"Ok! I return you Rs 20. I do not want to argue with you for this amount. I am fasting," said a butcher, responding to a consumer claim that the earlier was over charging. The butcher Asif, sitting in his shop at Stadium Road Rawalpindi, returned Rs 20 to the customer Salman, the amount he had overcharged for just one kg chicken.
His good gesture was not the outcome of his religious inclination but a meek move to follow warning of an official directing him not to extract extra price from customers.
It is very common among us that, when talking to others, we repeatedly exclaim that we are fasting. And sometimes we do it quite impatiently, contrary to the ethics taught by the Holy month. "If you don't have the change why you entered the hi-ace.... don't upset us, we are already observing Roza"- said a wagon conductor, to a passenger who unfortunately did not have the change to pay the fare.
The story does not end here. We come across number of other impatient or unethical behaviours. May be it is simple exchange of words or a serious matter like hoarding, price hike or black marketing.
"In total disregard to what Ramazan teaches, the market mafia takes hoarding, profiteering and black-marketing up many notches", was the headline splashed in a leading newspaper with advent of holy month reflecting such bizarre scenes brazenly contradicting true spirit of the month. Thanks to the Ramazan, which helps us to become regular in our religious duties and thanks to the environment that's created all around.
Universally, everything passes through the concept of 'cause and effect'. When something will have cause, it would definitely leave impacts on respective affairs of life and thereon it will effect the society. A number of people also take an opportunity of the holy month to resort to hefty claims "the month blesses me by teaching me both punctuality and self-control".
This is a challenge to every Muslim who is punctual of fastening but the question arises whether he achieved the 'taqwa'-an effect appeared after fasting (the cause). If one could not achieve the level of that dignity (taqwa), the doubt remained as some lapses might stay during fastening.
Let's have some time to ponder over various dealings in our daily life, which is the main theme of fastening. The same spirit was inculcated by the Holy Prophet (SAWW), who said, "If someone misbehaves with you on ignorance to quarrel, tell him, I am fasting. I am not ready to quarrel or scuffle."
So, we should observe patience and control our anger, which is detrimental to peace and tranquillity in the society. The Qura'an and the Sunnah ordains this responsibility and we should stick to this principle. Maulana Shabir Akhtar, a cleric in local seminary, said fasting is not merely physical, but is rather the total commitment of the person's body and soul to the spirit of fasting.
"Ramazan is a time to practice self-restraint; a time to cleanse the body and soul from impurities and re-focus one's self on the worship of Almighty Allah," he added.
"There is a question: whether we used the month to bring about a total reformation within ourselves or are we going to waste the valuable opportunity!" Professor Dr Mubeena Talat observed. Another point that comes to one's mind is that whenever Ramazan approaches and we observe fastening, it seems that we are making obligation to Almighty Allah or deputed by Allah Almighty to serve the society. Why we forget that it is an 'obligation' which is revealed to purge our own souls of the sins.
The Holy Quran says, "Believe! fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint (2:183), socially and personally, fasting has great relevance".
Dr Zahidi, a religious scholar, wished that the good change in the blessed month would stay. "Throughout Ramazan people are seen offering prayers regularly. Those are really good deeds, but to me the real thing about Ramazan is to change the soul within - and I look to this month to improve our attitude, behaviour and moralities," he added.