Ramadan Teaches Self-Discipline
One morning, the smell of freshly baked donuts drew me to a donut shop in my neighborhood. The 20-deep line of customers were purchasing these delicious treats by the dozen. I ordered a small coffee and one donut when I reached the counter. As I paid for my items, the woman behind me in line exclaimed, “That is the height of self-control!”
As we engage in our daily activities, we seldom think of the importance of self-control. If it is a habit that we have cultivated, it kicks in automatically. But if not, we are swept up into instant-gratification ideology and never realize that The Almighty wants us to internalize this powerful, life-changing alternative. This is the lesson that one learns during the month of Ramadan.
Fasting was ordained for us by our Creator so that we could learn the benefits of self-discipline. (Qur’an 3:183). It is a tradition practiced by adherents of the Abrahamic faiths and has been practiced for hundreds of years. Denying oneself of food and drink all day in our obesity-induced society is quite a challenge. The Almighty wants us to realize this.
Consider this: the most monumental achievements in our lives come to fruition as a result of exercising self-discipline. Success in college is highly correlated to systematic, routine study habits in k-12 school. Doctors and lawyers achieve their goals beyond undergraduate-level education by activating disciplined, internalized motivations. From an idea, businessmen and women nurture their projects and manage their resources until they take form, and gradually develop into a monumental enterprise. Concert musicians and renowned artists painstakingly blossom from neophytes to masters through strict regimentation of their practice time.
Perhaps the most obvious example is a husband and wife who nurtured their marriage life together, raising their children and enjoying the golden years entertaining their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The rewards of a self-disciplined life are too numerous to list. Yet, this aspect of our existence is often overlooked. It is the line of demarcation between success and failure. It is the highest achievement of the human soul. It is the steep path that the soul travels to gain mastery over man’s physical appetites. And it was ordained by The Almighty to teach His created being that the essence of human life is not hedonism or instant gratification. It is making your physical being submit to your spiritual development.
During the fast of Ramadan, our attention is focused on specific requirements. We deny ourselves food and drink during the daylight hours; we do not engage in intimacy with our spouses; we control our anger; we read the Qur’an daily, and remember The Almighty often. These restrictions last for a month, an interval of time sufficient to establish a new habit.
Our Creator knows us and He knows that we are forgetful. He consequently, requires us to fast every year throughout our lives. As we proceed through this month of fasting, let us not lose sight of the greater lesson. Fasting teaches us Self-discipline.
