This was Arif’s (A wise/learned godly person) last meeting before Ramadan. People were paying close attention to his valuable words. The topic of conversation was how to get the most out of Ramadan. As the session came to an end, Arif said:
“Finally, I want to tell you the biggest lesson learnt from the fasts of Ramadan.”
Everyone was intrigued to hear him speak.
“Look, in Ramadan we do things that under normal circumstances we might not even think about. If we don’t get food on time, we cause a commotion in the house. There is no question of not drinking water and waiting for it till evening. Young people who are usually far away from goodness, even in the presence of their newlywed wife, behave in a way, as if they are not alone in the room, but are in a full gathering. These are all blessings of fasting. But have you ever wondered how this blessing is obtained? ”
The people remained silent. They wanted to hear the answer from Arif. But instead of answering his question, he asked another question.
“Have you ever been out of the house wearing dark glasses in the scorching sun?”
Many people said yes aloud at the same time.
“What difference does it make?” Arif asked again.
“The weather is less intense. The scene looks good. Pressure on eyes is reduced. The sun’s effect is less noticeable. The brain feels less heat so the body system excretes less sweat. Everything feels good.” There
were many answers that people gave according to their own experiences.
“Every one of you is right. Even at noon and in the scorching heat, when the effects of heat, warmth and sunshine are pervading the outside world and everywhere inside your body, the coloured glasses on the eyes make these effects largely ineffective. That is the human psyche. This is the psyche that works in fasting and gives man the ability to control hunger, thirst and other basic instincts.
“But in fasting we do not wear any coloured glasses?” Said a gentleman.
“We do wear. These glasses blend with the colours of patience and hope. Hope of that we have to only wait till sunset (iftar) and patience in the fact that the reward of this fast is much more in the eyes of God. For this reward we all give up our needs, endure hardships and overcome desires. And we hope that in a few hours the thirst will be replaced by coolness and hunger with fullness.’’
“So what’s the lesson in this?’’, another gentleman asked and Arif said.
This is the lesson. This colourful glasses of patience and hope is the real lesson. Those who start wearing these two coloured glasses permanently, it becomes easier for them to endure every trial of life, bear every harshness and stop every disobedience of the Lord. In the hope that it is only a matter of time, then there is a never ending reward. In the hope that when the reward of the Hereafter is received, every bitterness of life will be forgotten; man has patience and this patience saves life from becoming bitter. So in this Ramadan, when you put on glasses of patience and hope in the state of compulsion during fasting, resolve to wear the same colourful glasses for the remaining eleven months and drink the bitterness of life with courage. In the hope that the destination of heaven is not far away. ”
Arif’s meeting ended. Every listener has learned a new lesson of fasting.