Fasting

By: Laiq Ahmed Atif, President Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta –amjmalta@gmail.com 

Who can understand the importance of food and water more than those who have ever passed through hunger, thirst or any kind of famine during their life time? The month of Ramadan is also an exercise for having such hard and difficult experiences. And these experiences, at one side provide opportunity to reform the spirituality and to increase in the love of God, and on the other, they are also a time to understand the sufferings and problems of those who do not have sufficient food or water for their life; and to develop great feelings for the vulnerable and destitute people of this planet. Indeed, the Ramadan is a clear understanding of the two basic principles of religion – rights of God and rights of people.

Fasting is a form of worship found universally in the world religions; for religious and spiritual reasons it has been a part of human custom since pre-history. Although there are differences regarding the mode of fasting and the conditions applied to it, the central idea of fasting is present everywhere. This also is a clear evidence that how important this way of worship is. Fasting is clearly mentioned in the Holy Bible, in the Holy Quran as well as in the Mahabharata (Hindu Holy Book). 

Fasting in Judaism means completely abstaining from food and drink. Traditionally observant Jews fast six days of the year. Fasting is also a very integral part of the Hinduism. Individuals observe different kinds of fasts based on personal beliefs and local customs.                    

In Christianity, especially Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, they used to observe a 40-day fast during Lent, a spring period of penitence before Easter, and during Advent, a penitential period before Christmas. Among Roman Catholics the observance has been modified with mandatory fasting only on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday during Lent. Protestant churches generally leave the decision to fast to individual church members. 

Islam also emphasis a lot on fasting, and it is obligatory for Muslims to fast one month every year in the month of Ramadan. The Holy Quran states: “O ye who believe, fasting is prescribed for you during a fixed number of days as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may safeguard yourselves against every kind of ill and become righteous.” (2:184) 

The true purpose of fasting is to draw people closer to Allah and closer to mankind. Though normal pursuits and occupations are carried on as usual, the emphasis on moral and spiritual values and concentration on them are intensified, and everything is subordinated to the main purpose. The hearing, the sight, the tongue, the mind are all under stricter control. For instance, not only vain talk, but much talk is also eschewed, so that there should be greater concentration on remembrance of Allah and reflection upon His attributes.

It is indeed God’s promise that He guides those to Him who come towards Him with absolute sincerity, He runs to those who at least walk towards Him. A great source to attain nearness to God is fasting. Prophet Muhammad, peace be on him, said that Allah puts a distance of more than 70 years (Arabic idiom meaning a great deal) between the face of a person who fasts in the way of Allah seeking His blessings and the hell-fire. Indeed it is vital to fast in the quest of God’s grace and if the attainment of His pleasure is the sole objective, He not only saves one from the fire but also grants the paradise of His pleasure, in this world and the Hereafter.

And one who makes a solemn endeavour to seek Allah never fails. Because, if we can feel compassion for a student who works hard for school exams how could God not have mercy and compassion to allow one who endeavours to seek him to come near Him? Certainly not!

The Sufis have written that this month is great for the enlightenment of the heart. Blessed visions are frequently experienced in this month. Safar purifies the self and fasting enlightens the heart. The purification of self means that one gets away from the lust of the self that incites. It distances us from it. The enlightenment of the heart means that door of blessed visions opens up for us to see God. 

Fasting in Islam begins everywhere at the first appearance of dawn, and ends with sunset. During this period one is expected to abstain from all food and drink completely. Sacrificing self desires and needs for the sake of the pleasure of God, and individual and congregational prayers, obligatory as well as optional, are very important factors of fasting. And it is not just physical hunger and thirst that constitute the fast, but it is expected to fill the nights with prayers and supplications. And a greater part of the night is thus spent in spiritual exercises which make up the very essence of fasting. During the day, apart from restraining oneself from food and water, all Muslims are particularly exhorted to avoid vain talk, quarrels and fights, or any such occupation as is below the dignity of a true believer. 

Through fasting one learns through personal experience about what hunger, poverty, loneliness and discomfort mean to the less fortunate sections of society. Thus, one develops a great sense of sacrifice, almsgiving, helping those in need and serving the destitute and vulnerable fellow human beings. Therefore, charity and almsgiving is highly emphasised during Ramadan and it is required that those who help the needy during other period of the year should try to redouble their charities for the needy.

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Services of Ahmadiyya for the advancement of peace

The current situation of the world and also in Muslim countries and the service of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community for the establishment of peace. Laiq Ahmed Atif, president Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta was interviewed by Ivan Bartolo during his show "Stenbah". 

Is-sitwazzjoni preżenti tad-dinja u fil-pajjiżi Musulmani u il-Ħidma tal-Komunità Aħmadija għall-Paċi

Effective Integration – Rights and Responsibilities

Credit:  / Tuesday, June 19, 2012 by:  Laiq Ahmed Atif

The world has emerged as a global village and the means of communication and transportation have made it such a reality of the contemporary times that one cannot deny. Today, people frequently and easily travel from one place to the other and many are settling in different countries.

… responsibility is the basis of and the key to effective integration

- Laiq Ahmed Atif

Migration is a phenomenon, and not only human beings but also other creatures, such as birds, go from one place to another due to certain circumstances.

Bird migration is also the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species. Bird movements are mostly motivated by a search for food and changes in the weather. Human activities have also threatened many migratory bird species and many birds migrate due to hunting and killing threats.

Some birds fly short distances but others go further. About 1,800 of the world’s 10,000 bird species are long-distance migrants. According to the National Geographic, the Sooty shearwaters fly over 64,000 kilometres a year – from New Zealand to the North Pacific Ocean – every summer in search of food, the longest migration of birds ever recorded.

I say this to sustain my point that migration has become an undeniable reality and that creatures travel from one place to the other for certain reasons.

Human migration is no different. Human beings also migrate in search of a good future, to settle down or to improve their businesses. Some migrate to escape hardships in their countries, to escape tyrannical rulers or to run away from religious persecution, just to name a few reasons.

Last month, I had the opportunity to attend a very interesting and informative networking conference organised by SOS Malta, which encouraged me to write about integration.

The subject of integration is not only related to illegal immigrants but it also applies to those living in a foreign country legally. I shall focus on the legal migrants.

In September 2006, the 132 member states that participated in the UN General Assembly reaffirmed that migration could make a positive contribution to development in countries of origin and in countries of destination. They emphasised the need to respect the fundamental rights of the migrants and also recognised the importance of strengthening international cooperation.

I believe that integration is not only possible but is highly essential for the betterment and progress of a society, a country and the world at large. But to me it is a two-way process and all the stakeholders need to work on two levels: rights and responsibilities.

On many occasions we speak about rights but ignore the more important requirement for better and effective integration: responsibilities. Without shouldering responsibilities, the protection of rights cannot be guaranteed and one cannot even dream of ensuring effective integration because responsibility is the basis of and the key to effective integration.

Migrants have a right to have their human dignity respected. They should be treated in a humane and respectful manner with equity and justice. Their fundamental human rights should be honoured and their culture, traditions and religion should also be recognised and respected.

As far as the responsibilities of the migrants go, they must make sure that they remain fully loyal and faithful to the country they have migrated to. They should always abide by the laws of the land. The culture, traditions, customs and religion of the host country should likewise be respected.

The migrants should try to make a contribution towards the progress and betterment of the country where they settle. They should also serve society and the country through their abilities, capabilities and skills. And they must be willing to integrate and to adopt all of the good things the country has to offer.

Moreover, a bond of love and mutual respect of each other’s human dignity should remain the main focus and aim of both the migrants and the society welcoming them.

As we say in Maltese, both sides must work id f’id (closely) to strengthen the economy and ensure growth for the country. And, rather than becoming a burden on the society and the economy of the adoptive country, migrants should offer their support and should step forward to contribute. I think that if both the host society and the migrants work in this spirit the outcome would be positive and would contribute a lot to the good of the country.

This article is not meant to promote migration but, rather, to highlight the points and aspects that can be helpful for the better integration of migrants and that can be useful for the progress of a country.

Kofi Anna very nicely summed up the human values and the dignity that we all share when he said: “We may have different religions, different languages, different coloured skin, but we all belong to one human race. We all share the same basic values”.

I believe that better integration is not an option but is indeed crucial and highly essential and, so, must be given due importance. I believe that freedom of faith and expression also contribute toward integration. Jews should be able to practise their religion freely. Christians should also be able to practise their religion freely and so also should Muslims.

Where the interests of the country are at stake, then all citizens should work together for the betterment of the nation.

I believe that for integration to be successful, it is necessary to believe that the country one is living in is one’s own and so strive so that it would succeed.

One’s relationship should be with the country and not just with individuals. One must work and desire the best for the country at large. This is true and effective integration.

The author is president of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta.  amjmalta@gmail.com

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A fruitful donation by Ahmadiyya

Source: : Sunday, June 24, 2012

Laiq Ahmed Atif presents the donation to Fr Martin Micallef.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Malta has donated foodstuffs and fruit to Dar tal-Providenza, Siġġiewi.

Ahmadiyya Malta president Laiq Ahmed Atif presented the donation to home director Fr Martin Micallef.

Mr Atif said people with disabilities deserve the utmost respect and dignity. It is important that we focus more on the ‘ability’ rather than on the ‘disability’.

Fr Martin thanked Mr Atif. He said this was not the first time the community had shown its support.

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Għotja ta’ ikel u frott lid-Dar tal-Providenza

Source: IL-GENSillum: 23 ta’Gunju 2012

Il-President tal-Komunità Aħmadija Musulmana ta’ Malta, Laiq Ahmed Atif, ippreżenta oġġetti ta’ ikel u frott lil Fr Martin Micallef, Direttur tad-Dar tal-Providenza.

F’kelmtejn li għamel, is-Sur Atif qal li kien il-pjaċir tiegħu li f’isem il-Komunità tiegħu jgħin, iservi u jieħu sehem fil-kawża ġusta u nobbli li toffri d-Dar lir-residenti tagħha. Huwa żied jgħid li huma jemmnu fid-dinjità umana li ma għandha tħalli lil ħadd jinqata’ mill-bqija daqskemm jemmnu fl-ugwaljanza u fl-imħabba tal-umanità fejn kull persuna hija meqjusa bħala persuna umana.

Is-Sur Atif tenna li l-persuni b’diżabilità mhumiex inqas mill-oħrajn. Huma wkoll bnedmin u jistħoqqilhom kull rispett u dinjità. Huwa temm jgħid li hu importanti li niffokaw aktar fuq l-“abilità” milli fuq id-“diżabilità” biex kulħadd jingħata ċans li jesprimi l-abilità tiegħu.

F’isem ir-residenti, Fr Martin irringrazzja lill-President tal-Komunità Aħmadija Musulmana ta’ Malta għall-ġest nobbli tiegħu u fakkar li din ma kinetx l-ewwel darba li Laiq Ahmed Atif wera s-solidarjetà tiegħu u tal-Komunità Aħmadija mad-Dar tal-Providenza.

Il-Komunità Aħmadija dejjem lesta biex tgħin lil dawk li huma fil-bżonn, irrispettivament mill-fidi, kulur jew razza tagħhom.

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Foodstuffs and fruit presentation to Id-Dar Tal-Providenza

Source: The Malta Independent: Sunday, 1 July 2012

The President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Malta, Laiq Ahmed Atif, presented foodstuffs and fruit to Fr Martin Micallef, director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza in Siggiewi. Mr Atif said that it was indeed a pleasure for him and his community to be able to help, serve and feel part of all that the Home means and provides to its residents. He believes in human dignity and that no person should be emarginated in any way whatsoever.

Mr Atif reiterated that persons with disability have nothing less than anybody else. They are persons that deserve every respect and dignity. He stressed that it is important that we focus more on the “ability” rather than on the “disability” so that everyone has the opportunity to express his ability.

On behalf of the residents, Fr Martin thanked the President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Malta for his generous presentation of fruit and foodstuffs and highlighted that this was not the first occasion that Mr Atif showed his solidarity and that of the Ahmadiyya Community with Id-Dar tal-Providenza.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is always ready to help those in need, irrespective of their faith, colour and race.

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The past and the beginning of a new era in the Middle East!

Source:  The Malta Independent On Sunday: Sunday, 1 July 2012       BY: Laiq Ahmed Atif, President Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta

The situation in some of the Middle East and African countries grows worse day by day. Since the problems are increasing in some countries and some others have not settled down yet, people are being seriously affected. Therefore it is only natural to have grave concerns about them. Although, at present, the entire world feels deep pain, there is an extremely restless feeling among the people. 

The uprisings that started last year have shaken the entire Middle East and many African Arab countries to the core. In these demonstrations one thing was very clearly evident – that the leaders, who are or were, ruling these countries for decades, have not given proper attention to the problems of their people; instead monarchs have used the opportunities to divert people’s attention and rob their own national wealth and tighten their grip on the people. 

These problems first came to a head in Tunisia, moved to Egypt and then to Libya, Bahrain, Yemen and indeed Syria. As human beings, we are grieved about the current situation in these countries, and the havoc and the difficulties that are been created for the ordinary men and women in the street and their children, are heart rending. We see the news and get to know what is happening there and our hearts bleed for these innocent people. And we pray that their suffering come to an end and peace restored. 

The rulers of these countries have been there for decades, and also their families have been closely associated with their rule of power; they all ignored the rights of their people and have ignored the sufferings of their nations. They have not ruled their countries with justice, they have not thought about what is best for their citizens, and how wealth should be distributed among those citizens and how to provide for their welfare. They did not utilize the national talent; they did not provide them with a standard education, jobs and medical facilities. They had their own interests at heart, which they tried to fulfil during their long years in power. 

And when people came out on the streets, the rulers enforced all the army, police and security personals, and the resources of the countries for attacking and killing its own citizens. And thus those lands witnessed shedding of human blood – human blood that is sacred. 

Since these uprisings started, I have felt great pain as many other lovers of humanity do, and wrote on these issues. I once again feel it is my moral duty as we experience the greatest sorrow on the situation in this contemporary world, to show my absolute sincerity at this time of great pain and to write some sincere words in the hope that they may be a guideline for the Arab world to get rid of this massacre. 

I believe that every ruler must keep one thing in his mind – that he is answerable for whatever he does. And a true leader of a nation is the one who serves the nation, the one who is the leader of the people, who is close to their needs and feels their sufferings and is always ready to listen to their problems and tries to solve them.

I believe that equality, fair and equal treatment for everyone across the board, and absolute justice – equally enforced from top to bottom, for the leaders and for the ordinary people, for the kings and for the beggars; no one should be superior or excluded from justice, are the key points and solid principles for these countries to move forward. I think all the problems have cropped up in these countries because these basic principles were neglected. 

Thus, the rulers and kings of these countries should do justice to the offices they hold. And the people too should realize their responsibility and not allow their countries to fall into the hands of extremists or fundamentalists. And the rulers should not cause disorder in the land, and not be unjust, not to ignore the rights of the people, and not to allow the gap between the rich and poor to increase so much that it causes unease and paves the way for rebellion. The only path is that of righteousness and absolute justice and if both the people and rulers adhere to it, they will all prosper. 

It is my fervent prayer, and that is the greatest weapon I believe, that God makes the leaders recognise their responsibilities and obligations; they should fulfil their duties with righteousness and establish absolute justice in their countries. And may peace prevail, and may we see very soon, the beginning of a new era, an era of justice, peace and prosperity. Amen