The true meaning of the holy month

Ramdan is a special time to fast and reflect, but extremist groups fail to see its meaning

The significance of Ramadan comes from the fact that it’s the month in which the Holy Quran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed. Antonie Robertson / The National

Ramadan is not just the month of fasting, and fasting is not only about denying the body food and water. To fast is also to abstain from any behaviour that could harm the self or others, including fighting, arguments, ill speech and loss of temper or patience, which can pose a more taxing challenge to avoid.

The significance of Ramadan comes from the fact that it’s the month in which the Holy Quran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed. Muslims are required to fast the whole month from dawn to sunset as one of Islam’s five pillars.

Fasting helps make a person more aware of the suffering of the less fortunate, who may go a whole day without eating. And so during Ramadan, everyone should try to find an opportunity to do something good for others and share food with the needy. It’s also the right time to reflect and reconnect with family and relatives. Even doing one’s work – in the right spirit – is considered a good deed and its reward is multiplied in the month of Ramadan like any other good deed.

One thing that the holy month is meant to bring is the feeling of peace within the soul. But how hard to have that feeling at this moment, when attacks take place from Manchester to Minya.

Extremists who call themselves "Islamic" continue to disturb the peace and shed innocent blood even on the eve of Ramadan. Over the weekend, a bus carrying Coptic Christians in Egypt was attacked, with at least 28 people killed, including two children, and 22 others injured. This the day before the holy month began. On the same day, ISIL called for "all-out-war" against the West during Ramadan after last week's attack on Manchester Arena, which has left 22 dead.

Extremist groups, such as ISIL, are showing once again their failure to respect the holy month in Islam, which they falsely claim to represent, and their disregard for the moral and ethical teachings of religion. We are united against them. We must hope that the peace we seek within ourselves this month is soon reflected in the world around us.