Ramadan and the Power of Faith and Unity

Government authorities and other institutions aim to influence populations through whatever means are available to them, be it the force of the state or more indirect avenues such as the press, education, or popular culture. This is often met with an anti-establishment reaction. In recent times, in fact, there has been a trend on college campuses and among activist groups which may be described as anti- authoritarian. Students now often look askance at educators and schools as nothing more than an exercise of their power and authority over others. College students are now often very skeptical about any kind of didactic teaching. As a result, influencing others from a position of authority and expertise is much more difficult now than it has ever been. The anti-vax movement could be an example of this resistance to expertise – a movement largely based on distrust in traditional institutions and structures of knowledge.This is one of the reasons many people abhor organized religion and are now more agnostic and even atheistic than ever before. Modern man doesn’t like the idea of a referee in his life – not even through established institutions and “norms”.  Against this backdrop of global agnosticism, it is difficult to believe that religion can have any influence on a large group of people. Religion or faith in the Unseen is seen as impotent and an archaic artifact that should not even be excavated. Faith in religion is jettisoned by almost all in favor of material success and progress. Moral anarchy and liberalism is what people celebrate.But what if religion does motivate a billion people to give up their most basic human needs like food and water throughout the day for a whole month?

What if faith in the Unseen does motivate a billion people to worship Him religiously for a whole month as if that’s the only thing on their minds – especially at night?

What if faith does influence a billion people and inspire them to feed the hungry after fasting themselves the  whole day?

What if religious conviction did cause a human society to become more altruistic and spend on welfare and charity for a month?

What if the practice of a faith did inspire a billion people to become forgiving of each other’s mistakes and overlook their trespassing?

What if a noble civilization of over a billion people dispelled the myth that human beings cannot live without violence; looting; robbing and killing?

What if organized religion advocated unity amongst a billion people to the degree that they all perform deeds in unison and find no reason to fight over religion?

Yes. What if indeed!

Muslims reading this know they are the beneficiaries and witnesses of this great phenomenon in the month of Ramadan. They unite in the worship of their Creator. They all seek Allah’s forgiveness and blessings. In Ramadan, a switch is turned and Muslims become like a different species. The month of Ramadan is a month in which the Holy Quran is revealed for guidance for all people. If all people could observe this spectacle in Muslims, they would certainly see guidance in action. That is guidance toward unity in worship in a community. Muslims don’t need to beat the drums of outward unity in Ramadan as they are united – in the worship of the Divine.

Muslims engaged in political and social activism must appreciate this wonder and use it as a platform to build more trust amongst each other; more cooperation; more respect; more  optimism and a better outlook for each other. Ramadan provides a framework for the Muslim that is predicated on the idea of voluntary change absent the force of the state and other institutions. If a Muslim can give up the most basic of human necessities and maintain that abstinence entirely without external material force, then engaging in the external world – in activism in service of justice – is a minor effort in comparison.

This religion does not preach an anti-authoritarian anarchism, rather it causes the believer to understand his own potential within a larger cosmological framework of self-discipline and understanding of ultimate Divine sovereignty. This month shows that true power extends not from the long arm of temporal governmental authority, but from the voluntary acquiescence of the individual to Allah’s ultimate dominion over Creation.

Muslims who observe Ramadan must thus extend their unity and trust in the Divine to all other months of the year. Ramadan is a living month. It is alive and it gives life to an otherwise “sleepy” community. The Quran is a living Book. It is alive and Muslims should see it as life giving.

Governmental power and institutional authority over others now has competition. But it’s not any form of human competition.  It’s a competitor who proves every year, without fail, a good religion and faith in the Real Power is still very alive – despite the claims and disdain of its adversaries.