For more than half of the world鈥檚 population, the moon is more than a lamp for the night sky or a muse that could be cheese or a person depending on who you ask. For Muslims, Chinese, and Jewish people, amongst others, the moon is a marker of time and the anchor of the calendar; it heralds the arrival of the most auspicious moments and celebrations.
The Islamic calendar is a lunar one, and Saturday night marked the beginning of the month of Sha鈥檅aan. For many people, including many Muslims, this month has little to no significance and passes by without much pomp or circumstance. But it precedes a month that is anything but: the month of Ramadan. The Holy Month of fasting, worship, and personal betterment is one of the most anticipated months for Muslims around the world. The days and weeks before it are filled with cleaning the house, buying new clothes, stocking up on dates, and yes, picking on various foods at any time of the day.
But many centuries ago, in the time of the Prophet Muhammad, the month before Ramadan was more than just a time to physically prepare for the Holy Month. It was definitely a time of preparation鈥� but of a different sort. The month of Sha鈥檅aan was a time when the Prophet and his companions engaged in spiritual preparation as well.
Fasting, is a physical and spiritual undertaking. It involves refraining from eating and drinking for the duration of the daylight hours. But more than that, it also involves avoiding sexual contact during the day and ending or managing one鈥檚 vices throughout the month. The mind-over-body mindset during Ramadan involves a lot of self-control and so the Prophet prepared himself for it and encouraged his companions to do the same. His wife, Aisha, said: 鈥淚 never saw him fasting in any month more than in the month of Sha鈥檅aan.鈥�
Similarly, for those who were excused from fasting during the previous Ramadan due to sickness, travelling, menstrual or childbirth bleeding, etc, Sha鈥檅aan is a time when any incomplete fasts were finally performed. Aisha said in regards to this that 鈥�Sometimes I missed some days of Ramadan, but could not fast in lieu of them except in the month of Sha鈥檅aan." The demands of life often fill our time or we forget, but the arrival of Sha鈥檅aan sets off an anticipatory bell: 鈥楻amadan is coming鈥� and it reminds us to finish our preperations.
But preparations for the month of Ramadan did not only involve preparing for the abstentions. The Prophet also set an example for the people where their preparations included enjoying those blessings that were given to them in the times when they were free to do so. One of his companions, Abu Hurairah, said that the Prophet said: 鈥淲hen it is the middle of Sha鈥檅aan, do not fast until Ramadan comes.鈥� It was encouraged for the people to enjoy the food and drink that was available in anticipation of the month of Ramadan, when this was no longer possible. Their bodies needed rest and strength in preparation for the month to come. And so they were encouraged to refrain from fasting in the days leading up the month of fasting.
The month of Ramadan was so anticipated and longed for that the companions would pray for 6 months prior to be present on the Earth for that month.
May this Sha鈥檅aan be filled with food, drink, and spiritual preparation.
The companions prayed for months, 鈥淥h Allah, let us reach the month of Ramadan.鈥� And so we also pray, Allahumma ballighnaa Ramadaan.
Maryam Baksh听is a former student at UBC and member of the Vancouver Muslim community.
You can read more articles from our interfaith blog, Spiritually Speaking
*This article was also published in the print edition of the sa国际传媒 on Saturday, May 14 2016
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