As Muslims welcome the blessed month of Ramadan — the fourth pillar of Islam — this episode explains the spiritual significance of fasting, its physical benefits, and the deeper purpose behind abstaining from food and drink from dawn to sunset. Fasting was prescribed not just for this Ummah but for all the nations before us, as Allah states in the Quran: “Fasting was prescribed upon you as it was prescribed upon those before you.”
What Ramadan Is Really About
Ramadan is far more than going hungry. It is the ultimate training ground for developing taqwa (God-consciousness) and strengthening your relationship with the Creator. Every extra act of worship during this month — from reading Quran to standing in night prayer to giving charity — carries multiplied rewards. The last ten nights contain Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power), which equals 83 years of worship in a single night.
“This is a gift from Almighty Allah to you. Try to take the gift — it is so huge. The best time to invest with Almighty Allah is this time, and you can get much more than other people if you are sincere.”
Getting the Most Out of Ramadan
- Fasting means complete abstinence from all food and drink — not giving up just sweets or certain items as in some modified traditions
- The month is also about refining your character: avoiding gossip, lowering the gaze, guarding the tongue, and treating people with excellence
- Try to take vacation during the last ten days to maximize worship during the most blessed nights of the year
- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) carried the same message as Moses and Jesus — worship the One God and follow His guidance for righteous living
“Allocate some of your vacation for the last ten days of Ramadan so you can do better worship. You have the rest of the year for regular things — and by regular things, I mean the halal things, not the haram things.”
