Fasting is one of the fundamental pillars of Islam and Muslims all over the world shun eating and drinking during the holy month of Ramzan from dawn to dusk. The month is one of the holiest months of Islamic calendar during which the faithful are expected to not only fast but pray and recite Quran frequently. In the pre-Islamic era and even during the life time of Prophet Mohammad (SAW) conflicts and bloodshed were forbidden during Ramzan and the month was reserved to retreat from worldly activities to focus on the spiritual happiness and closeness to Almighty Allah. Every Muslim should be of the firm belief that his shunning the food during Ramzan days is not the sole aim of the fasting. The fasting is aimed at to purification of the soul so that the believers develop within them compassion and concern towards fellow humans. While fasting for specific hours, they can understand the pangs and pain of those who are underprivileged and have no luxury of having enough food every day.
The month of Ramzan should make Muslims more conscious about their responsibilities towards fellow humans irrespective of creed, colour, region or religion. The economy of Jammu and Kashmir is not in good health and unemployment is widespread. This is the month ideal for helping the needy. Fasting Muslims, who have been bestowed by the Almighty with sound financial backup should come forward during the month of Ramzan and help the poor and needy. If this pious month can’t make us to feel for the others, we are terribly missing something. Charity should begin from home. In our own localities we should try to find out the needy and held them whole heartedly without any pomp and show and without compromising the secrecy and privacy of the needy ones. Helping needy is one of the fundamentals of Islam and that is why there is more stress on Sadqa-e-Fitr and Zakat. Muslims, those who are in a position to do so, should wholeheartedly help their fellow humans who are in dire need of financial assistance. That is the message of the Islam and that is the message of holy month of Ramzan.
