Chaining The Satan and Devils in Ramadhan

Do you notice how the fasting month becomes an excuse for immobility, lethargy and just all round fall in productivity?  Muslims tend to come up with all sorts of excuses to simply reduce themselves into incapable weaklings while fasting.  I'm thirsty la, I'm tired la, too weak out of hunger la, did not get enough sleep because of sahur la...you name it, there's an excuse for everything in Ramadhan.  However, they do manage to muscle up the necessary energy just in time to pile a mountain high of delicacies a few minutes before break fast just in case the table runs out of food, which by the way defeats the entire purpose of fasting in the Holy Month.

Every year this happens and every year I am stumped.  What is actually happening?

It is true that the human body will react to reserve their energy because it thinks it is not getting food and is unsure when the next meal is coming...but only for the first few days.  Then, routine kicks in and the body, being the wondrous and intelligent machine, will figure out that it gets its energy at sun down, some light snacks later into the night and breakfast early in the morning.  Basically, it will adjust to the time food is consumed.  And if you really think about it, the body still gets its three portion of food in a day; sahur (breakfast), break fast, (dinner), late night snack ('lunch').

So, logically, fasting does not really change anything.  It just flips your daily eating habits from day to night.  Right?  

The Art of Gluttony

The error comes from the fear of hunger and the constant anticipation of what to eat at maghrib that keeps us thinking about food.  Doesn't really sound very Islamic, now, does it?  Worst when we witness people indulging in literally sinful rubbish at break fast that they forget eating is actually an act to keep us from hunger -- it is not an act to get seriously full and sickly that we can't even move to perform the maghrib.  

Additionally, at sahur, due to fear of imaginary hunger and gastritis people actually down a proper meal fit for a king!  There will be spreads of lauk-pauk and rice, not to mention the sweetened beverages...how is this an ibadah that observes patience, humility and forgiveness?  Forget about trying to empathize with the plight of the underprivileged!  We can't even get over ourselves that selfishness invades and overwhelms Ramadhan.

Indeed it is said that Satan is chained in this month--but which Satan?  Do we seriously believe that the chained one is that fallen angel?  Do we really think that Satan is denied the whispering of mischief to our souls?  If so, why are Muslims cheating Ramadhan and puasa yang yuk, pagi-pagi buka periuk; if not running to some errant restaurant that opens the back door to hide the non fasting Muslims?  The devil is having a kick out of the fact that people actually believes that he is chained! The devils and Satan are actually having a party misleading us all astray because we are so disillusioned with our own lies.

Is it the Satan or Just You?

Logically, the chained devil is the chaining of temptation.  The dark side that makes us embrace gluttony; the tugging fear that hunger and fatigue will overcome us if we don't eat and eat after sunset; the fascination in indulging in wastage; the excitement of shopping and overspending money we don't have; the multitude of excuses related to fasting (being weak and tired) in order to dodge work and responsibilities -- indeed the list goes on and I believe we know ourselves best.  The point of fasting is first to observe piety, to give alms, to pray and seek for His forgiveness but also to be in jihad with ourseleves -- that is the battle to overcome the devil/Satan in us, which is our weakness to be a better person.

I say, the next time we feel like wriggling ourselves out of work in Ramadhan but indulge in a shopping spree instead...think about which 'angel' is whispering in our ears. If there is a time for jihad...this is it.  If you know Islam well, this IS the greater JIHAD.  The fight of being better and not succumb to temptation.  It is about getting over yourself, discover piety and persistently seeking His blessing by overcoming our weaknesses.  This is a good month for Jihad.  If you have not discovered your purposes yet, it is okay because we are still in the Holy Month -- and to Him, it is never too late.  That is the beauty of Islam...

Have a blessed Ramadhan.