Ramadan: The Scorching of Desires

The literal meaning of the Quranic word Saum for fasting is "to stop, to keep quiet, to be at rest," and it implies abstinence. While fasting, one must stop certain normal and standard acts which, though permitted, are categorized as carnal and sensual demands of the living body - eating, drinking, and indulging in lawful marital relations. The word Ramadan is derived from the word Ramz, which means "to burn" or "to scorch," and here it applies to the burning of selfish desires.

Ramadan, therefore, is not merely a month of hunger and thirst; it is the scorching of the ego and the disciplining of the self.

The Great Equalizer

Fasting places everybody - the rich and the poor, the strong and the weak - on the same platform. It is not meant for self-torture. Although it is stricter than other fasts, it also provides alleviations for special circumstances. It is not simply a temporary rejection of food and drink; rather, this abstention enables our attention to be directed toward loftier ideals. By burning away the distractions of physical indulgence, Ramadan clears the path for spiritual refinement.

Fasting accustoms us to face the hardships of life. By renouncing everyday comforts, we strengthen our resolve and increase our power of resistance. Obviously, the purpose of fasting is to keep men and women away from those demands of life that humans share with animals. It is a month-long exercise to counteract the effects of the poison of sensuality. Through this burning process, desires are not merely suppressed - they are refined and redirected toward obedience to God.

A Religious Command

Fasting is a strict religious rite. We abstain from food from dawn to sunset not because we are unable to afford the luxury of eating and drinking, but because we want to obey Almighty God's command. As the Quran states:

[2:183] O you who believe, fasting is decreed for you, as it was decreed for those before you, that you may attain salvation.

Fasting is decreed to help us attain salvation. What a profound gift from God. Ramadan becomes a personal crucible in which desires are burned away so that salvation may emerge.

Personal Reflection: The Physical Struggle

During Ramadan, God often inspires me to conduct a deep self-evaluation through reading the Quran, meditation, and reflection. This self-evaluation helps me recognize what I need to work on in order to become more righteous and, ultimately, attain salvation. The scorching of desires is not abstract - it manifests in real, daily struggles.

First, my physical body's schedule, routine, and maintenance become disrupted. I go from an active day with long, uninterrupted sleep that rejuvenates my body to perform tasks the next day, to an active day sustained by two short spurts of sleep, affecting my ability to function as effectively. There are even days during Ramadan with no sleep at all. This physical disruption is part of the burning process; the body resists, but the soul learns endurance.

The first thing I always do when dealing with any struggle is implore God to help me. There is not much I can do about feeling more sluggish and tired than usual, but one tactic I try is putting water on myself. When my eyes urge me to close and rest, I go to the bathroom and splash water on my face and head. This works, at least temporarily. Then there is the power nap - putting my head down briefly to rest. However, since it is not ideal to get caught sleeping on the job, that option is limited. Somehow, someway, God provides just the right amount of energy and strength to get me through the day. The self-evaluation lesson here is to maintain constant remembrance that this physical world is only a temporary illusion.

[57:20] Know that this worldly life is no more than play and games, and boasting among you, and hoarding of money and children. It is like abundant rain that produces plants and pleases the disbelievers. But then the plants turn into useless hay, and are blown away by the wind. In the Hereafter there is either severe retribution, or forgiveness from GOD and approval. This worldly life is no more than a temporary illusion.

When desires are scorched, illusions lose their appeal. Anytime you challenge yourself to endure something difficult, you create a ripple effect that impacts your entire body, mind, heart, and soul. If you meditate on God, your body relaxes, your heart finds peace, and your soul grows.

The Transformation

Putting my physical body through the discipline of fasting deeply affects my heart with a stronger belief in God and the Hereafter, my soul with growth, and my mind with clarity that I do not experience as fully outside of Ramadan. Not only does the body struggle, but the mind is tested as well. Irritability, impatience, and fatigue expose weaknesses that might otherwise remain hidden. Ramadan brings them to the surface so they can be burned away.

As we strengthen the soul by obeying God's commandments, it gradually becomes master over the body. The body begins to obey its direction with increasing readiness and, eventually, even enjoyment. When that happens, the "reboot" process offers a small taste of the Paradise we strive to attain in the Hereafter. The scorching of desires transforms into serenity.

The Quran outlines the major goals for a Submitter in this life:

[73:8] You shall commemorate the name of your Lord, to come ever closer (to Him).

[15:98-99] You shall sing the praises of your Lord, and be with the prostrators. And worship your Lord, in order to attain certainty.

Ramadan intensifies these goals. When my body reacts to the fast with a growling stomach or a parched throat, it reminds me why I fast: to obey God. Each pang of hunger becomes a reminder of submission. Each moment of thirst becomes an opportunity for remembrance.

Divine Assistance

God helps us through the long, hot days - especially in summer. I am fortunate that as I grow older and my body becomes more sensitive to fasting, Ramadan in my part of the world has moved into the spring. This occurs because the Muslim calendar is lunar and shifts approximately ten days earlier each year relative to the solar calendar. This seasonal shift itself is a reminder that circumstances change, yet the obligation and purpose remain constant.

The varying length of fasting days reassures me that our souls can become strong enough to control our bodies despite changes in physical conditions. Sometimes it is difficult to measure spiritual growth, but enduring these changes suggests that something deeper is strengthening within.

Ultimately, I realize that I am not truly accomplishing anything on my own. God does for me what I cannot do for myself. He grows my soul, purifies it, and refines even my physical being through this month of discipline. Since only He possesses omnipotence, every good in my life comes from Him. When I try to interfere excessively, I often complicate matters. Over the years, I have learned to trust Him and stay out of His way as much as possible. That lesson alone makes life more peaceful and may itself be considered a mini-reboot.

The Deeper Benefit

Gaining control over the body is just one benefit of the Ramadan fast. The deeper benefit is the burning away of selfish desires so that the soul may rise - clearer, lighter, and closer to God.