Another characteristic of Ramadan is that it makes people virtuous in the quality of piety; it makes them become pious. The main purpose of practicing and training in fasting during the month of Ramadan is to make oneself pious. Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become pious.” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 183)
The word ‘Muttaqi’ is derived from the word ‘Baqa’atun’ or ‘Taqoon’. These two words mean caution or caution mixed with fear. And ‘Taqwa’ means to be careful or cautious. That is, a person who has a cautious character is called a ‘Muttaqi’. Taqwa is such an advanced state of the human body that makes a person God-fearing and helps to prevent his limbs and heart from all sins and injustice. In the Holy Quran, Allah the Almighty says: “Those who fear their Lord unseen and are fearful of the Hour.” (Surah Al-Anbiya: 49).
“Those who have brought the truth and have recognized the truth as the truth – those are the righteous.” (Surah Az-Zumar: 33).
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It has been said that the month-long training of Ramadan has been made obligatory so that the fasting person can make himself a righteous person. What is the significance of this? Four of the five pillars of Islam, namely prayer, fasting, zakat and Hajj, are related to the practice of fasting.
Of these four, the practice of fasting is a little different in nature. There are some processes or methods in the practice of prayer, zakat or Hajj that can easily be assumed that the person practicing it is engaged in worship.
Such as standing or sitting in prayer, bowing, prostrating, traveling for Hajj or giving money in Zakat, etc. But there is no such act in fasting – by seeing which anyone else can understand that the person is fasting. Allah has a secret relationship with the fasting person. The fasting person abstains from food and drink throughout the day. No matter how much delicious and tempting food is in front of him – he does not eat it. Even though his soul is trembling with hunger, his chest is bursting with thirst, he does not eat or drink. He is not the one who does not eat out of fear, fear of society or national fear; rather, he fears Allah. He can realize that Allah is observing all his activities, through the blessings of Ramadan. Therefore, despite the intense burning of hunger, he cannot eat or drink in secret.
By practicing this for a month, the fear of God becomes firmly established in the fasting person and he becomes endowed with the virtue of piety. Gradually, the inner state of the fasting person is purified under the influence of piety. Then he can protect his limbs and heart from all sins. No evil thoughts can enter his mind, no forbidden glances can be seen by his eyes. The tongue cannot speak falsehood, nor can it backbite, slander, or gossip. No sin is committed by the hands, no wrong steps are taken by the feet.
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He occupies the position of the pious or God-fearing and God-fearing. In such a situation, the fasting of the fasting person is eligible for acceptance. The fasting of the fasting person who does not develop the virtue of piety in him, even if his fast seems like fasting, is in reality only fasting, not fasting.
The merciful Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever does not abandon false speech and actions; Allah has no need of him except for giving up food and drink.”
He also said: “Many are the fasting people who do not have anything except hunger and thirst.”
The basic purpose of fasting or fasting is to achieve the virtue of piety. The one who is endowed with the virtue of piety is the pious. Allah Almighty says about the reward of the pious: “For the pious is the good of the Hereafter with your Lord.” (Surah:- Zuhruf:- 35)
Source: The Holy Advice of Shah Sufi Hazrat Faridpuri (PBUH) Saheb in the Light of Knowledge of God, Volume 20, Pages-17/18/19
