Among us we have people who observe religion as it should be followed and then there are others who interpret it according to their own intellect and even perhaps conveniences and needs. Yet, all of us pray to Allah for our benefits and salvation of our souls.
Now let us try to see from a universal standpoint what is the real meaning and message of Ramazan. - Firstly, what does the Quran say about it? The Quran refers to the month of Ramazan in Surah Baqara, Verse 185:
"The month of Ramazan in which the Quran was sent down, a guidance for the people and bright signs to find the way and to differentiate the right from the wrong, so whoever of you find this month, he should keep fast in it without fail.
And if anyone is ill or on a journey, the broken fasts can be made up by other days. God desires ease for you and desires not hardship for you, and for that you fulfil the number and so that you magnify Allah for this blessing that He guided you and so that you may be thankful."
For whom is this order? It is for human beings and the difference between a human being and an animal is that humans have a soul (Rooh). We have a body and a 'soul ', it is important to remember that the body is worldly and the soul is divine.
The body is separate entity from the soul. The body has needs and desires which perhaps is very different form that of a soul eg the body is not in control of the soul and is not even aware of the presence of the soul (Rooh) except for those human beings who are perhaps intellectually highly developed.
(Aadmi aur Insaan) Man and Human-beings: There is a difference between the Man/Homo-sapiens (Aadmi) and Humans (Insaan)
The Man/homo-sapiens needed and received divine guidance and received among them the Messengers of God (Prophets). Some became enlightened (Insaan) and most who did not, remained man/homo-sapiens (Aadmi)
It is for us to evaluate ourselves individually and in private - Where does one place himself? Which category does one belong to? Aadmi or Insaan?
Ramazan: During this month we pray and fast and stop eating too much in order to deprive the worldly body of its seemingly higher status in order to elevate the soul.
The elevation of the soul and an attempt for union with the truth and God is, in my opinion, the prime motive for the 30 days of disciplining.
The world is very materialistic and has always remained so with major distractions ie worldly pleasures meant for the mortal body only.
On the last day of the month of Sha'ban a very important Message was delivered by our Holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). The Message (Khutbah) is repeated as under.
"Oh people! A great month is coming to you. A blessed month. A month in which there is one night that is better than a thousand months.
A month in which Allah has made it compulsory on you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night. Whoever draws nearer to Allah by performing any of the voluntary good deeds in this month shall receive the same reward as is there for performing an obligatory deed at any other time.
And whoever discharges an obligatory deed in this month shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time.
It is the month of Sabr (patience), and the reward for Sabr is Heaven. It is a month in which a believer's sustenance is increased. Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, shall have his sins forgiven, and he will be saved from the Fire of Hell, and he shall have the same reward as the fasting person, without the latter's reward being diminished at all."
During Ramazan we must honestly evaluate ourselves and try to do good, both for our own soul and for the community that we live in. Be kind to strangers and people you meet during your daily business.