F

asting in this holy of Ramadhan is not only about abstaining from food and drink, but most importantly about controlling passion, lust, anger and gossip.

The manifestation of fasting is to obtain glory and perfection. This month, particularly these last weeks, is an opportunity to heighten piety, gain rewards and ask for forgiveness from the Almighty.

Muslims believe that Ramadhan will give thousands of blessing as Allah said, “All services by Muslims are for themselves except fasting. The fasting by Muslims is for me, and I will reward them for it”.

So Muslims are happy to welcome Ramadhan since it will bring them closer to Allah and will increase devotion to the Creator.

Fasting in Ramadhan requires abstinence from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from sunrise to sunset.

Muslims are recommended to break their fast as soon as dusk falls as this practice helps to instill time-awareness and self discipline.

More importantly, fasting educates Muslims not to be selfish and greedy and to learn to be humble and devote themselves to caring for other people, especially the needy.

Women rarely manage to fast the whole month as a result of menstruation, pregnancy (where fasting is optional) and the post-natal period.

However, Allah has glorified women by giving them the power to continue human civilization through their exclusive reproductive functions.

Women should not bemoan their fate. Islam is not about making women suffer, but rather honoring women’s value amid a widespread culture that humiliates women.

Opportunities to benefit from Ramadhan are wide open even if a woman cannot fast.

The principle of Islam is equality between men and women. It is forbidden to abuse or enslave women.

The Quran mentions that from both men and women, Allah produces new generations. Women have the same position with men as His servants.

Before Allah, only the piety of humans differentiates one from the other.

However Islam differentiates the roles of men and women. Men are the family leaders, and women are responsible for managing life and the daily cycle of living.

Both have the same opportunities to gain divine glory.

The revelation of Surah al-Ahzab (The Combined Forces) verse 35 implies a balance between males and females, and should answer the anxiety of women who feel less able to meet the requirements of Ramadhan.

It mentions there is no difference between men and women in the pursuit of nobility before Allah: “Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men
who guard their chastity and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so — for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.”
_____________________________

Opportunities to benefit from Ramadhan are wide open even if a woman cannot fast.

They still have an obligation to show devotion in other forms such as the tiring chores of shopping for the household, preparing the predawn meal.

Cleaning up after meals is another way that women obtain rewards just like the fasting household members.

Not fasting does not mean that women cannot pray. Reading and studying the Quran or reciting prayers or dhikr (repetead chants as part of the confession of faith) are valuable ways to spend time, rather than sleeping and talking about others as Ramadhan is also the time to control our words.

By reciting and appreciating the Quran each day during Ramadhan, Muslims actually converse with God.

Ramadhan, which occurs only one out of 12 months of the year is an appropriate time for reflecting on one’s past deeds in the previous year.

The practice of reflection is a balancing act between this life and the hereafter; between the spiritual and social dimension.

Women in particular need to try to balance their search for divine rewards and their obligations as family manager. This is a woman’s true devotion to God Almighty.
___________________________________

The writer is dean of the School of Arts and Letters, Pasundan University, Bandung.