Today is the first day of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting for the Muslims. Fasting was enjoined on Muslims to teach them restraint, to appreciate what they have, and to thank God for the blessings received. This month is meant to learn restraint not only in eating, but on sex, language, behaviour and in every aspect of life.
There are hypocrites however; who use religion for their own base purposes, those who believe that fasting means merely abstaining from food and sex. They continue to cheat, lie, covet, break oaths, steal, and destroy lives while fasting. Some even go to the extreme of committing suicide while blowing up others. They destroy the name of Islam by their behaviour, pretending that what they do is in the name of religion, in the name of God.
The Holy Quran says it is not righteousness whether you turn your face to the left or right while praying, it is righteousness to do good works, to live your life honourably, to help orphans and those in need, to be kind to parents and loving to children, to treat your relatives and friends with generosity and compassion, to be dignified in your language. This is righteousness. But the hypocrites are arrogant, they believe merely saying that they believe, praying five times a day, fasting 30 days in Ramadan is enough to guarantee them a place in Heaven. What does it matter if they have lied their way through life, what matters it if they have cheated and stolen money belonging to destitute people, what matters it if they have destroyed lives and enjoyed their own…after all they are God’s chosen people!
If there is a God in Heaven, He will be the judge of all those who destroy humanity in the name of religion!
And just in case any one of you was wondering – yes I am a Muslim.
