CLARIFICATION OF A MISUNDERSTANDING
For Better Understanding
MANY Muslims reckon the month of Ramazan as the month of victory. What is the basis of this understanding? The answer is that it is a fact that the battle of Badr took place during the life of the Prophet in the month of Ramazan in 624 CE. In this battle, the Prophet and his Companions emerged victorious. This was the logic used to regard Ramazan as the month of victory.
But this is a flawed assumption. The battle of Badr was not a matter of choice for the Prophet of Islam. It was a war fought to defend against an enemy who had marched towards Madinah in this month to attack the Prophet and his Companions. This armed aggression led to the defensive war at Badr.
The month of Ramazan is called the month of patience. It is the month of self-control; curbing of desires; not being provoked in spite of provocation; developing spirituality by enduring the pangs of hunger and thirst; and striving to come closer to God by remembering Him through prayer and the reading of the Quran.
None of the other defensive battles in the initial history of Islam were fought during Ramazan. This is a clear proof that the month of Ramazan has nothing to do with war. War is never the choice of the believers. Islam states that war can be waged only in defence. And it is more than clear that it is the aggressor who fixes the date according to his choice, leaving no option to the defender. The Prophet is reported to have said: ‘Do not wish for confrontation with the enemy, instead ask for peace from God.’ (Sahih alBukhari) This illustrates the basic principle of Islam vis-a-vis war. Peace is the rule and war an exception. In Islam war is an act of compulsion rather than an option. The situation of war is not created by the believers but forced on them requiring a response in self-defence.
The month of Ramazan is called the month of patience. It is the month of self-control; curbing of desires; not being provoked in spite of provocation; developing spirituality by enduring the pangs of hunger and thirst; and striving to come closer to God by remembering Him through prayer and the reading of the Quran. This is possible only when man distances himself from the material world and comes closer to the spiritual world of God.
The following dictums amply make it clear that Ramazan is the month of peace. This is the month of awakening one’s inner nature, to be engrossed in thoughts of God, rather than in embroiling oneself in worldly matters.
On sighting the new moon of Ramazan, the Prophet Muhammad observed:
‘O God, let the moon of the month of Ramazan appear on us with peace and security'. (At-Tirmizi, Ad-Darmi, Musnad Ahmad) The above supplication shows the feelings with which the Prophet of Islam welcomed the month of Ramazan. These words of the Prophet provide a definite proof that Ramazan has nothing to do with war.
Rather it aims at building a society in which peace and goodwill flourish. On fasting during Ramazan, the Quran says: Believers, fasting has been prescribed for you, just as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard yourselves against evil. (2: 183). Fasting has been prescribed to enable people to follow the right path; to receive training for a life of righteousness (taqwa).
Taqwa, guarding oneself, is explained in the following conversation between two companions of the Prophet. Umar Farooq, the second Caliph once asked Ubayy ibn Kaab, a senior Companion to explain the meaning of taqwa.
He replied, “O leader of the believers, have you ever taken a path flanked by thorny bushes?”
Umar replied in the affirmative. Ubayy ibn Kaab wished to know how he protected himself. He said, “I gathered my clothes close to me and went on my way”.
Ubayy ibn Kaab said, “It is this cautious attitude which is called taqwa.” (Al Qurtubi)
Ramazan is the month of taqwa; it is the month of guarding oneself against ‘thorns’. It would be strange to think of Ramazan as the time for embroiling oneself in thorns, instead of guarding oneself from them!