Ramadan: Avoiding misplaced frenzy

Ramadan: Avoiding misplaced frenzy Tariq A. Al-Maeena | Arab News

The holy month of Ramadan begins today for most Muslims around the globe. It is a month of goals and challenges. It is the time when one dwells in acts seeking mercy, forgiveness and redemption from eternal damnation. But in the days and weeks leading to this month, there seems to have been a flurry of activities observed in the Kingdom that are not particularly related to a period of spiritual and physical purification in the Muslim community, a time of patience and self-discipline. It was during Ramadan that the Qur'an — the holy book of Islam — was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Self-purification through fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is a month of introspection, a month of mercy, patience and self-discipline. And it is a time to refrain from unkindness and dishonesty. Instead, what has been evident are the heavily advertised television serials of all kinds on TV or in magazines and newspapers, bound to take the viewers away from their activities of faith and keep them up all night. While watching TV is not always a bad thing, the fervent call to grab viewers has been raised several notches, and while some of the offerings are of historical, religious nature, most are not. Commercialism and advertising revenues seem to have taken hold of their corporate sponsors, often in conflict with the spirituality of this month. Hotels and restaurants also have jumped on the bandwagon. A month dedicated to fasting seems anything but when confronted with the various advertised specialties on offer at different eateries. The purpose of fasting is to remind Muslims of the sufferings of the poor. Fasting is also an opportunity to practice self-control and to cleanse the body and mind. And in this most sacred month, fasting helps Muslims feel the peace that comes from spiritual devotion as well as kinship with fellow believers. But if a Martian were to suddenly pop up here, he would not be faulted for assuming that this was a month of excess and gluttony. Even food stores are progressively luring the public into this frenzy. A visit to your neighborhood supermarket would reveal the rows and rows of groceries on daily specials, tempting the visitors to fill up their carts. And you would be disappointed to note what's offered on their attractive displays. Most of it is junk, loaded with sugars and fats that would undoubtedly set you up in a comatose state following breakfast. And fear not, as customers are walking out with carts full of stuff that most likely will be half consumed and then thrown away. Individually we can also be faulted as some of us are busy preparing our Ramadan party plans for iftar or sahoor. Guest lists are being drawn in the midst of this month. While the efforts to bring ourselves closer to one another are admirable, they are often overshadowed by the talk of what glitters the menu. Commercialism by itself is not a crime. But when it begins to eclipse the true meaning of this holy month, then we should sit up and take notice. For it is only once in a year that Ramadan rolls around. Let us instead focus during this holy month on doing what is right and required. Let us do well with the less fortunate. And above all, let us stand up to and correct our sins of the past, for this may be the last chance for some of us. (talmaeena@aol.com)