Chitral -- The holy month of Ramazan is in full swing in Chitral, and being observed with full solemnity and discipline. Chitralis are traditionally very particular about fasting and make no concessions about it.

The society may accept other weaknesses in the person of an individual, like, not saying prayers, dishonesty, telling lies, accepting / offering bribe, cheating, adulteration, forgery etc, but when it comes to fasting in the month of Ramazan "no compromise", said one diehard Chitrali.

The stigma of being labeled a  'Ramazan Khor' (non faster) is too big to be borne by any one and thus almost 100 percent compliance of the religious order is seen amongst Sunni Muslims in Chitral.

One liberal minded Chitrali however remarked that people fast more because of the fear of other people than the fear of God, because if they had the fear of God in them,  they would have obeyed His other orders too, like being truthful, honest, upright, etc.

One senior cleric talking to Chitral News confessed that he finds the ritual of fasting the toughest amongst the religious rituals. It may be noted that fasting time is 20 minutes longer in Chitral compared to other cities of Pakistan.  -- CN report, 05Aug 2011.

Comment 1

Not offering prayers, dishonesty, telling lies, accepting / offering bribe, cheating, adulteration, forgery etc, probably are the rights of human beings, we are more conscious about the rights of Allah, no matter what and how his creatures suffer from our attitudes Why should I care about others,

I am not responsible for any one’s poverty, famous saying in Chitrali "Allah has created them and he is responsible to feed them".  Allah has given me status, why should I not take full benefit of it, no matter how. I buy dates for my neighbour for 15 rupees that justifies my break fast worth 2000.

You think if someone pushed me by mistake, he deserves forgiveness? No way, You mean, I should stand in queue for hours at hospitals or while buying meat or at PIA ticketing office? impossible! As shop keeper this is the month to sale out the leftovers of the years.

 You are probably forgetting this is the month of forgiveness, why should we not take full benefit of it, making money using all means, as there is promised forgiveness. I don’t agree with the term (Najyez munafa khori in Ramazan), to me that is Barakaa of Ramazan.

Why the 10 days of Mughfirat should be spared, we can do many other things to take benefit of these 10 days as well, like take lot of loan on interest from un- Islamic banks, cheat as many people as possible, backbite by pinpointing the smaller mistakes of others, as we have promised 10 days of Mughfirat. But don’t forget your five times prayers, as your sins of every day will be washed away in five rivers five time a day. -- Dr. Khalil (Jughooru), 06 Aug 2011

Comment 2

I wish to record my disagreement with the subject report. It mentions someone remarking "people fast more because of the fear of other people than the fear of God" which indicates that the respected writer is either not aware about fact of Roza/Ramadan or he is telling us about himself that he fasts because of the fear of people instead of God.

Every Muslim know that Roza is only for God as mentioned in Quran that "O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become God-fearing." (The Quran, 2:183).

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven. Whoever prays during the nights in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven. And he who passes Lailat al-Qadr in prayer with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven (Bukhari, Muslim).

Although there are some short coming in Muslims in Ibaadaat & Muamilaat but it does not mean that due to those short coming the peoples should leave the Ramadan fasting but Ramadan also give opportunity to improve those short coming, like a person does not says prayers regularly then Ramadan bound him to not only say five time prayers but also to say Salaat ut Taraveeh.

The statement of reporter about fasting duration in Chitral is also not correct because there is always some differences in sunset between cities in Pakistan and no one has increased this 20 minutes specially for Ramadan, if the duration is 20 minutes longer from down cities then you should not forget the pleasant weather of Chitral compare to down cities. I would like to request to the Editor of Chitral News to kindly check the veracity of reports before publishing. -- Hameed Ullah, Gulberg-2, Lahore 06 Aug 2011.

Comment 3

The Quran prescribes fasting for believers in these words, "O you who believe, the fasts have been enjoined upon you as they were enjoined upon those before you, so that you may have Taqwa" (2:183). Hence, the intent and effect of fasting as described in the ayah is to acquire Taqwa. Presence of Taqwa helps protect from committing sins and overcome the passions. In Islamic terminology, Taqwa refers to a state of consciousness where one constantly feels the presence of his Creator, obeys His commands to attain His pleasure, and avoids disobedience to Him, not only out of His fear but also for the love of Him.
 

A mere voluntarily abstaining from food and drink is not enough for the fast to be accepted or effective in purifying soul and Inculcating Taqwa. The people they fast only because of the fear of others not Allah, For those people there is an Authentic Hadith Our Prophet ‘PBUP’ warned, he said whoever does not give up vain speeches and evil actions during fasting Allah is not in need of his/her Fasting.

All those who fast not to acquire Taqwa then they are simply making themselves hungry and nothing more then that.

Human beings are weak and susceptible to fall into errors and sin; it takes a little distraction and heedlessness to slip from virtue to vice and from piety to perversity. To protect men and women straying from the path of righteousness and falling into transgression, Islam has chalked out spiritual programs on a daily and yearly basis for its adherents, if followed sincerely and faithfully it will greatly minimize the chance of straying from the right course and Ramadan fasting is one of the major spiritual program. -- Atta ullah, Riyadh KSA, 07 Aug 2011.

Comment 4

I agree with the Chitral News report about the missing spirit in our religious rituals including fasting. Admitting our weaknesses and trying to correct them is what is needed today instead of falsely comforting ourselves with 'all is well'.

Sadly so, but there is truth in the quoted words "people fast more because of the fear of other people than the fear of God" (not withstanding noble exceptions, of course). 

I pray we all see the  light and become good muslims. I thank the reporter for a realistic analysis. Our Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had said: "Say what is true, although it may be bitter and displeasing to people."-- (Baihaqi).   -- Abdul Rahim, Chitral, 08 Aug 2011

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