Ramadan’s Essence
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ
“Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the decisive authority. So whoever is present this month, let them fast.”
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:185
The Quran was revealed in the Holy month of Ramadan, a month fueled with a mystical light accessible to every soul.
Fasting helps us reach that inner light and takes place on physical, mental, and spiritual levels. Physically, fasting creates space in the body to receive more. Fasting is not only refraining from eating and drinking; it also includes a gentle detachment from worldly pleasures, guiding us toward deeper spiritual focus.
Mentally, we strive to refrain from toxic thoughts, allowing the mind to become fertile ground, ready to be nurtured by the Divine. Spiritually, stepping away from the ego allows us to be in tune with our inner spirit and feel an immense connection with our Creator. Be open to receive God’s whispers.
Imam al-Ghazali described an additional three layers of awakening. The first is the fast of the body, where we step back from food and desire. The second is the fast of the senses, where the eyes, ears, and tongue choose purity over noise. The third is the fast of the heart, where we detach from everything but God. This is the fast that polishes the inner mirror, allowing Divine light to be felt, not just known.
Ramadan opens these doors for every soul. With each layer, you draw closer to the One who revealed this month as a sacred gift of connection.
Ramadan is not just a month of fasting, it’s a month of spiritual reflection and self-improvement.
Yasir Qadhi
Today, be mindful of the three levels of fasting: physical, mental and spiritual. Even if you are not fasting from sunrise-to-sunset, try fasting for a certain number of hours to experience the bliss of fasting.
Physically: observe how cravings decrease, making space for a deeper part of you to emerge. Try refraining from worldly pleasures like excessive phone use.
Mentally: aim to fast from negative thoughts, such as fear, hesitation, or anger. Surrender to your true essence and try to quiet your inner critic.
Spiritually: transcend from ego to spirit. As Wayne Dyer mentions, ‘you are a spirit with a body.’ Think and feel from that higher existence. Experience yourself as a soul, and dedicate undistracted time with Allah. Imagine a halo of light around you, guarding this sacred meeting.
“During the month of Ramadan, it is believed that God rigs this month in our favor, facilitating the turn from creation to the Creator by thinning the veils between Heaven and Earth. It is said that it is in this month that the angels are sent to the Earth and the spirit of God descends to our universe, embracing the world with a divine mercy that intimately encompasses everything.”
Secrets of Divine Love – A. Helwa
“He who buries his head deep into a nose bag full of food, cannot hope to see the invisible world. Even if he keeps his stomach empty, he will not be able to remove the veil and see the invisible world unless he also empties his mind from everything except God.”
The Mysteries of Fasting; translated from’ Kitab Asrar Al-Sawm’ of “Ilhya Ulum al-Din” – Al-Ghazzali by Nabih Amin Faris
