The most important dimension of the blessed month of Ramadan is the psychological one. The state of anxiety that often shapes our behavior diminishes, and sometimes disappears, allowing us to face life’s circumstances with high morale, far from tension and unnecessary emotional reactions.
A study published in the Journal of Religion and Health (2018) showed that fasting during Ramadan is associated with improvements in mental health indicators and a reduction in stress levels among many participants.
Moreover, the psychological aspect of fasting is clearly reflected in the saying of the Prophet ﷺ:
“Fasting is a shield.” *(Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim).
Ramadan should therefore be used as an opportunity to reconsider certain consumption habits, a volatile temperament, and material values that have burdened us more than they have benefited us.
We are from dust and to dust we shall return. In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful:
“From it We created you, into it We shall return you, and from it We will bring you forth once again.” (Qur’an, Surah Ta-Ha 20:55).
This simple conviction frees us from an eager attachment to worldly desires and reduces our excessive pursuit of its possessions. It then clarifies for us the purpose of our existence: we are devoted to the worship of the One and Only God, and this worship ultimately determines our success or our loss.
In this great month we are granted moments of pause, away from the noise of life and its accelerated rhythm in a fiercely competitive world. These moments are like a span of time that returns us to the essence of things: Where are we heading? And how should our worship be performed?
Self-examination enables a person to recognize areas of error, wrongdoing, and sin, and to correct them. Did not the Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) say:
“Take account of yourselves before you are taken to account, and weigh your deeds before they are weighed for you.”
So why do we not make good use of these moments and follow the path of correction without indulging the ego?
The hands of the clock do not turn backward. The return of Ramadan each year reminds us of the brevity of life’s journey, the vastness of God’s mercy, the possibility of repentance, reliance upon God in all matters, and the resolve to move forward on the path of conscious and enlightened worship.
