Ramadan…and a better human being project – By Hossam Badrawi

“Ramadan…and a better human being project”
Written by
Hossam Badrawi
Translated by GPT

The holy month of Ramadan has begun and I wondered, in the 21st century, why do we still rely on sighting the crescent moon to determine the start of the month when science allows us to accurately calculate it for thousands of years ahead, down to the minute and second? How can we not know the start and end dates of the month, making it difficult to schedule work, travel and vacations based on sighting the crescent moon? Isn’t it time to use our minds and realize that the procedures from 1400 years ago were dependent on their time and now it’s time to respect accuracy and scientific understanding?

And why do many Muslims become lazy during this month, using fasting as an excuse? Why do they come to work late and leave early, causing traffic jams, and why do they indulge in excessive eating and sweets during this month? What is the relationship between fasting and worship and all of this?

A young man asked me if I agree that fasting has become an excuse for not doing one’s duty.
I agreed.
Then he asked if it’s acceptable for the government to hold accountable an employee who fasts and cannot perform their job in serving the citizens.
I also agreed.
He said: If fasting prevents an employee from performing his job in serving citizens, is it not correct for the state to hold him accountable as his job is to facilitate their needs?

I said: I agree with you.

He said: And what about these trivial and absurd questions and answers, and social media trends that indicate superficiality, such as whether water entering the anus during cleaning invalidates the fast? Isn’t this nonsense that diminishes the importance of religion and distorts religious rulings?

I said: I agree with you and wonder.

A cultured and literate girl said: I have read the verses of fasting and I wonder who was obligated to fast before Islam. And did the Arabs fast in the same month?

I said: Yes, the Arabs used to fast and perform pilgrimage to the Kaaba before Islam as fasting is not solely an Islamic tradition, but rather, most nations used to fast for different reasons and in different ways. In Arabian Peninsula, the Sabaeans, according to Arabic historical sources, used to fast for 30 days, starting from the sighting of the crescent moon at the beginning of the month and ending it with the sighting of the new crescent moon, and they used to celebrate after the end of the month a holiday called Eid al-Fitr. Many similarities can be found in this tradition with the fasting that was mandated after the arrival of Islam. Similarly, Jews still fast several days during the year and the days they fast are considered mourning and atonement for sins. Additionally, they also believed that fasting protected them from calamities.
Christians also had specific and scattered days in the year which they were keen to fast on, and today Christians also have their own fasting, as was the case with the ancient Egyptians who used to fast and designated specific days for it.

The young woman asked, “Who are the Sabians? I haven’t heard of them before.”

I said, they were mentioned independently in the Holy Quran in Surah Al-Baqarah and in Surah Al-Maidah. As for who they are, they are a group of people who abandoned idol worship and claim to be followers of Noah, Abraham, and Adam, and they have their own customs that are similar to Islam and they still exist to this day.”

The important thing is that fasting existed in various forms before the emergence of Islam and Allah says in His book in Surah Al-Baqarah: “O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.”

The first young man said, “I’m afraid to say, Doctor, that completing the verses of fasting according to my understanding may give a person the right to break their fast if they want butcto feed a needy person in this case, as the verse says, ‘A limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] – then an equal number of days [are to be made up]. And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] – a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day]. And whoever volunteers excess – it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew.'”

I said, “I am also confused about the interpretation of this verse because it gives the person the right to choose, but it also encourages him to fast. However, I tend to not argue about the interpretation because fasting is always better in all cases.”
Between me and myself, I thought about what I was reading in philosophy and physics sciences, then I thought about the controversial issues regarding the astronomical start of Ramadan. The lunar year is precisely calculated to be 354 days, 8 hours, 48 minutes, and 34 seconds, which means that there is a difference of 10 days, 16 hours, 10 minutes, and 12 seconds between the lunar year and the solar year. It’s known that the terrain and climate, on the basis of which the months were named, are related to the movement of the earth around the sun. Scientists made adjustments to the solar calendar by adding a day in February every four years to make the months match the terrain, and the Egyptians before them did this in the Coptic year for the same reason. The Arabs used to do the same with the lunar year so that the year is adjusted, and the month of Rabi'(spring) would always come in spring, Ramadan in September, and Hajj in December. However, after the death of the Prophet, our ancestors retreated from making the necessary mathematical adjustments, which made the lunar months not synchronizing with the seasonal movement, so the month of Rabi’ comes in winter sometimes and in summer other times, and the dates of Ramadan and Hajj change every year without considering their original season. Therefore, precise and clear details were neglected by Muslims in their calculation, and the lunar months became inconsistent, and the Hijri calendar no longer coincides with the religious rituals according to the reality of its cyclic time, and its vitality benefit for humans has disappeared.

Then I said to myself, “may be This is not the time for dialectical discussions or shaking established customs in people’s minds. It is better to advise young people from the Quran about some life lessons, and talk about the values and skills that must be applied to guide each one of us to be a better person in this month.” So I returned to my research and said to them:

“Ramadan is a generous month regardless of astronomical studies, and it is an opportunity for all of us. It is a month during which souls prepare themselves to get closer to God, and we gather with loved ones, relatives, and friends. Let us take advice from the Quran in our daily lives and make this month the beginning of a project for each one of us to become a better person.”

They said, “How and what do you mean?”

I said, “Using the logic of education in explanation and simplification, I will make ten commandments that will make each one of us a better person, all of them derived from the verses of the Quran.”

Firstly: Moderation in eating and drinking, as it is the month of fasting. “And eat and drink and do not be excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who commit excess.”

Secondly: Moderation in spending and in life in general. “And do not make your hand [as] chained to your neck or extend it completely and [thereby] become blamed and insolvent.”

Thirdly: Our way of speaking and avoiding loud voices. “And be moderate in your pace and lower your voice; indeed, the most disagreeable of sounds is the voice of donkeys.” Indeed, the Quran has regulated for us the way of walking, whether literally or figuratively, as it says: “And do not walk upon the earth exultantly. Indeed, you will never tear the earth [apart], and you will never reach the mountains in height.”

Fourthly: Taking care of our parents. “And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], “uff,” and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.”

Fifthly: Controlling our thoughts and seeking the truth. “O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin.”

Sixthly: Honesty and avoiding lying. “Indeed, Allah does not guide one who is a transgressor and a liar.” “And avoid false statement.” “O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are truthful.”

Seventhly: Speaking the best words to others. “And speak to people good [words].” “So say to them a gracious word.”

Eighthly: The Quran teaches us how to regulate our gatherings and social media interactions, which came more than a thousand years later, by saying: “And do not backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it.”

Ninthly: Let us use our minds and the wisdom that Allah has given us. “And whoever is granted wisdom has certainly been given much good. And none will remember except those of understanding.” “Say, ‘Are those who know equal to those who do not know?'” “Indeed, the scholars among His servants fear Allah.”

Tenthly: Let us read, educate ourselves and learn. “Read in the name of your Lord who created – created man from a clinging substance. Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous, Who taught by the pen – taught man that which he knew not.”

In addition, I added that Ramadan is an opportunity for self-jihad, which elevates our status and rewards more than any other form of jihad.

These are my tips to you from the beginning of the Qur’an and the words of Allah, the Almighty.

Let us take the initiative in Ramadan to start or confirm our high moral standards.