Life Supreme — Page 48
LIFE SUPREME 51 of abstention. Desire is the motivating force which drives one onwards towards one's cherished goal, whatever it may be; and when coupled with the spirit of resolve there is no power which can prevent one from achieving one's aim other than divine intervention. . A climber cannot expect to reach the summit of a mountain in one stride; nor can a servant of God expect to attain spiritual purification in one stretch of fasting. He cannot make the distance in one jump. . He must move from stage to stage; goal to goal; each must be within comfortable reach of the other. . In every prescribed or supplementary fast one should set one's eyes on a goal higher than the one already reached; and the goal should be that one shall emerge from the fast a far more righteous person than at the time one entered into it. If one adopts this practical approach then the blessings of fasting and the feeling of exaltation must be experienced. . How does fasting enable one to grow more righteous? First it should be known that there is fasting and fasting. The mere abstention from food and water will not serve any spiritual value unless the spirit of fasting is present in the heart. There are many Muslims who fast merely from habit or custom. On being questioned why they fast their reply is that it is a commandment of Allah; yet they ignore other important commandments of Islam and are found to drink, gamble, lie, lend money on interest, neglect prayers, etc. Had they possessed some measure of the spirit of Islam they would realise the importance of giving attention to all the commandments of God and not only to fasting. Their fasting will not effect any change in their daily way of life; nor will they have increased in righteousness which is the primary purpose of fasting. . Ramadhan is a holy month of fasting. It is a holy month in as much as God Himself has promised to pour down blessings upon those who fast in earnest; striving all the time to win the pleasure of God; and seeking divine assistance through prayer and good conduct. It is a time of wonderful opportunities for making spiritual progress. . Not only does one have to refrain from eating and drinking during the hours of fasting but one also has to refrain from anger, back-biting and all forms of immodest speech. One must vigilantly guard one's tongue from the promptings of satan. Although one must observe this