RAMADAN is a month of giving and forgiving. It is also the time when Muslims devote themselves to the Almighty in their effort to find inner peace, get blessings and turn over a new leaf. Some may be strong enough to endure all the tests and challenges, but others may fail to resist temptations because of the influence of others, lack of self-awareness or due to the attitude of taking things for granted.
Many make a big mistake by waiting for the perfect time — that may never come — to ditch their negative habits while using the saying “old habits die hard” as an excuse but, sometimes, when it comes to changing for the better, it is either now or never.
It is hard for active smokers to abstain from lighting up during the daytime and even a bigger challenge for those who are determined to stop smoking for the whole month. But is it not the right time for smokers, be they active or passive, to free themselves from the smoking world in which many are trapped for good?
Some smokers may argue that it’s easier said than done, but their mature and civilised minds should be able to decide for their own health, as at the end of the day, it is not the frightening facts about smoking that will help them quit, but their self-motivation and strong will. Smokers should know that smoking is a suicidal act that has caused many to die with regret.
It has become a seasonal phenomenon for children who play with firecrackers to face the music. In fact, there is a recent case of a child losing five fingers. It is disappointing to know that many parents still allow their children to play with the deadly “toys”.
Firecrackers pose a high risk to those lighting up, throwing and even being in the vicinity. Not only does the irresponsible and insensitive act put others in danger, but the explosive sounds can also disturb others, denying them their right to live in peace and harmony.
Gossiping and spreading rumours are habitual activities many fail to refrain from. Chatterboxes and “keyboard warriors” indulge in this guilty pleasure as they try to kill time and stay energised during the fasting month.
Not only do these gossipmongers intrude into others’ private lives, but their bad behaviour also shows their lack of respect towards the holy month, as they subconsciously and sinfully “quench their thirst” by joining in face-to-face or
online conversations, bad-mouthing others.
The food wastage during Ramadan is another issue caused by unhealthy habits. Customers easily fall for food and drinks that look so tempting that they drive buyers to spend excessively to satisfy their cravings and insatiable yearnings. This pathetic situation reveals the bad reality of some Malaysians, who possess the attitudes of
ungratefulness, greed and insensibility.
Ramadan is not the time for bragging, smoking, mocking and overspending, nor is it merely about suppressing hunger and thirst. Instead, it is a month of atonement, self-assessment and devotion, and that makes Ramadan a meaningful and reflective time of the year.
Muhamad Solahudin Ramli,Marang, Terengganu