Muslims are naturally active. Or so they should be. Sadly, we seem to have lost of that energy over time. This is even more so with Ramadaan. For many, the lack of food whilst fasting is simply unbearable.
Their minds cannot focus, and food is the only thing they can think about all day. And so it is, in this state that they retire, sleeping through the day to pass the long hours, and losing the value of the time that passes. Taking a nap is one thing, it is even encouraged in the Sunnah, but sleeping half the day or more is pure laziness and incompetence!
If we look to the sahabah and salaf we find great examples for us to follow. They were people on a mission and accomplished many things whilst their bellies rumbled on. We find that often that Ramadaan was in fact the peak of their activity. They fasted the days, exerting their efforts in their daily routine, and then stood the night in prayer. They understood the value of Ramadaan, and the insignificance of the pleasures of this dunya. They understood, that the Akhirah was worth the pain, suffering and difficulties. They knew that Jannah was expensive, no currency could buy it. They knew that Ramadaan was a means of earning Jannah by the mercy of Allah.
Let’s begin with the example of Abu-Hurayrah. Abu-Hurayrah was one of those extremely poor sahabahs, one of the Ahlus-suffah. He was one of those who had no option but to fast the days, because he had no food, and could not afford it. It was said that in salah sometimes he would faint due to extreme hunger. Can, our one day of fasting, which began with an elaborate suhoor, and which ends with an exquisite iftaar be compared to the hunger experienced by this man? By no means. Yet, despite the odds, this man was one of the preservers of our deen. There is not a hadith book that does not mention his name. He joined the Prophet in Madinah in 7 AH, fairly late in comparison to other sahabahs. In the four short years he spent with the Prophet, he memorised and narrated over five thousand ahadiths, despite the hunger that he felt on a day-to-day basis!
Lack of food made no difference to the early muslims. What kept them strong and firm was their iman. Ramadaan, was a time in which the muslims attained many conquests. Through their ibaadah of fasting, and giving up their food and drink for the sake of Allah alone, He granted them victories. The Conquest of Makkah was achieved in Ramadaan, and that was perhaps the greatest achievement. Similarly, 92 years after Hijrah Muslims conquered Al-Andalus, and through this opened the gates to Constantinople. They liberated the people of Spain and brought the light of Islam, all in Ramadaan. So my dear reader, what excuse do you and I have?
Though not during Ramadaan, the Battle of Tabuk was one riddled with hardships, so much so the Muslim army was called ‘the army of hardship’! It was the peak of summer, food was meagre and water in short supply. Transport was limited and many soldiers had to share a ride between 8 people. The desert terrain only added to the difficulties. Though thoug Muslims weren’t fasting, they definitely didn’t have much in their bellies. In fact they would slaughter a camel just to extract the water from its hump just to drink! Yet, this did not deter them from their mission. They marched on, and hemAllah grabted them success. Now, i’m sure you an I had a glass of cold water for suhur, if not several. So what will say to Allah on the day when he asks us about how we spent our time?
In 658 After Hijrah, the decisive Battle of Ain Jalut was fought which put an end to Mongol atrocities. This battle was proof that it is not numbers that defeat enemies, but our trust upon Allah and our closeness to Him. The mujahideen who fought these battles were fasting, an action beloved to Allah. They were active whilst they fasted. They did not spend their days sleeping, watching the clock as the hours tick by. No. These muslims were on a mission, they were working for Allah, and His reward of Jannah.
May Allah, help us to be like them.