Spiritual Rebirth in Ramadan

The transformative power of fasting:

The fast in Ramadan is a profound exercise of silence, introspection, and purification. Through the reduction of words, food, and sleep, a space is opened for contemplation, allowing conflicts to be resolved and opposing forces to be harmonized. This period not only disciplines the mind and senses but also offers a path to spirituality and access to one's inner reality.

The Deep Meaning of Fasting in Ramadan

Fasting is the day of silence. The day to reflect, and to do self - introspection. Fasting is a day of contemplation, and meditation. It is only in silence that all conflicts resolve, all differences disappear and opposing forces harmonize. Silence is little talk, little eat and little sleep. Silence is a Source of Great Strength, the true friend that never betrays.

Fasting is cleansing in silence. Noise divides. Silence unites. And Unity strengthens whereas division weakens.

Fasting is switching off the fire of emotions, and wild desires. Fasting is watching the mind. Be a witness to its wavering, to the clouds of thoughts gathering and dispersing. Fasting practice self-restraint, practice self-discipline, and learn to master our senses.

Reflections and Introspection: Silence as a Tool for Transformation

Fasting is the pathway to spirituality. It is the way to access our inner reality . Fasting does not take you away from your world. Fasting does not change the outer routine of your life, fasting colors your world, and your life. Fasting fills your being with a "Fresh aroma".

You are the same person, and yet you are not. From outside , nothing changes. You are still you. You may change your outfit. You wear a robe or " saroong " instead of trousers and a shirt, that does not change your body, your physique. The body is still the same. Your physical needs are still there.

And yet something changes. The change is inner , it is not outer . Outwardly, no change is dictated. Inwardly , you are a new being. Fasting, it is believed, liberating the peoples from the tyranny. People celebrate, make merry, pray, and wear new clothing to welcome Ramadan.

The Path to Spirituality and Inner Enlightenment

Hopefully Ramadan this time becomes the way of the return of a man who manages to meet his Lord. Eid (return), Fitri (self-authenticity that is full of light). Hopefully with i'tikaf during Ramadan (stopping bodily and sensory activities) we are all able to open (iftar) the veil that covers the soul and return to the origin which is the bright Light of God.

Like all rivers that flow into the ocean. Before reaching the ocean, the river is different. However, when they arrived, they all had the same face, they were blue, they had waves, they were salty, when the waves touched the beach they were white. It is difficult to say that world religions are the same, as difficult as forcing all rivers to be the same.

However, once enlightened and returned to origin (coming home - home sweet home , my heaven, back to the arms of God), بيتي جنتي . there is the same thing: Beauty! Beautiful as it is.

The Return to the Spiritual Home

Once the Enlightenment Sun rises within Ramadan ( Laylatul Qadar), all places are home. As the Sun, when it rises, automatically illuminates everything. Likewise humans who have attained the nature of true Ramadan enlightenment, what he said, his actions, his mind without any effort will illuminate the darkness.

Ramadan is once enlightenment has dawned, we are at home every where. The event of the Ramadan inspires, the bright light of God's love does not discriminate, because that is the origin of life. This is the most beautiful holy month.

Ramadan is the time when, once inner enlightenment has dawned, one feels at home everywhere. This sacred period inspires and fosters a divine love that makes no distinctions, taking root in the very essence of life. It is the most sacred and magnificent month.

In a spiritual journey of Ramadan, ego is completely eroded, but there is one thing left that is undifferentiated affection. In the beautiful of enlightenment given by Prophet Muhammad (Fasting is cleansing and liberating), he taught us that all the duality of life (good and bad, ups and downs, inner birth, great-small and so on) disappears in undistinguished affection.

Life then changes like a cool tree shading everything, like a river that buries everything, like the earth that provides a place to grow in everything.

Service and Flexibility: Life Lessons from Ramadan

Muhammad ﷺ taught us, when humans are connected to everything, service ceases to be an obligation. Service is life itself. He is like a breath. If you want to live, don't forget to breathe. If you want peace and happiness, don't forget to do service work.

Not only because ministry heals, but because service builds relationships with all and with God. That's Muhammad al-Mustafa our prophet, doing a service that is rich in taste, rich in meaning.

Such beautiful butterflies are often present in the park. Not only present to beautify the garden, but also be very careful when taking the essence of flower essence so as not to damage the beauty of the flower.

In other words, the task of the enlightened being taught by our beloved prophet is only one namely service. Because service is not only the life energy of enlightened beings, but because service is the law behind the perfection of life. Clouds, sky, air, trees, fire, water, humans, animals, minerals are all there for service tasks. Water teaches flexibility that conquers all. In the long journey from the Mountain (from above, from God) to the ocean (back to origin, back to God), water can pass through all obstacles. The only reason behind this is flexibility.

Ramadan gives a lesson once again, be flexible (give loving service like Muhammad peace be upon him) and the obstacles to life can be overcome. No wonder our prophet "went home" to you with a smile.

To Die Before One's Own Death: Liberation Through Fasting

Ramadan is to die before you death ( انت الموت قبل الموت ). Death is not death for him, its just a little enlightenment. Death is just a small, enlightening experience. Prophet Muhammad taught us (hopefully we can all learn from it); death is as simple as a dried leaf that falls to the ground, as simple as a dark cloud that falls into rain, as easy as the waves that kiss the shoreline.

There is no sadness and fear there ( لا تخف ولا تحزن ). To die before you death is a natural process that liberates and enlightens us all.

Ramadan is returning home to the genuity . Newborns are naked, not many frills. Not as fussy and selfless as adults. The baby is still natural. The result of Ramadan, meaning returning to Divine purity, leaves at least the level of awareness and attitude of any of our activities that are irrelevant or especially those that are destructive to the purity of nature.

Ramadan is a total retrospect. Where the dimensions of beauty, goodness and truth are still united, total and guaranteed.

Thus, the main principle of the reality of " Fitrah" is that it is the most sublime point of the human psyche produced by the process of fasting. The term in the Qur'an, which seems most appropriate to describe the sublime situation, is muthahhar. That is, humans are purified, cleansed, enlightened humans. Exactly what I found on the Holy Qur'an which is always printed on the front cover of the Qur'an (QS 56 : 79 ) " لَّا يَمَسُّهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱلْمُطَهَّرُونَ "The textual meaning" does not touch this book, except in a sacred state. "The contextual meaning "a person will not be tuning in with God, unless he is enlightened, both spiritually, intellectually, mentally and morally.

Thus the sublime picture of one's life situation requires the fulfillment of spiritual cleanliness, intellectual clarity and honesty, mental health and moral worthiness. The level and quality of achieving these four dimensions determines how closely and closely a person is in bonding with God, which in turn is reflected in his social behavior.

The Rebirth in Spirit: Union of Beauty, Goodness, and Truth

The Ramadan' s psychological atmosphere is to reclaim the nature of humanity from professional relations, political relations, functional relations, relations of interests and various other types of cultural relations that are actually secondary and instrumental, to reposition themselves back to tie, which are more essential and essential, relationships humanity, universality, conscience relations, relationships filled with love and truth.

To renew ourselves , Die to the old every day. Prophet Muhammad spoke about death as a prelude to resurrection and the need to be born again. The connection between the two was summed up in the saying of Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu), "People are asleep when they die they will wake up". And Christian doctrine has focused that soul will be resurrected one day that we must be born from above means "A REBIRTH IN SPIRIT". The transformation in this lifetime not some faraway future. It is a spiritual process brings transformation steadily to mature psychologically. I am the Light. You are the Light in (John 9 : 5 ) and you are the Light of the world (Matthew 5 : 12 ). Physically, Light is what you see when you wake up in the morning.

Mystically , It is what you see when you wake up to your soul. Light gives life, and it shows the way through the darkness. ʿĪsā, Jesus said ":
لن يلج ملكوت السموات من لم يولد مرتين

Ramadan is REBIRTH or A second birth ( No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and spirit ) - John 3 : 3 -8 ). I compare the action of spirit to the wind which everyone can hear but not everyone of us notices. Our 2nd birth occurs on this subtle level. Where perception shifts and a person suddenly notices that spirit has always been there. Like the wind that has been taken for granted.

Muhammad ﷺ is the man who lived more than one thousand years ago and whose teachings are the foundation of Islamic theology and thought . Muhammad ﷺ as “MAN OF GOD” , who has come to embody an institutional religion with specific dogma , a spiritual journey and devout believers . Muhammad ﷺis , The spiritual guide whose teaching embraces all humanity not just the mosque built in his name. Muhammad ﷺspeaks to the individual who wants to find God as a personal experience, to attain what some might call grace, or God conscienceless or enlightenment during Ramadan the holy month.

Yusuf Daud
Founder SophiaCitra Institute PhiloSufi centre for Interfaith and Intercultural dialogue Surabaya-Indonesia