Ramadan mubarak. Part 1 of 2 Warning: Not Vegan but friendly enough

Ramadan mubarak. Part 1 of 2. Warning: Not Vegan but friendly enough

The first port of call to learn about God and Religion, Prophets and Islam and more to the Topic of Ramadan is from its One & only core text; the Guidance - The Quran. Gods Book conveyed to mankind by the last prophet Muhammad (sawt: peace and blessings upon him). Similarly to learn about baking a sponge cake you would read a book on 'How to bake Sponge Cakes'.

Before we turn to secondary or supplemental sources of Hadiths and scholars and muftis and books and peers or sheikhs and old wives tales and scientific research or the wisest of them all – the search engine Google. Directly from The Quran in a handful of five precise verses grouped together in a feast like manner we learn about fasting Ramadan. Quran 2:183-187. (Fasting and Ramadan are also mentioned in passing in verses 33:35, 97:1-5). The month in which The Quran was bestowed upon mankind for guidance, as The Guidance and A mercy to mankind (Quran 17:86,87).?

Directly from God,? we learn reasons and purpose of fasting for a month; to become God-cognizant -'taqwa' conscious of God, mindful of God, remember God. To celebrate The Quran. Encouraging mankind to exalt and glorify God, to invoke God and to become?grateful and contented.? A test of faith (fitna) In so doing we better ourselves to develop patience and learn to trust God and improve our faith, become better people, sober and humbled and charitable by reconnecting to The Qur'an:-?

I. O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was prescribed upon those before you that you may become God-cognizant. Quran 2:183

II. Fasting for a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey during them - then an equal number of days are to be made up later. And upon those who are able to fast, but with hardship - a ransom as substitute of feeding a poor person each day as redemption. And whoever volunteers excess charity - it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew better. Quran 2:184

III. The month of Ramadhan is that in which was revealed the Qur'an - a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights the new moon of the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then make up an equal number of other days. God intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and wants for you to complete the period so that you glorify God for that by which you've been guided; and perhaps you will be grateful. Quran 2:185

IV. And when My servants/believers ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me by obedience and believe in Me so that they may become rightly guided. Quran 2:186

V. It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to have marital relations. They are clothing for you and you are clothing for them. God knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so accepted your repentance and forgave you. So now, have relations with them and seek that which God has decreed for you. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread of night. Then complete the fast until the sunset. And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques"?. These are the limits set by God, so do not approach them. Thus does God make clear His ordinances to the people that they may become God-cognizant. Quran 2:187

Along with two related verses which mention fasting and Ramadan and The Quran;

Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their chastity and the women who do so, and the men who remember God often and the women who do so - for them God has prepared forgiveness and a great reward. Quran 33:35

God revealed The Qur'an during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what the Night of Decree is? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. Descend the angels and the Spirit by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn. Quran 97:1-5

The table is set

God explains fasting in a nutshell. To fast without food or water from sunrise to sunset for a month of Ramadan if you are able to, otherwise be charitable or makeup missed days later.

Let's tackle the How's mentioned in these verses.

How do we become God-cognizant and mindful of God, develop taqwa referred to in 2:183 and 187? How do we get grateful referenced in 2:185 or guided by The Quran? How do we exalt and glorify God mentioned in 2:185? From 2:186 Where is God, how near? How do we invoke God and how do we trust God intends ease not hardship and develop patience? No mention of how much charity in 2:184?

How to.. ? How is..? How can.. ? How do.. ? How much..?

Answers: The Quran.

The Quran and Ramadan are like Strawberries & Cream

Deemed insufficient it seems the world over. Muslims have written and published aplenty about fasting Ramadan, books and hadiths laced with folklore and theories by schools of thoughts and scholars and sermons. Best taken with a pinch of salt. Detracting further and further away from The Quran and Gods verses - a perfected religion (5:3). Churning out sermons and publishing books aplenty, incentivising muslims with Gold stickers and The Golden Ticket even, motivating them with clean plates and repatriation of sins, innovating extra tara-wee prayers and setting new protocols, ritualistic. Worship ought to be unconditional.

Sometimes we can learn so much more by reflecting upon a handful of verses, keep things simple.S and get the basics right. To focus on them, to hold fast to The Quran and contemplate, not just at one sitting. Go in for seconds, it's a buffet. Perhaps we didn't need to know what or how our forefathers did fasting for Ramadan from traditions and hearsay and hadiths peppered with folklore and rituals, legends of the former peoples. Or what they didn't do!

Verily, each Quranic verse is like a date, the more you chew it, the more of its sweetness is released. [Source: Undisclosed] Suppose, we don't need to know how this individual lived or bathed, what he did or didn't do. How he 'established prayer (salah)' or ate his food or kept his hair or moustache. How he brushed his teeth and what he used. It's nevertheless a powerful statement, which we can appreciate and relate to, you too.

God encourages mankind and muslims alike to reflect upon the verses of The Quran (4:82 23:68 38:29 47:25) to contemplate and mull them over. 5 Precise and comprehensive verses presented by God containing all that we need to know about fasting in Ramadan. Boundaries set, allowing muslims to exercise some discretion and colour-in the stencil to their individual preferences and colours and flavours and tastes and Stripes.

Eat up

The Quran is the only Guidance (2:2). God describes The Quran using a relatable example of trees as pens and seas as ink. From this pair of themed verses (18:109 and 31:27) we learn God could've revealed volumes and volumes of The Quran with infinite writing resources at Gods disposal. Ramadan could've had its own book VOLUME: RAMADAN containing every specific detail with ingredients measured out. Even how many dates are optimal and how best to drink water, standing or sitting. Religion is not rocket science. For the most part it's pretty logical.

Reinforced by oft-repeated verses throughout The Quran in which God confirms The Quran is a completed Book of Guidance, a manuscript for life. Sufficient is The Quran. We also learn because God created mankind it was incumbent upon God to ensure mankind has/had its Guidance (2:38, 20:123, 92:12).

Each and every soul endowed with free-will and faculties to be guided aright by the Guidance - The Quran. God explains only God can guide a soul by The Quran - The Guidance.(35:32)

Muslims however became/are enthused to provide greater clarification on Gods already simple but clarified verses (75:16-19).? Because they became better informed somehow, better qualified to diagnose mankind as incapable to think for themselves. Eating out of their hands. Lemmings. Despite being empowered with faculties of eyes to see the verses, to read and understand The Quran; ears to hear the verses, with intellect and minds and hearts to find logic and reasoning. To chew the cud.

The Human Machine

Cattle-like, humans too have eyes and ears and brains and lungs and hearts.?Like cows we keep eating, munching and digesting. Looking forward to becoming steak - a relief from groundhog day, chewing and regurgitating the same green grass all their lives. Like sheep we graze, laying eggs and making babies like chickens. Camels walk a few weeks without water in the scorching desert, up to 100 miles without without topping up every day, or twice a day. Able to drink a hundred litres in one sitting. Other animals, hedgehogs and bears are designed to hibernate for months on end.

It is proven from extensive scientific studies and conclusive research that the human body can survive 2-3 weeks without any food whatsoever, and 2-4 days without any water whatsoever. By weight, the average human adult male is approximately 60-63% water, and the average adult female is approximately 52-55% water.

Realising our capacity and capability, makes us grateful to God. Appreciative of the many different systems and processes within us running simultaneously, machine-like.

Which we didn't give a second thought too, to name but a few; The Nervous System, Circulatory/ Cardiovascular System, Endocrine and Immune Systems, Reproductive and Digestives Systems, Renal and Respiratory Systems and Integumentary System, the Muscular System and Skeletal System - too complicated for mankind to replicate despite the advancement in Science & Technology in the 21st century.?Books are still being writen on discoveries about The Human Body. Nonetheless with the audacity to spend trillions on reaching out for the Galaxy into the MilkyWay and Mars.? Beyond the comprehension, of mankind, yet muslims alike are Ego-ridden and contentious to challenge or question Gods decree of fasting and health and wealth and status and ranks and life and death and children and everything and anything in between.!?

A piece of cake

Consider if we had to control and regulate each of these systems and processes in operation around the clock without our in-built Auto-pilot provided courtesy of God. Akin to an instrument panel in an aeroplane cockpit with pressure gauges and dials and buttons. Or having to switch on our eyesight and zoom in manually, camera like using focus rings above each eye.

Our bodies are a clever piece of kit, designed to self-regulate by God, Quran-like. Which regulates itself by oft repeated and diversified verses and relatable examples (17:89 18:54 20:113). It's Peerless - too powerful a Book to be misconstrued except by Pick'n'Mix or setting it aside!.? We're Self-healing too. Regulating hormones and blood sugar levels and blood pressure and so much more.

Ramadan is a great reminder for Muslims that we don't have control over much in our lives, but for our souls (nafs).? To appreciate most things are by God's decree, life and death, children and wealth, even our vision and hearing is by God's decree, every heartbeat.. BLINK.? What we do exercise control over is what and choose to do with our faculties of intellect and eyesight and hearing, thinking and feeling and doing, coordination. And what we can't. We can breathe to a certain extent but can't even stop breathing, try it. Go Ahead. Deep breath - inhale and ..

SYSTEM UPDATED 100%

After several hours and a few days of introducing a new eating plan with meal times changed; breakfast, brunch and elevenses skipped, lunch, tea, supper and dinner times changed, and drinking times altered, the body adapts.

SYSTEM UPDATE COMPLETE... Tummy stopped rumbling for food after a day or so, less grumbling and hunger pangs gone, thirst quenched. It’s recalibrated its settings and expectations and demands, adjusted itself accordingly.

Let’s not sugar-coat it

We didn't really do much to warrant reward , nevermind a clean slate for fasting a month by having only one to two meals a day. A whole years sins supposedly expunged from doing something we ought to have done unconditionally in the worship of God - which has become proven 1,400 years later to be in our best interests. Until the next year.. Stack em High.

Easy as pie. Neither did we need multiple cups of coffee or tea every day - to feel alert, or that cheesecake after every meal. The Human Body produces its own feel good hormones found from binge eating, and caffeine fixes and even the equivalent of nicotine. From exercise, a simple walk, endorphins are released. Cutting back to eating once or twice a day cuts away the junk intake window and sweets and sugars and snacks. Didn't need that heavenly desert either.

We live in consumerism, a materialistic world. Constantly bombarded with subliminal messages in advertisements and everything we see and hear and scroll through online. Effectiveness of Repetitive Advertising and Marketing, Branding. You know, you didn't think you needed that Wispa chocolate bar until you saw that advert. Neither did the Hundreds & Thousands of generations which passed before you, who did just fine with the simple things in life.

You've been reminded about God and The Quran.. XZIKKR. Lest you say..

Ramadan serves as an Reminder for mankind - Remember God and become God-cognizant. For anyone new to the religion and muslims alike - to learn about fasting Ramadan we are drawn back to The Core text - The Quran. And from The Quran we learn that Gods mercy and forgiveness is available for Christians and Jews alike, for all mankind. Their existence is living proof. So God reminds every soul atleast once a year - to turn back to God, to remember God.

We learn from the parables of Adam that mankind is weak and forgetful, we are of Adam. We forget, and Satan has the capability to make us forget God, distract us, and mislead us.?Satan making Josephs cellmates forget (12:42), Moses and the boy forget the fish (60-64 ) and Adam (20:115) forgot.

Cherry Lips

Muslims have re-interpeted and re-defined xzikkr as chanting and wailing - from the heart they say.? However it is scientifically and biologically proven, logically too that the heart does not remember - its emotional and pumps blood.??Memory works from the brain using neurons - to think about God, to contemplate, to reflect upon the verses of The Quran. Not lip service.

It can be understood, Ramadan is one of the Annual reminders prescribed in The Quran by God. And Hajj serves as the other Annual reminder. God explains The Quran has been distributed throughout the earth to remind mankind (25:50-52) and that its been repeatedly conveyed (28:51-59) Not to spoil the Picnic or to distress you (20:1-3) but to remind you of the reality. It’s easy to remember, then will you be reminded??Otherwise every soul is reminded about God through trials and tribulations, fitnah of children, and wives and parents and family and wealth and health (26:78) and nature too, the sky and trees, a leaf falls.. BLINK.

God explains each and every soul could've not only been reminded but forced into submission in a similar way to bringing together the heavens and earth (44:11) and sun and moon. (22:18) Choice - submit to God willingly or by compulsion, willingly they said.??Paralysed everyone on earth or blinded them all (36:65,67). Or replaced mankind with a better creation, angels even (43:60) Then the matter would be ended. (6:8,9 15:7,8)

And what better way to be reminded of God then fasting?

The quickest way to a mans heart is through the 3rd 4th rib

There is many a theory, that the key to a mans heart is through his stomach. Said to mean that a woman can make a man love her by cooking him good meals. Studies have shown it works both ways for women too. Date night. Its also proven from scientific research that food or lack thereof has effects on our moods, getting Hangry. Getting angry because of hunger, bad-tempered or irritable as a result of hunger, cranky before a late lunch. and crabby when you skip breakfast.

Thinking you can’t concentrate. That piercing headache. Stomach is growling so loudly that everyone near you can hear it. And if you don’t get something to eat soon, you just might bite the head off of the next person who talks to you (and then chewits up and swallow it). Toddlers may be the demographic most often associated with such empty-bellied crankiness, nevertheless it’s a feeling that people of all ages experience - so the story goes.

EXPIRY DATE: NONE

Neither did God stamp an EXPIRY DATE unto The Quran. It worked 1,400 years ago as Guidance when it was revealed over many years and guided mankind aright by teaching them to become God-cognizant, and it works just as well today – as Guidance. Its timeless. God explains it’s The Only Guidance for mankind until Judgement Day.? For Yesterday, for Today, Forever. Sealed and protected by God from ever becoming changed or edited or manipulated ot distorted.

With the greatest of respect to the final prophet Muhammad (sawt) who was a Great moral character (68:4) and an Excellent pattern of conduct (33:21) honoured in the worldly life and the Hereafter (22:15). There's so much more to Islam & being a 'Muslim' than Muhammad per se, which can only be learned directly from The Quran. Not from Hadiths and Sunnah taught widely in mosques/ Islamic centres - the practices & teachings about the way of the prophet Muhammad, in his footprints. Breadcrumb trail.

Too many cooks spoil the broth

Religion and History are two different subject matters taught separately in education systems. Quran is Religion, Hadiths are History. Historical accounts about the prophet Muhammad & his family are not religion - its History. Like chalk and Cheese. Religion is The Quran.

God describes The Quran as the 'Best Hadith' (39:23). The Arabic word? 'hadith' is translated into English as 'statement/report'. Mankind too has published libraries of 'Hadiths' - historical reports about the prophet Muhammad and/or his family - for whatever reason. In fact Hundreds & Thousands of hadiths; Sahih al-Bukhari has atleast 7,275 hadiths upon which atleast 400 books have been written and published. Sahih Muslim consists of atleast 9,200 narrations of the prophet written in 3rd person accounts. (Not exhaustive). Sunan Abu Dawood 43 chapters, Jamie al-Tirmidhi offers 50 chapters with 3,956 hadiths, Al sunan al-sughra with 52 chapters and 5,270 narrations and sunan ibn Majah 34 primary books, 12 secondary books. Next door, Shia collections consists of Kitab al-Kafi of atleast 16,199 hadiths, further to 9,044 hadiths of Man la yadur al-faqi, 13,590 hadiths of Tadhis al-akham and atleast 5,511 of kitab al-intisar and 18 primary hadith collections and secondary books and books of the infallibles..(Not exhaustive).. and on and on it goes.

Every little detail of Muhammads existence continues to be scrutinised in microscopic detail, discoveries that he may have had a fistful of beard, without moustache or trimmed. His music preferences, how he may have bathed even how he ate and drank and on and on and on. Even his tooth and hair and clothes are purportedly preserved in museums a boon for tourism revenues. Over the last decade the image of his sandals has become holy and iconic used for celebrating his birthday.

Sweet & Sour

Most Hadiths either contradict or conflict with each other, either because they are diluted or (Not) From concentrate. In fact God challenged/challenges mankind in several verses known as The Challenge verses (2:23,24 10:37 11:13 17:88 52:33) to try their utmost to replicate anything similar to the Quran should they doubt its authenticity to set aside its verses. Even with the jinns as aides they wouldn't be able to, for nothing compares. From Surah 72 titled Jinn we learn a party of jinns stopped in their tracks to listen attentively when they heard The Quran, becoming believers in God, guided aright by One Book. Yet muslim children and adults alike are incensed by it? Enraged? Like garlic to vampires. Muslims by birth, i.e born to parents proclaiming to be 'muslims' by tradition and into the fold of Islam as an identity. However religion is not inherited - DNA and genetics or family names are. It's biologically proven.

dib-dab

Religion of Islam and faith is either learned directly from The Quran by reading to understand it as guidance or its adopted from being born into the fold of Islam and Sunnah. From the influence of parents whose identity was 'muslim'. infused with culture and traditions and hearsay and hadiths and folklore - fathers ways passed down from one generation to another.

For sure a single verse about Muhammad presented by God in The Quran outweighs the Hundreds & Thousands of books and volumes of Hadiths - Hearsay by definition written and (re)published by mankind hundreds of years after Muhammad’s death, watered down to varying in degrees of accuracy, legitimacy too. Because its Gods Divine Speech, which does not compare to even the best of mankinds writings because mankind is susceptible to Satan. Consensus is Muhammad authored or published nothing himself - he simply taught mankind The Quran - he lived it, preached it, reflected upon its verses.

Muhammad was a living, breathing, talking Quran, he taught mankind The Quran

From more than a Dozen (3:32, 132 4:13,59,69,80 5:92 8:1,20,46 9:71 24:52,54,56 33:33,71 47:33 48:17(20-24) 49:14 58:13 64:12) diversified verses throughout The Quran which are themed. Oft-repeated and diversified, thereby becoming self-regulating to confirm and support each other to reinforce Gods counsel. Its clear and rather obvious, logical too that God is counselling muslims and mankind alike to firstly obey God i.e by The Quran and secondly to obey the prophet/ messenger i.e by The Quran. To become God-cognizant. Muhammad conveyed The Quran and taught mankind The Quran, by The Quran.

Double Decker

Muslims however are selective to bite off a few favourites and disregard the others. Resulting in division and discord, focusing wholeheartedly on only the '. Obey prophet/messenger' part of these verses to glorify Muhammad and invoke him by salawat in exchange and hoping for his intercession. To follow in his footsteps by the Hadiths and to obey and follow and try to recognise him through 3rd person transmissions. Chinese Whispers.

Muhammad does not know the unseen (6:50) and does not know about the arrival of the hour (7:187,188, 79:42-46). In his absence we still have The Quran to learn from. Only by going back to basics - The Quran, do we learn about Muhammad. That Muhammad was not there when they disputed against Mary and cast pens against her for giving birth ot Jesus (3:44). Muhammad was not there when Noah disembarked (11:48,49), that is news of the unseen presented by God. Muhammad was not there when Joseph's brothers plotted and conspired against him (12:102). Muhammad was not on the western side of the mountain when God revealed to Moses the command, nor was Muhammad a resident among the people of Madyan, reciting to them Our verses (28:46,47) or when the exalted assembly of angels were disputing the creation of Adam (38:67-70). Along with important virtues from twenty or more prophets including Mary and Jesus and Moses and David and Joseph, Noah and Abraham to name a few - Peace be upon all prophets messengers (37:181, 182) and more importantly we learn about God - directly from Gods counsel & guidance.

The Quran is the Mother of Books (13:39, 43:4) From the pair of themes verses 2:146 and 6:20 we are encouraged to become learned of The Quran to recognise it as you recognise your mother and children. (21:50) The Quran is a blessed Guidance - than are you with it unacquainted?

Hand-in-hand. Quran-in-Ramadan

Ramadan presents a great opportunity to dust off that Quran which became a mascot, most muslims have a Quran typically shrouded in a green cloth to validate their identity: Born Muslim. For pakindians it’s become sacramental to ward off Evil and Magic and superstition. Dipping Quran verses into water to drink or tying verses into amulets around their body parts and blow. Displayed around their houses and cars and anywhere and everywhere as charms. Even when they read it devoutly, many don't understand it, and don't bother with translations. Somehow they benefit spiritually by reciting it melodically in an alien language, ritualistic. May aswell be reading Beano. Fascinated with Chapter 36 Surah Ya'sin - which is about peer worship and shirk, and 2+1 unnamed prophets/ messengers. We know nothing about these 3 prophet/messengers God left them unnamed and undescribed, would you believe? Along with many others which haven't even been mentioned in The Quran (40:78). Maybe it was about The Message - The Quran not The Messenger/Prophet who delivered The Message?

God explicitly states The Quran was revealed as Guidance (1:6 2:2 38,97,159, 3:138 6:71, 88, 185 7:203 10:57 12:111 16:64,89,102 25:30 27:2,76,77 31:3 34:6 39:23,27 41:44 45:11,20 47:17 51:6 72:2,13 92:12) during the month of Ramadan as Instruction for mankind (3:138 10:57).

You'd be fooled to think Ramadan is all about The Quran by muslims caught up in traditions and rituals and hearsay, observing customs passed down from generations, their father’s ways.

Jammie Dodgers

Claiming in defence and mitigation that they are incapable to understand One Book, or that it’s not for them because it’s not in their language.? Although sufficiently endowed and proven capable to study and work, read books and get jobs and degrees and educate themselves and learn and become fluent in different languages, careers and professions, to organise and arrange travel, run errands, do chores and shopping, manage households and businesses too. But dumbstruck when it comes to The Quran? Flumps

God explains The Quran is 'Cure & Healing' for mankind. Using the word 'shifa' (10:57, 17:82, 41:44). Which muslims have transformed and reinterpreted and redefined into 'spiritual healing' - in the sense that they recite a few verses of The Quran in a language they understand not and then blow.? A ritual of sorts, probably passed down from generation to another, associated with ruqya and exorcism and jinns, culture. The Quran makes no such endorsements of spiritual healing.

Love Hearts

In fact God explains The Quran is a Cure ONLY by understanding & reflecting upon its verses. That is where the cure & healing is, therapy like - The Quran heals our souls and gives us guidance and understanding, counsel and wisdom, soothes and comforts us.? Its mental therapy. As it counselled and cured and healed Muhammad each time he faced difficulties and became distressed by mankind spreading propaganda and slander about him being a madman/poet. Soothing verses which remind mankind of our purpose and bigger forces at play. It soothes grief, and heals pain. Promotes tolerance and encourages forgiveness, to foster peace, the olive branch.

Whatever issue or problem you're experiencing, grief or sorrow, betrayal or divorce or tribulations - The Quran offers you verses which you can relate to, wisdom which you can draw from of first hand experiences and real life examples. Which make firm your heart (11:120) Giving you comfort and hope and healing, like bandaid. Plasters to heal your wounds inflicted by worldy life and mankind. Helping with anxiety and depression and stress.. Nevermind first world problems and DUMDUMs.

Like medication, The Quran works best if taken as directed. Dosage: As much as possible, as frequently as possible. To counteract forgetfulness and remain conscious of God by understanding its verses.

By far The Quran is Best Self-Help Book you'll ever find in the Worlds.

What was it you were doing? Was Gods only Guidance - The Quran not sufficient for you? Didn't you get it? Couldn't understand it? Too busy, ran out of time?

You had Gods Guidance The Quran?

The Quran was made available for you and accessible anywhere, everywhere on earth and online, translated into every language and Audio too - for all mankind

You had free will and faculties?

You were endowed with faculties of eye(s) to see & read the Quran; ear(s) to hear and listen to The Quran, hearts to feel and find reasoning; intellect to think, contemplate over its verses and find understanding, reflect upon it.

You had life and time aplenty?

Takes only a few days to read The Quran from cover to cover. You had 24 hours each and every day for x number of years. Along with sustenance and provisions, resources and rizq.

Couch potato. Ramadan offers a great chance to free up your hands and eyes and brains to break away from the TV and movies and Netflix and boxsets and Bollywood you became addicted to. press PAUSE on worldly life, and pick up The Quran and study it, Press PLAY. (Also available in audio format translated into every language). GUARANTEED your TV and Box sets and Netflix Programmes and Internet and etcetera etcetera, etcetera will still be there in 30 days time... You may not be.

Jelly Beans. Gourmet.

God encourages muslims in many verses not to become divided (including 3:103-105 6:65,159 28;52-54 30:31,32 42:13 41:14 ) To remain united. Not to become sects, to hold firmly to the rope of God. One rope (3:103-105). One God.

Which one of the following describes you best? Select One only. (Not exhaustive of the 72 leagues and divisions).

□ Muslim ■ Mu'min □ Shia □ Sunni □ Wahabi □ Hanafi □ Hanbali □ Zahiri □ Fivers □ Seveners □ Twelvers □ Zaydis □ Rafidis □ Alawites □ Alevis □ Batinyya □ Kwarij □ Salafi □ Zikris □ Ahle hadith □ Ismailism □ Sufi □ Berelvi □ Jamaat e Islami/ Ahle Sunnut/ Dawaat Islam/ Madani / Tablighi Jamaat □ Deobandi □ Ahmadiya □ Other.

Teach mankind to fish

God informs us that The Quran teaches mankind consciousness of God. It's a DIY type of Book, to learn for yourselves, figure it out. After all, that is why God endowed you with faculties of intelligence and hearts to think and reason. Or did you think you were created aimlessly, without purpose? Pointless? To make Jelly Babies and collect and hoard wealth? God is proven capable to create life without man, as demonstrated by Mary. And without a womans reproductive system as demonstrated by wives of Abraham and Zachariah. Be and it is (Kun Fayakun). Neither does God need mankind to sustain the barrier between the two seas (55:19,20).

Becoming mindful of God and taqwa: God-cognizant can only be learned from The Quran. The Quran is not a Q & A format and doesn't provide every answer/ solution to every specific issue/ problem - ever. >More than, it teaches mankind what they knew not piecemeal, Wisdom. In so doing, how to think - it teaches logic & reasoning. Thereby, empowering mankind to deal with any/every possible scenario - Ever.

Catch a man a fish, feed him for a day. Masgouf. Teach him how to fish, he can feed himself for life. Sushi.

Fishing takes patience

Like fishing, faith requires the right equipment (The Quran), the correct mindset (Taqwa: conscious of God 2:2). Serendipity - in the right place at the right time, environmental factors. To invest the time, energy and effort, and patience aplenty. Muslims are capable to invest time and energy and patience into relationships and businesses and desires and wants but quick off the mark to turn to anyone and everyone because they couldn't understand a verse or two at first bite. Seeking guidance and clarification from imams, peers, books, ustads, scholars and google even - which does not help to reflect upon a verse - to develop your understanding - to increase your faith. Differerent agendas, some wearing two caps of Hadith and Quran, sellouts and others sponsored or affiliated with schools of thoughts or patriotism. Resulting in information overload, misdirection and assumption.

Companion for life

Gods Book The Quran answers itself. Without doubt there is similar themed verse. Or verses which support and explain each other. All you need to do is keep faith and perseverance until you come across them. Some verses are (un)specific, others are diversified or oft-repeated. Some are clear cut commands, others allow discretion, and some best left brewing for a while. Some verses are life-experience and situation related, By holding fast to The Quran and to trust God is true to his promise stated in The Quran - That you've been provided with all the guidance that you need.

Pearls of wisdom/ Ruby and coral

In many ways The Quran is like an ocean, there's something for everyone. Some pass by it, some notice it, others go on a boat tour, most appreciate its existence. Some take a paddle or go in for a dip, others take a swim. Some go fishing whilst only a few manage a deep dive - only to then discover more than 6,000 pearls of wisdom to become God-cognizant and appreciate its beauty and magnificence. Developing a relationship with God, to love God. Detached from worldly life, bliss.

The Quran requires time and effort - giving back tenfold in wisdom, reasoning and peace of mind. Understanding the verses of The Quran purifies the soul.

From The Quran (9:128 25:30) we learn Muhammad expresses his upset and grievance because mankind abandoned The Quran. Sadly today, most Muslims are occupied and live by Sunnah i.e. hadiths and hearsay about Prophet Muhammad instead of The Quran taught by Muhammed.

The Quran upsets the powerful and elite and illiterate, the wealthy and ignorant alike

Understandably because The Quran is not an easy pill to swallow.

Its Direct, not very Ego-friendly, its Black & White – No grey areas. Which corrects and confirms previous scriptures and contains hard truths about peers and traditions, superstition and shirk, hadiths and hearsay, wealth and finance and interest, intercession-or-not that is the question?

The Quran is Anti-racist, It bruises egos on family matters, criticizes arranged marriages & inbreeding (Prohibited from marrying the sons/daughters of your maternal/paternal uncles/aunts 33:50). The Quran in fact champions diversity (30:22 49:13) and interracial marriages, encourages adoption of orphans and sets out womens rights for inheritance and divorce.

Smarties

God informs us throughout the Quran that Children are a 'fitna', marriage and family are a fitnah, as too are friends and relatives. Wealth is a fitnah for us along with our health. All of which are referenced to as 'Fitnah'. Along with divine calamities, war & peace, religion and mankind in general. Ego-ridden mankind and muslims alike prefer a different rhetoric of "..self-made.." and/or "..grafted harder.." and/or "..smarties is we.."..blesseth are we..". Otherwise inherited wealth and claiming ownership of luck and serendipity - flash in a pan "." or "..got lucky."

Schisms, sectarianism are not prescribed by The Quran. Neither is the MIN setting of 2.5% for charity/ almsgiving or Prohibition of Music, Nor punishment of stoning to death for adultery or LGBTQ commonplace in Muslim countries. It's all gone multicolour.

Rather The Quran encourages a MAX setting for charity and promotes tolerance with other religions and mankind - each to their own. To let them be satisfied with their disbelief and eat themselves rotten and drink themselves merry.

☆ Taqwa. God consciousness.

From The Quran?we learn much about being God-cognizant. To become conscious of God is Paradise ready. In Arabic, the word 'taqwa' is used, in the plural 'mutaqeen' or variations thereof. Its demonstrated from examples, illustrations, commandments and counsel to mankind and by prophets who passed before which we come to learn about throughout The Quran.?

If we become conscious of God in all that we do, not only are we protected from Satan in a state of xzikkr - Remembrance of God, but we are unlikely to do wrong, commit sin or partake in transgressions. White lies included. Let alone cardinal sins of shirk, peers and magic and witchcraft and jinns and superstition. It’s a state of spiritual purity, complete submission to God becoming detached from worldly life, anticipating the Hereafter. We trust God with our affairs. At peace.

Before we whisper and speak or shout and curse, let alone lie or slander and blaspheme or spy and backbite we are conscious God is listening. From more than forty verses we are reassured beyond doubt God is All-Hearing. (including (9:78). Slurp Even the popping and cracking of that mouthful of Fizz Wiz Candy.

Before we conspire or plot and betray and scheme against others we are conscious God is All-Knowing. We are reassured from atleast fifty verses (including 57:3) that God knows our every thought and intention let alone our plans and conspiracies. Reinforced by The Bible (Psalm 139:1--7.)

Before we use our eyes, to see and watch and notice wrongdoing - we are conscious God is All-Seeing. From more than thirty verses (including 6:103) we are reassured beyond doubt that God perceives all vision.

Funny Feet

Consider a Witch seeking protection in God from a Wizard.

We are conscious of Worldly life as a temporary abode every second of our being, a testing ground. Fast approaching Judgement Day when each and every single thought, word, action, and feeling we ever had will be presented as evidence against us long after they've come to pass. Even as much as a mustard seed or thread on a date seed will not be left unaccounted.?

Conscious of that Day fast approaching when our tongues and eyes and ears and hands and feet and skin - will testify against ourselves.(17:36, 24:24, 36:65, 41:20-22)

The greatest thing since sliced bread

From The Qurans more than 80 verses about taqwa we learn about 'taqwa' mentioned in 2:183 and 187. How each and every prophet/messenger conveyed the?same message "Be God-cognizant". God advising and reminding mankind to be conscious of God, mindful of God, including;

Noah (71:3 and 26:106-110) to Eber (26:124-142), Salih told his people to become God cognizant (26:142-150). Elijah too (37:124) and Abraham (26:86, 29:16) and Lot (26:161-163) and Jethro (26:177-179) and Jesus (43:63,64). Moses was sent to the Pharaoh to tell him to be God-cognizant 26:109,110.??And the last of prophets Muhammad too (41:43) told his people the same as each and every prophets messenger which passed before him - to "be God cognizant" (23:84-87). Should there be left any doubt and to prevent any misunderstanding, God commands mankind and Muslims alike to be God-cognizant directly (7:35 and 23:52).? ?For further clarity (39:28) God explains the purpose of The Quran is to teach mankind God-cognizant, taqwa. A Book for the God-cognizant (2:2), for those mindful of God

Cherry picking

it would come as no surprise that muslims have written much about 'taqwa' and continue to do so, because they became better qualified than God somehow. Slicing and dicing verses. Fanciful Books and Hadiths and Hearsay and sermons. It seems every man and his dog or cat has its own re-interpretation of a word which has been already been defined and clarified by God repeatedly throughout The Quran. 'Fitnah' like, muslims seems to be putting a real twister on another simple word and concept to offer up varying degrees of re-definition and mincing. Hadithified & hijacked by schools of thoughts re-interpreted as everything and anything, including but not limited to 'righteousness' ('saliheen'), piety ('al-birr), fear ('kauf') and barriers and veils and ..?

Celebrations

Muslims are increasingly divided by sects and carved-up by schisms so agree on little, except for a good old party that is. Many are in denial to the fact that Shias and Sunnis are much like a Twix Bar, manufactured in the same wrapper. The left Twix and right Twix taste the same, look the same, same core with different imperfections whether the caramel flows or cascades. Both sweet and crunchy.

To celebrate the End of Ramadan - Muslims go party for Eid. So indulge in luxuries and get stuffed, hire cars, drink and drugs, suppose pick-up from where they left off. Get back into the swing of things. Extended to 3 days, Christmas-like. Muslims buy presents for one another and treat themselves to new apparel and gifts. To celebrate their rebirth, sin-free.. Again.

None of which is set out in The Quran by God - (therefore dear Watson we can deduce its either folklore and traditions, customs and rituals and/ or hearsay and hadiths passed down from forefathers and previous generations). God simply told muslims to fast a month by eating/drinking only twice a day at sunrise and sunset - not to throw a party to say good riddance to a blessed month of obedience and humility, humbleness and charity - the month in which was revealed the blessed Qur'an.

Brownie Points

Mankinds intervention and incentivising muslims into fasting Ramadan by dangling a carrot and rewards is not fruitful. Promising them Gold Stars and Golden Tickets and rewards of either Paradise or A Deep Clean by which all/any sins or wrongs accumulated since the previous years Ramadan are expunged. Coming out the other end as a new born baby, sinless. Fresh. Wishful thinking developing into complacency.

Icing on the cake

Religion for muslims has become transactional, a bargain, deal-like. Trade-off bad deeds with good. Taking a few Quranic verses out of context, most muslims make-belief "..but it’s Okay.." to do wrong and evils and sin - providing that they offset their transgressions with an equal number of good deeds. Counter-balance their wrongs with 30 days of fasting in Ramadan using weighing scales. You too are no doubt familiar with muslims who do evil with the one-hand, good deeds with t'other. To spill the beans, God informs us in the Quran that the only way to 'guarantee' sins expunged is either The Golden Ticket or to Repent/ Refrain/ Reform asap, when conscience comes knocking.

Clean plate..

Most muslims believe devoutly that their sins are expunged from fasting a month of Ramadan. In return of 30 days of fasting any/all sins they racked up since the previous year, slate wiped clean, gone. That’s a sweet deal if ever there was one. 330 days worth of evil and sin and transgressions and wrongdoings whipped off for 30 days fasting by having two-meals a day. Motivated.

Lucky Numbers

Mankind and muslims alike can speculate, plucking numbers and make assumptions of 72 virgins or Fire-Exit(s) or bridges and flyovers or Pass the buck and Get out of Jail cards and new routes to entry into Paradise, Quick Wash and Spin-Dry programmes to self-cleanse. Innovations of Build a Mosque scheme (in the small former cotton mill town of Blackburn there are more than 50 mosques, fifty and counting.. ) or shrouded into Paradise by wearing a hijab or covering up. Furtherstill to try to scratch out the? 'ADMIT ONE' text of The Golden Ticket, and write over with strawberry pencils to extend it 'The intercession of a martyr will be accepted for 70 members of his family'.? That's a Seventy-fold increase not stipulated by God. Fact remains none of which are set out by God in The Quran. You'd think God knows better right?

Paradise is not attained by wishful thinking.

Liquorice allsorts

There's a packetful of 70 verses in The Quran regarding Martyrdom and/or to Emigrate for the cause of God - The Golden Ticket. Liquorice like in Allsorts, picked away and separated from the colourful and sweeter layers of sugar and aniseed and coconut. To make religion more palatable for muslims or more mankind friendly, progressive and socially or politically correct.

Disregarding or ignoring these verse is like scraping away the chocolate layer off Hobnobs Chocolate biscuits.

That’s the way the cookie crumbles

There’s only One Golden Ticket - same one offered up to Christians and Jews (Quran 9:111). To emigrate for the cause of God.

What can my enemies do to me? Paradise is in my heart, it is with me wherever I go. If they imprison me it is seclusion with God [the Quran.] If they exile me its a chance for me to travel in the lands, to emigrate in the Path of God. And to kill me is to make me a martyr. Ibn Taymiyyah

Chicken(s)

Today, it’s become Charlie & The CHOCOLATE Factory. Willie Wonka and Muslims have formulated and innovated 'The 25+ Guaranteed ways to enter paradise' (not mentioned in The Quran) and in excess of 'The 29 ways to self-cleanse, expunge your sins: DIY'. Just SIN/ SELF-CLEANSE/ REPEAT Code and you're good to go again (none of which are mentioned in The Quran).

From hundreds of oft-repeated and diversified verses throughout The Quran we learn about Gods forgiveness and mercy. That mankind needn't despair and can hope for Gods forgiveness providing they repent when conscience comes knocking to reform and refrain from re-committing that sin again. Its pretty logical, once is a forgivable but twice probably not. Once is a mistake or error or ignorance or recklessness or intoxication but twice is a choice - White lies included.

For if God were to hold mankind accountable for their wrongs - The World would've ended, leaving not a single soul on earth (35:45).? Rather mankind exists only because of God’s grace and mercy, despite their continued blasphemy, ignorance, transgressions and wrongdoings and sin. Pity.

No silver bullet

Sins are not rinsed off or washed away or wiped clean or flicked off - rather they're carried as a burden untill death. Responsibility. In so doing we are humbled and repentant, avoid complacency, better people and muslims too.

Sins can only be forgiven by God on 'Judgement Day', clues in the name.!! The Day of 'Judgement'. To break it down some more, The Day when you'll be judged for everything you did/ didn't do. Rather obvious you'd think?

We also learn from The Quran there are a two cardinal sins which are unforgiveable. Understandably, Firstly shirk - associating anything/anyone in worship to God, i.e. to take Prophets or Saints as Lords. All praise is (over) due to God and nothing should be associated with God. A long running theme in religion dating back to Abraham and his father.? Which explains the purpose of prophets to teach mankind to Worship only God.

Secondly any involvement in magic and/or witchcraft, i.e. peers and jinns, either commissioning it or participating or even dabbling into superstition and fortune telling and amulets and Lucky Charms for evil eye and coffee cup/ palm readings and on and on and on it goes . I.e. Anything which puts Gods divine decree into question and claims to take the supreme authority away from God unto mankind. There is no excuse or pardon for magic/supersition/shirk. Can never be forced into witchcraft for even a child knows its wrong from childrens TV and rhymes, can never be justified.

Fact remains muslims wish to roleplay God, to enter realms of jinns and inflict misery upon others. For revenge, for greed, for envy, for prosperity and for love. Even to conceive children - to change their fate and try to force Gods hand. And so they lost faith.

When one door closes another opens

We learn much about Paradise from The Quran, and much about eternal hell fire too, which does not have Fire Exits or escape routes, it’s an eternal abode, No way out. God provides significant detail about Paradise too, of four gardens as wide as the heavens and earth. Of rivers of milk the taste of which never changes, rivers of pressed grape delicious to those who drink, and rivers of purified honey (47:15) Making your mouth water. With every fruit just ripe, succulent and ready for the picking at an arms length not restricted to season. Purified humans not harbouring a single evil thought, nice people. difficult to imagine, requires much faith in the unseen and trust in God.

Pie in the sky

Specific details about the colour of green garments and residences described – but Nothing whatsoever about Gates of Paradise being flung open during Ramadan. In fact we come to learn that there are 7 Gates of Hell - Unassigned. No mention whatsoever of gates or doors to the 4 Gardens of Paradise. Only repeated mention of 7 Heavenly Skies (2:29 (7:40) 17:44 23:17,86 41:12 (54:11) 65:12 67:3 71:15 78:12) leading upto Paradise - created in 6 days. The Gates of Paradise will not be opened for anyone deluded away from the verses of the quran until a camel passes through the eye of a needle (7:35-40).

Overcooked

Similarly, nothing is stated in The Quran by God about the fires of Hell being switched-off for the month for Ramadan. Nothing about the 7 Gates of Hell shutting down for a month, Lockdown, or temperatures lowered or Gas Mark.

Max Flaming Hot

Muslims seem to be becoming increasingly better informed than God about The Unseen. From over hundred verses in The Quran we do learn about Hell, specific detail. Including The 7 Gates of Hell (15:44, 16:29, 40:76) Pre-Heated Hell fire guarded by 19 angels of Hell (74:30,31). Skins roasted, burnt though and replaced like grilled aubergines (4:56). Thirsty.. .? Drink yourselves merry on foul scalding water like thirsty camels (56:55) melting your bellies. Eat yourselves rotten on food that chokes from the tree of zaqum (37:62-68) which neither nourishes nor avail against hunger (88:5-7). Wearing garments of fire (22:19) and shackled in chains which are 70 cubits in length (69:32), equivalent to 32 metres of movement. For eternity.

No mercy. No closing times. No Fire Exits. No Revolving doors. No Escape Routes. From atleast 53 verses (including 2:80 3:24 6:128 11:107) we learn that Hell is an eternal abode, for perpetuity. No way out.

Satans Annual Vacation

Mankind and muslims alike have published much about Satan - The Devil. Hearsay and Hadith Reports and Cartoons and books and movies - the world over. Yet no-one has ever had him/ he/ his/ she/ her/ hers/ they /them/ their/ it around for tea. Muslims have written hundreds of books about Satan’s modus operandi, sermons about accessing bodily cavities and passages. Annual holidays, chained a month. How to protect themselves and about magic and superstition. Making a pigs ear of religion.

The concept of Satan is not a new one, nor is it specific for muslims and the religion of Islam. Which like Christianity and Judaism is an Abrahamic, monotheistic faith. In fact we learn about Satan’s debut in The Bible and Torah as well The Quran. Maybe the 3 Abrahamic religions can agree on something perhaps? Worse still, could be that they each have their own Satan too. Trio. God help us. Supposing the Satan for muslims is chained and locked up, what about The Satans for Hindus and Sikhs and Buddhists? Nevermind the Atheists.

Waffles

Mankind and its imagination have depicted Satan as physical species. From The Quran we learn, Satan is more angel-like, spirit-form, supernatural, beyond mans creativity. Jinn-like, speed of light/sound, a super being, unimaginable. Satan’s capability to infiltrate souls and minds and thoughts, hearts and feelings, memory and desires.

God explains clearly throughout The Quran that the only protection against Satan and Evil and Magic & Witchcraft and Jinns and Peers - is God consciousness and holding fast to The Quran (15:40-42 and 38:82-85, 2:38 and 20:123). Which is learned only from The Quran.

To jump out of the frying pan into the fire

Most Muslims have been led to believe devoutly Satans away on its Annual Vacation during Ramadan. Perhaps it worked too hard and needed/ wanted some TimeOut, or maybe it rewarded itself with a Break-Away. Not mentioned in The Quran, proving someone somewhere popped (not fried;) over to SATAN HQ only to be greeted by an 'out of office' sign, ON VACATION FOR RAMADAN, BACK SOON.

Many books written and folklore passed down from generations and sermons churned out that Satans been chained up somewhere by someone? Strong enough to detain him for 30 days - 31 days Max. Possibly due to the limited grade of steel available or logistical and shipping restrictions. Physically trapped?

On/to the contrary Satan has declared his agenda set out in The Quran to mislead mankind into disobedience (15:39) and make them forget God. To ambush muslims from the left, right, front and behind (7:16,17) targeting those on the straight path and living in accordance to The Quran i.e. Ramadan? No mention of its Annual Vacation.

Lambs out to the slaughter

A flawed theory which is easily disproven by using your eyes and ears for observation. Have a look around to see mankind and muslims alike are just as evil – if not more so during Ramadan. Increasing their Dr Evil setting believing they can get away with more wrongdoing and transgressions and sin against others - offset by fasting. Snaps. It’s open season and one-upmanship.

Fish & Chips

Evidently 'Fake News' because something so fundamental has not been set out in The Quran. For God states and confirms and assures us and reassures that The Quran is Complete Guidance. Containing everything and anything we need to know to be guided aright. Seemingly Satan has been super-devious spreading fake news and whispers, through the grapevine. Believing Satan’s on Holiday serves little but to encourage complacency. To lower your guard, not to be as weary or worry too much about being played for fools by the master deceiver, the top banana.

The Quran and praying salat are like apples and oranges

Being 'Muslim' has become a checklist of 5 prayers/ pillars: TIC TAC tic tac TICK.....DONE. A few ever pass this kindergarten level of faith taught in schools and Islamic centres. Most muslims identify as 'born muslim' and do not know the Quran. Islam, and being Muslim is so much more than actions. Of saying, repeating, fasting, going and doing - without sincerity. No doubt you too are familiar with 'muslim(s)' who've travelled to Hajj; they fast a month of Ramadan (extras too for bonus credits); they pray robotically 5 times a day on time - every time; they take pride in giving 2.5% charity (100-97.5%=2.5%); and even dress the part in hijab or bearded without moustache/trimmed - Yet they're proper evil for want of a better word. Proven rotten to the core because they are unlearned of The Quran - It wasn't on their checklist of 5 A Day. "we're (born) Muslim but unlearned about The Quran". Eh? It is only from the Quran that we learn about worship and God-cognizant, taqwa, tawakal, sabrr, shukr, xzikkr and so much more. To grow veggies you would read a book on Farming or 'How to grow Veggies' or YouTube it. To learn about the religion of Islam and become muslim and mu'min you would understand The Quran.

☆ SABRR. Patience.

Fasting, or abstaining from anything is great way to develop patience. Resilience. To remain patient and overcome the urge to eat or drink when you feel or think you are hungry or thirsty. To refrain from doing something which you can, all too easily. Not to succumb to temptations or cravings but to exercise discipline. To control, restrain your soul(nafs), resist the urge. To forfeit a little something of the Worldly Life for The Hereafter.

Steadfast

We can draw a little wisdom from 2:155,156 in which God reminds us that our faith will be tested by trials and tribulations, including hunger. To patiently persevere for a few hours every day, and then for the whole month. To practise and develop the Art of Patience. To do something for God despite thinking that you know yourself better - You don't.

A watched pot never boils

Which can be rolled out to every aspect of our lives from finances and wealth and relationships. To control and break free from any addictions or vices. Not to opt for get rich quick schemes or finance, RIBA interest % and BNPL or credit plans or gambling and games of chance, stocks and shares and lottery. Instead to accept your rank and position. Not to curry favour or butter-up somebody or be the Apple polisher to acquire more but for your Lord be patient.

There’s much to be learned about patience from The Quran; how prophets/messengers were put to the test and tried and persevered. Making our complaints seem trivial. Patience tested through adversity and challenges and sacrifice, by wealth and health and family and lives. Muhammad tried and tested for holding fast to The Quran through battle and war, love and marriage and divorce. Reassured to be patient and Jonah in the Belly of the whale. Adam's two sons, one loses faith to kill the other. Not to be distressed or grieved by what they do, as Jesus put it 'forgive them God for they know not what they do". Joseph's faith tested by his siblings, betrayed by his eleven brothers. Life is like a box of chocolates.

☆ FITNA- A test of faith.

Fasting in the month of Ramadan, in fact anything and everything we do is a "Fitna" - A Test of Faith. Fasting comprises of a physical and mental element, likened to actus reus (act) and mens rea (mind) in the legal world. Intention generally refers to the mental aspect behind an action. Similarly the 5 pillars each have an action based part and an intention/ psychological element. Do they not know that God knows what they know? And say, and do, and think and feel.

Physically - the act is to refrain from eating and drinking. However fasting can be done for many different reasons and intentions, motivating factors and expectations.

How do you eat yours?

Few are fasting solely for God - Unconditionally as an act of worship because God told them to in The Quran and God knows best, they trust God with their affairs and expect nothing in return. Others are fasting for conformity and peer group pressure. The Collective; its a group thing, be part of the club-Muslim, everyone else is fasting so tag along for PR and credibility and fit in. Herd mentality, born muslim. Many are fasting conditionally, for purpose and reward, in return they hope and make-believe their sins become expunged and wiped clean, to be forgiven for something, everything. Even as a plea bargain or to build a buffer up in advance against an evil or transgressions they are plotting and planning. Others hoping and expect their prayers are answered by God for fasting Ramadan. Some are fasting to lose weight, become leaner and detox. Otherwise to exercise their discretion to opt-out and feed the poor and give charity as recompense and to be rewarded for that too. Whilst children and those unlearned of The Quran are fasting because they are following their fathers ways, too young to understand religion or God.

HALF WAY MARK

READ PART TWO Ramadan mubarak. Warning: Not Vegan but friendly enough >