“Unemployment and the rituals of Ramadan...”
While I was writing this entry, I kicked myself for not explaining the rituals which distinguish Ramadan from any other month in the Islamic calendar in my previous blogs.
I mean, was I in such a state of ‘fast forward’ that I assumed non-Muslims would work out WHAT makes Ramadan so special? For that I apologise...
So here are the definitions of some key rituals of Ramadan:
* Iftaar – The time of breaking your fast (sunset).
* Suhoor – The ‘final meal’ before sunrise.
* Tarawih – An authentic practice of Prophet Muhammad of praying in congregation at night.
* Tahjjud ‘Qiyam ul-layl’ – A special prayer performed during the night (not only exclusive to Ramadan).
* Layla-tul Qadr ‘The Night of Power’- This night is referred to as being ‘Greater than a thousand months’. It was on this night Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Quran.
I found out from my research into the definition of Ramadan that there is a consensus amongst classical and contemporary scholars that it is regarded as a ‘Month of supplication, mercy, guidance and victory’.
So I’ve been dwelling on the meanings before Ramadan and vowed that I will try to fulfil these elements for the remainder of my life through this month.
Hunger and thirst spontaneously sparked the thought of me handing in my notice. Obviously other options are available because I knew without a backup plan handing in my notice would not be a ‘guided’ or a ‘victorious’ decision.
The thought track of a fasting person ponders from topic to topic and the handing in of my notice reminded me of a story involving the second Caliph (ruler) of the Islamic State Umar Bin Al-Khattab. He wasn’t pleased upon hearing that a group of young men had dedicated all their time in the mosque while they relied on financial handouts. His famous quote was - “Do the skies rain with gold and silver?”
The moral of this story is that able bodied Muslims should not rely on state help (besides what they are entitled to by law) to survive. Neither should they lock themselves up in a mosque expecting God to provide everything while there are no sincere efforts to change their own situation.
In Islam, work is a form of worship in the sense that one strives to provide food, clothes and shelter for his family. For the ‘hubbies’ and ‘daddies’ it is obligatory to provide for their family. There’s also a firm assertion that there should be a balance - the ‘middle path’.
