Fasting? Part 2

TAQWA

Taqwa can be defined in many ways. But the conversation between Ubaybin Kaab and Umar al-Khattab was a good summary about the essence ofTaqwa. Once, Umar asked Ubay what he knows about Taqwa. Ubay replied byasking him, "Have you walked through thorny path?"

Umar answered, "Yes, indeed"

Ubay then asked him, "What did you do?"

Umar replied, "I tucked up (my garment) and did my best (to avoid thorns)"

Thereupon Ubay said, "That is Taqwa!"

Our life is a journey. Like someone who is driving from a place toanother. Throughout the journey, he will meet many road signs thatmight instruct him to do against his will. He wants to drive at fullspeed, but a sign says, "No, the limit is only 80km/h".

He wants to arrive as early as possible but suddenly a red light instructs him to stop and let others move first.

Someone who is wise and on top of his rational thinking, would neverever see all the road signs as challenge to his right exercising hisfreedom. The truth is, the road signs are there to help him achievesafety throughout the journey until he reaches the destination.

The same thing applied to our big picture of this life. Do's and don'ts of Islam are not the obstruction and challenge to the access ofhis freedom of choice. They come from the Creator who knows better whatis good and what is bad in this life. They are there for our safety,peace and harmony.

Someone who has the quality of Taqwa will take his journey like someone who walks through thorny path. He is a person with a full of consciousness about what is good and what is bad around him. He mustalso have a good self control, like a person who is good in controllinghis car steering.

This is the essence of fasting. You learn to exercise your self control.


To Be Continued..

ORIGINAL ARTICLE CLICK HERE

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