a livelihood. These are all feeble and rejected excuses.

C. Staying up late: Excessive sleep deprivation is a harmful ailment to humans. Deprivation of sleep is more harmful than deprivation of food; its effects are destructive and its consequences severe. Recent medical studies have shown that sleep deprivation leads to long-term damage and destruction in the brain, as reported by the “Trends in Neuroscience” journal. It also disables and weakens the immune system. Aside from the mentioned effects, staying up late leads to bad moods, unjustified anger, foolish behavior, chronic stress, a strong desire for isolation, indecisiveness, and exacerbates psychological factors.

D. Television: It is one of the most important means through which many people entertain themselves, as channel surfing provides them with a wide range of choices and genres. What many fail to realize is that this device is one of the most cunning time thieves created by modern technology, after mobile phones. Those who become addicted to watching TV lose touch with reality, wasting hours without awareness or realization. Its physical health damages are numerous, and its psychological ones are even more severe and dreadful. So, be extremely cautious about slipping into the abyss of addiction.

Therefore, I say to you, dear reader: “You are of much greater value than both worlds combined, so what can I if you don’t know your value? Don’t you sell yourself cheap, you are extremely precious in the eyes of truth.”