The New Nation - Internet Edition

The holy verse related to fasting reads, 'so that you can adopt taqwa.' 'Taqwa' means abstaining from doing things that are forbidden to a believer. The person who can achieve 'taqwa' through 'sabr' (patience) is called 'muttaqi'. A 'muttaqi' can easily attain and exercise self-restraint while fasting.

A muttaqi is a fighter against instincts and evil propensities. This is a kind of 'Jihad' (struggle). This is known as 'Jihad-fin-nafs' - struggle against instincts.

Fasting inspires the rozadars to fight against all evils within and without. outward. It prepares oneself to guard against all injustices and exploitations. Thus, a rozadar has to stand against all social evils and anti-social elements and crimes. One who fasts engages himself in an incessant struggle to eradicate the evils from the society and to build the society according to the Will of Allah.

Hazrat Ali narrated a Hadith:

"I asked, O Messenger of Allah, what is the best of deeds in this month?'' He replied, "O Abul Hasan, the best of deeds in this month is to be far from what Allah has forbidden."

Thus Hadith also supports 'taqwa' as revealed in the Quran.

-Abdul Muqit Chowdhury