Religion in December. Let’s talk some religious “Holiday” talk in the Holy month of December.
As we ease into December some consider the upcoming holidays of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Joy to the world, the festival of lights, celebration of family and culture are a definition of each holiday. Moments when we think of ourselves less and of others more.
Here are some spiritual words I found appropriate:
“Through each entire day, every man should try to find an opportunity where he can do something good for others. If he or she could stop a fight between two people it is a great good deed which will be rewarded by God. Doing your work in the right spirit is also a good deed. The more such deeds a person earns in his lifetime the better it is for him, but in the month of December the moral reward given to a man for his good deeds is doubled.”
Does this not sound like moral kind words to live by in this holy month of December celebrated by Christians, Jews, and people of color? Yes.
Do you want to see who wrote those words and the exact translation. OK! Those words were written by Shawaz Ghulam Yasin —The Meaning of Ramadan. Ramadan is one of the two highest Holidays of Islam and is celebrated according to a Lunar Calendar date which falls months from now.
Here I include a bit more of the full text of the meaning of Ramadan I found:
“Ramadan is the holy month when Muslims fast and try to perform thawab (good deeds rewarded by Allah). The person fasting is not supposed to eat before iftar (breaking the fast with dates), or lie, speak wrong about anyone behind their backs or do anything that is morally incorrect.
Any wrongdoing will break the fast, which is a big sin. Among Muslims each person can see the difference in his personality as the days pass in the month of Ramadan. The day starts with sohur when Muslims may eat before they start fasting for the day. After sohur Muslims wait and they go for the morning prayers in the mosque.
The experience is very distinctive. A person may see other men coming as brothers, irrespective of color, status or anything else, shoulder to shoulder for namaz (prayer). There is a feeling of peace within the soul.
A unique sense of mental peace is experienced, something that takes a man away from this world for some moments, when he feels God’s presence with him. Then the prayer goes on and ends. [THEN THERE IS A LOT OF PRAYING AND FASTING AND BEING AT PEACE AND GOING TO THE MOSQUE AND LISTENING TO THE IMAM—AND NOW I’LL GET BACK TO THE EXACT WORDS]. Finally all give salaams to the beloved prophet Muhammad a religious song in love of the holy prophet. There is a very distinguished kind of confidence instilled in the hearts of Muslims who perform prayers and are fasting. There is a consciousness that “Allah is watching me and all my deeds, and I need to be a good Muslim.” In the day hours the challenge is to control your hunger and thirst, give zakat (charity to the poor), pray at all the prescribed times, and do nothing wrong. One goes to work as usual, but in Ramadan every Muslim should avoid speaking badly about their bosses, or becoming responsible for any kind of non-performance on the job. That would result in deliberately creating a loss for your manager or the enterprise employing you, which is a sin. As a result the fast would break.
Through each entire day of Ramadan, every Muslim should try to find an opportunity where he can do something good for others. If he or she could stop a fight between two people it is a great thawab. Doing your work in the right spirit is also a thawab. The more thawab a person earns in his lifetime the better it is for him, but in the month of Ramadan the thawab given to a Muslim for his good deeds is doubled. [THEN THERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL SPIRITUAL DUTIES] After an interval, all come for the final night prayers. In Ramadan, after isha prayers there are also additional tarawih prayers. All pray together and then recount some aspects of Islam outside the mosque. Then they return to their homes. In the night most of the people spend time with their families, some read the holy Qur’an, others pray additional nafil prayers. The day ends with prayers on the lips. A satisfaction in the heart is felt. A satisfaction and a hope that “today I tried to be a good Muslim. If I live tomorrow I shall continue to be a better Muslim.”
That sounds very faith and God centered to me. Find a Muslim and hug them this “Western Holiday” month of December. And let us all be a little open minded. Peace or should I say INSHALLAH (God Willing).
