'Siam'--not simple self-denial

The grand edifice of Islam stands on five very strong pillars (Rokons) viz: (1) Kalima (faith), (2) Salat (daily 5-time prayer), (3) Siam (fasting), (4) Hajj (pilgrimage) and (5) Zakat (the poor's due). Fasting or Siam is, therefore, one of these strong pillars. Siam is an Arabic word which means fasting, abstinence from food and drink. But when considered from the point of view of Islamic terminology the connotation is something more, something broader.
In Islam, Siam is not simple self-denial, nor it is self-torture. If a Muslim, affluent by standard, restrains himself from food and drink for certain hours every day for a period of 30 days, and simultaneously does not glorify his Creator Benign Allah Who has conferred on him innumerable gifts, and as a supplicant does not supplicate Him during this holy moth of Ramadan for his guidance so that he can, in the very words of Almighty Allah "walk in the right way", then his fasting is of no use to him. Such a fasting person has not been able to appreciate, according to the commentation of a commentator of international repute Allama Abdullah Yusuf Ali, "the full lesson of self-denial by fasting".
Yes there must be complete abstinence from food and drink for certain hours every day during the holy month of Ramadan, but unless such abstinence is coupled with glorification of and supplication to Almighty Allah, and also for moral and spiritual uplift, then such self-denial is like a shell without karnel or a rose without scent.
I may quote here what Allama Abdullah Yusuf Ali has said while commenting on Ayat (Verse) 184 of Sura (Chapter) Al-Baqara (The Cow) relating to Siam or fasting. He says: "Muslim fast is not meant for self torture. Benign and Bounteous Allah is very considerate for in the said Ayat 184, He also says Fasting for a number of days but if any one of you is ill or on a journey, the prescribed number (should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it with hardship is a ransom i.e. feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more of his will is better for him. And it is better for you that ye fast, if you only knew it."
According to a prize winning book "Ar Raheeq Al Maklhtum" (The Sealed Nectar) written by Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mosourpuri, the exact date of the revelation of first five verses of Sura Alaq of the Holy Qur'an is Monday 21st Ramadan night 610 AD with Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) exactly 40 years, 6 months and 12 days old." We know during this holy month of Ramadan ("the month of heat") it was the usual practice of Muhammad (pbuh) to retire to cave Hira of the Mount An-noor for mediation and it was on the aforesaid night that the said Sura was revealed unto him by Almighty Allah while the revelation continued for a long period of over 22 years (610-32 AD).
It may be mentioned in this connection that the following Ayats of Sura Alaq moved and overwhelmed the Prophet (pbuh) for proper preservation of the holy Qur-an:
(i) "Read in the name of thy Lord Who created
(ii) Who created man from something which clings
(iii) Read thy Lord is the most Noble
(iv) Who teacheth by the pen
(v) Teacheth man that which he knew not"
In this connection we may also recall here that while eulogizing the first Revelation during Ramadan a renowned scholar Professor Hamidullah has opined in the introduction to his French translation of the holy Qur-an that one of the themes of the first Revelation "praise of the pen as a means of human knowledge" would explain the holy Prophet's concern for the preservation of the holy Qur-an. The inevitable result was that the Prophet (pbuh) who had a wonderful power to memorize the Qur-anic Ayats as and when they were revealed unto him, asked his companions ("Sahabis") including his Private Secretary also to memorize and write down the Ayats.
Again, the holy month of Ramadan is dear to the Muslims because like the Journey by Night (Shab-e-Miraj) and Shab-e-Barat (the Night of Salvation), Shab-e-Qadr, or the Night of Honour is also very important to them. Mentionable, on the 27th night of the month of Ramadan, Shab-e-Qadr is observed by the Muslims all over the world with due solemnity and fervour for, Almighty Allah says in His noble Qur-an, among other things, "And what will explain to thee the Night of Honour is? The Night of Honour (Shab-e-Qadr) is better than a thousand months".
The holy month of Ramadan has come again, let us welcome it and try our best to observe siam along with its concomitant rites and duties.

Kazi Aulad Hossain is retired Director, National Savings Deptt.