No room for gossip as we prepare for Ramadan

When we think of fasting we often think of hunger or weight loss, but fasting is so much more.

First fasting is a spiritual effort and primarily intended to bring us closer to God; by becoming closer to God, righteousness is automatically attained.

The Qur’an says in surah 2:183 O believers! Fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you in order that you become more conscious of God.

Since God-consciousness is the prerequisite for righteousness, much emphasis is placed on fasting in Islam.

Our dear Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was asked, “Which is the best deed?” He replied, “Fasting, for there is nothing equal to it.” 

Indeed fasting is of great significance; therefore we must ensure that all components of it are in place so that we can derive the best benefit from it.

The word Ramadan comes from the noun Ramad, which refers to “the reflected heat of stones resulting from the intense heat of the sun”.

History tells us that when the Arabs changed the names of the months from their ancient names, they renamed them according to the seasons in which they fell.

The ninth month of the Islamic calendar was called Natio, and fell during the summer, the time of extreme heat, which is why it was named Ramadan. 

The fast of Ramadan will be in August this year — imagine the heat of August in Bermuda.

Indeed, this Ramadan will require us to prepare well in advance as much will be on us, the heat for starters, in order to complete the fast and have it accepted by Allah.

One of the things that will help us to achieve the spiritual aspect of the fast is that we must quell the inclination to backbite.

Backbiting, or as we Bermudians know it – gossip – is indeed an ugly engagement.

We should not back bite at any time; Allah says in Quran 49:12: O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion; in deeds some suspicions are sins. And spy not neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allah, verily, Allah is The One Who accepts repentance, Most Merciful. 

In this verse, Allah strongly forbids backbiting, and he compares the backbiter to one who eats the flesh of his dead brother. If he would hate eating the flesh of his brother, he should also hate to eat his flesh while he is alive by backbiting and slandering him. Yuck! ... The thought of eating flesh is repulsive and should keep us all away from gossiping! 

Prophet Muhammad said, “The gossiper will not enter Paradise.” And really who does not want to enter Paradise?

My friend Yogi shared this poem with me on backbiting, here is an excerpt, and the author is unknown:

“Some may have faults, and who have none?

“The old, as well as the young, for we may, for ought we know have fifty, to their one!

“So let us all, when we commence to slander friend or foe, think of the harm one word may do, to those we little know. Remember!

“Curses, sometimes, like our chickens, roost at home, so don’t talk of others’ faults, until we have none of our own!”

Let us remember that backbiting is an awful and damaging menace and especially has no place within us during Ramadan.

Therefore in preparation for it, let us begin to practise right now, the attributes that will help us to have a successful Ramadan and burn backbiting on the back burner! Ameen.