T

he fasting month of Ramadhan has come. Prophet Muhammad said that '€œWhen Ramadhan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained up.'€  

It is widely accepted that, the words '€œthe devils are chained up'€ do not literally mean that the devils are actually locked up and chained. The words are interpreted that during the month, the devils are not able to tempt Muslims, who are fasting, controlling their desires and themselves from committing any sins.

The big question is, can we '€œchain the devils up?'€ The people who can provide the answer to this question is ourselves.

For Muslims, who live in countries with four seasons in the northern hemisphere, Ramadhan this year is a '€œlittle bit more challenging'€. This is because the fasting month this year falls during summer with long daylight hours, meaning they have to fast for more than 15 hours.

In Geneva, Switzerland, where I live now, for example, fasting lasts around 16.5 hours to 18 hours. Under these stressful conditions, Muslims still have to go to work or school during normal hours.

For me, fasting for more than 15 hours in the summer heat is a struggle against dehydration, tiredness, poor concentration and negative emotions.

Restaurants and cafes are open during the day, while bars and clubs are also operating as usual.

Living far away from my family or society, I actually have no obligation to be shy or worry about eating or drinking in public, as almost no one knows me and nobody cares.
I don'€™t need to act like some kid, who furtively drinks in the kitchen but pretends like he is still fasting.

In a place where there is neither intervention nor a social responsibility to fast, it convinces me more that fasting, or any other kind religious practice, is a very personal or private matter.

Muslims back home in Indonesia are probably luckier than those who currently live in northern four-season countries. Located along the equator, Indonesia enjoys nearly the same length of day and night all year-round, meaning the duration of fasting is always consistent.

Moreover, some institutions and schools apply flexible working hours and study time. A couple of years ago, a foreign embassy, that I used to work for, even allowed the Muslim staff members to come to the office and go home earlier than the official working hours.

At home, during the fasting month, people'€™s activities, even government regulations and social norms, reinforce the essence of Ramadhan.

When I lived in Jakarta, it was common practice after breaking the fast that people in my neighborhood would go to the mosque to perform tarawih (night prayer). Many TV stations broadcasted Ramadhan-related programs, from Koran recitation to religious talk shows.

In order to respect Ramadhan and people who were fasting, restaurants, warung (food stalls) and cafes limited opening hours or even temporarily closed, either voluntarily or forced by regional bylaws. Such bylaws also ban certain entertainment spots from operating during Ramadhan.

There is also a general social norm that views eating and drinking openly during daytime in public spaces as taboo.

Of course, we still can some find restaurants and warung as well as certain entertainment places operating discreetly during the day. But there is no need to frown upon them.

Some individuals such as sick people, kids, pregnant women and others '€” have special consideration for not fasting, as well as non Muslims who still need to eat during daytime hours. Not all of them can cook and still rely on warung or restaurant.

For those who are sincerely fasting with true devotion '€” should not be bothered by seeing others eat, drink and smoke. They should not be upset at the fact that certain entertainment places still operate discreetly. They should not feel it necessary to attack or raid such places '€” and especially, no need to throw water at others when defending the need for such raid either.

Instead of being upset with others under the assumption that they '€œdon'€™t respect us'€, why don'€™t we focus on filling Ramadhan with righteous deeds? Do as many good deeds as we can, since the rewards are multiplied. This is the month of repentance and forgiveness ... when the devils are being chained!

'€” Muhammad Farid