{"id":139545,"date":"2020-04-26T08:15:23","date_gmt":"2020-04-26T08:15:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/?p=139545"},"modified":"2020-04-26T08:15:29","modified_gmt":"2020-04-26T08:15:29","slug":"tips-for-a-better-fasting-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/?p=139545","title":{"rendered":"Tips for a Better Fasting Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Spahic Omer<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fasting during the month of Ramadan \u201c and\neverything that goes with it – is extraordinary. It is one of the best heavenly\ngifts to man. No wonder it is one of the pillars of Islam, and also one of the\nbest ways to experience the beauty of submitting ones self to, and\nworshipping, the only Creator and Master. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, people experience fasting in\ndifferent ways. Experiences vary from ecstasy and euphoria, to mere formalism,\napathy and exhaustion, with many different conditions in-between. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following are some ingenious tips that\naim to improve our experiences and appreciations of the inexhaustible realm of\nfasting. The tips are conceptual and reflective. They are deliberately steered\naway from the pure technical and legalist, or jurisprudential (fiqh<\/em>),\nmatters, which nevertheless are extremely important in their own right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congratulations, you are a believer!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because you fast, you are a true believer. Authentic fasting is such that it cannot accommodate elements of hypocrisy or any form of non-belief or scepticism. The two are simply incompatible. One neutralises the other. Fasting is the most convincing evidence of faith (iman<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is why when Allah prescribed fasting,\nHe addressed the believers only: \u0153O\nyou who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you\u00a6\u009d (al-Baqarah, 183). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No other category of people can be affiliated with fasting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cherish the status and experience<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, enjoy your heavenly status and take pleasure in\nexperiencing its infinite treasures. You are both encouraged and entitled to do\nso. Everything from the notions and phenomena of life and death, to the\nHereafter and Jannah<\/em> (Paradise), have been created for the sake of faith\nand worship, and for such as exemplify them in their lives and become of the\nfaithful (believers) and worshippers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You belong right there as well. You are connected with the highest\norder of value, meaning and beauty. Unleash your innate spiritual capacities\nand keep growing and rising steadily. The sky is the limit, Heaven the goal.\nLet your pure heart and soul, as well as enlightened mind, lead the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Standing on the shoulders of giants <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Quran says that fasting was decreed upon us \u0153as it was decreed\nupon those before you\u009d (al-Baqarah, 183).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is how truth generally is. It operates beyond the precincts of time and space. People \u201c and all the vicissitudes of life – are but its means and instruments. It has neither beginning nor end. It is unconfinable. \u0153Most surely this (the revelation given to Muhammad) is in the earlier scriptures, the scriptures of Ibrahim (Abraham) and Musa (Moses)\u009d (al-Ala, 18-19).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means that fasting is inseparable from the human presence on\nearth. It is ageless and enduring. It is identifiable with peoples humanity\nand their noble life purpose. It lies at the core of truth. It is of those\nthings that make people exceptional, setting them apart from other species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, when you fast bear in mind that you belong to a global\nand unbounded fraternity. You walk in the footsteps of the best members of the\nbest generations of humankind. You follow those individuals (the Prophets and\ntheir faithful followers) who charted most conspicuously the courses of human\nhistory. You stand on the shoulders of giants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to that kind of people, and for them primarily, this world has\nbeen conceived and has been created in the first place, and will be sustained until\nthe end. Always remember that you are one of them, or maybe almost there. In\nany case, just to be invited to join the league is a treat good enough. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hence, be excited and positively proud. Feel indebted and live\nresponsibly. Its your turn now to leave a mark on life proceedings. Let your\nexemplary fasting this year be the beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Freedom versus<\/em> inhibition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do not be trapped in matter and in the trivial worldly concerns.\nFasting is there to liberate you. It is your launch pad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fasting, and everything it entails, is not a one-dimensional\nactivity. Rather, it is a process that involves you, your spiritual forte, and\nthe whole spiritual Kingdom. Nor is it confined to the month of Ramadan only.\nIt is the whole life. It is a lifestyle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sawm<\/em> or siyam<\/em>\n(fasting) means \u0153to abstain or refrain from\u009d. That connotes that you should\nstay away from anything that may impede or slow you down on your trailblazing\njourney. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Refraining from food, drinks and sexual activity\nfrom dawn to sunset in Ramadan is just the beginning. It is a warmup exercise\nfor what is to come in spiritual terms. Everything starts with the world of matter\nand in a brief moment of time, yet it ends up in the highest, most\nconsequential and timeless spiritual domain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Genuine physical, spiritual, moral and intellectual freedom is all\nIslam ever wanted. Islam is all about promoting and facilitating that freedom,\nand about removing all sorts of impediments that may stand in its way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, fast and be, as well as feel, free. Detach yourself insofar\nas possible from matter and body, and aim for the infinitude of spirit. Do not\nbe a slave to your animal desires, ego and foolish ambitions. You are bigger\nand more important than that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be happy and keep smiling<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You as Allahs vicegerent on earth, and as His servant, have a\nmillion reasons to be happy. A good many of such reasons are condensed in the\ncommandment of fasting and its holy month of Ramadan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hence, elate your soul, be happy and keep smiling. Your mood should\nnot be seen and felt only on your face, but also throughout your entire being.\nIn the holy month of giving and caring, bring positive energy into your life\nand the lives of others. Keep giving. Even your smile is a charitable act, as\nthe Prophet (pbuh) once declared (Jami al-Tirmidhi).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anticipate nothing but good, and strongly believe that all things\nand events \u201c including the COVID-19 pandemic \u201c will work out favourably in the\nend. The merciful, loving and benevolent Allah is in charge of everything. He\nruns the show. He is in charge of the worlds and humankinds destinies –\nincluding yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your optimism and confidence are nothing short of being parts of the\nProphets Sunnah<\/em>. So is your complete behavioural pattern. For that\nreason, you are special. Allahs forgiveness and His Jannah<\/em> (Paradise) await\nyou, and fasting is a fast track to them. You just need to keep improving and persevere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A crash course in taqwa<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taqwa<\/em>\n(God-consciousness, highest level of piety, God-fearing, self-protection\nagainst displeasing Allah) is the highest station on the journey of spiritual\ngrowth. It is its end. All undertakings of a believer are geared towards that\nnoble goal. It is a certificate of the spiritual fulfilment while in this\nworld, for which the reward in the Hereafter is nothing but Jannah<\/em>\n(Paradise) (al-Naba, 31).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Quran is explicit that the aim of fasting is \u0153so that you may\nbecome righteous and fear God (to have and apply taqwa<\/em>)\u009d (al-Baqarah,\n183).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It follows that the month of fasting is a crash course in taqwa<\/em>,\nconsidering how important for the believers the latter is. Fasting as an\nactivity and process has been designed to lead to that honourable goal as\neffectively as possible, and in as short a time as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taqwa<\/em> is\na believers reason for existence (raison detre<\/em>). It is impossible for\neveryone to attain it in one or even a few fasting cycles. However, each and\nevery believer must set himself on course to do it sooner rather than later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is the reason why in the above-mentioned verse, Allah did not\nsay \u0153to become the people of taqwa, <\/em>or muttaqun<\/em> (as a status)\u009d,\nbut \u0153to develop, have and implement taqwa, <\/em>or tattaqun<\/em> (as a\nprocess) \u201c and Allah knows best. A verb, rather than a noun, is used for the\npurpose. While the former scenario as a persons remarkable status and his\nsecond nature is a long-term vision, the latter scenario implies a continuously\nunfolding process with a series of short-term goals along it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each fasting exercise represents a significant stride, or a stage,\ntowards the ultimate objective of taqwa<\/em>. As a result, the success of\nones fasting will always be measured against the background of the speed and\ndepth of his progression towards the supreme level of taqwa<\/em>. The faster\nones progression, the more valuable ones fasting is, and vice versa<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every fasting person knows himself and the level of his taqwa<\/em>\nbefore and after each Ramadan better than anybody else. He, likewise, knows\nbest how productive his fasting is, and whether his fasting is acceptable, and\nto what extent exactly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, be a judge before you are judged. Assess yourself and\nweigh your deeds \u201c so you still can improve – before you are assessed and your\ndeeds are weighed for you on the Day of Judgment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accordingly \u201c as a small digression \u201c Abu Hamid\nal-Ghazali spoke at length about the inner dimensions of fasting. They are also\nseen as the secrets of fasting. According to him, there\nare three grades of fasting, infused with different levels of taqwa<\/em>:\nordinary, special and extra-special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0153Ordinary fasting means abstaining from\nfood, drink and sexual satisfaction. Special fasting means keeping ones ears,\neyes, tongue, hands and feet – and all other organs – free from sin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extra-special fasting means fasting of the\nheart from unworthy concerns and worldly thoughts, in total disregard of\neverything but God. This kind of fasting is broken by thinking of worldly\nmatters, except for those conducive to religious ends, since these constitute\nprovision for the Hereafter and are not of this lower world.\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Declare a war against pretension and artificiality<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to the great meaning and importance of fasting and the holy\nmonth of Ramadan, some people, having failed to come to the needed terms and grasp\nthe heart of the matter, tend to resort to pretence and artificiality in order\nto join the crowd and not to be left out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such people oscillate between two-facedness (hypocrisy), spiritual\ndestitution and functional sluggishness. They somehow may, or may not, fast.\nThey may also use the rich resources and means of fasting and Ramadan for a\npublic spectacle of their limited, or make-believe, piety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do not be like those despondent and miserable souls, nor fall for\ntheir artifices. Beware of their deceits and ploys, for every so often they are\nin positions to market them aggressively and cunningly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, those people are disoriented and lost in life. They\nwant attention and fellowship. They are to be pitied, albeit wisely dealt with.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Declare a war against such distressing behavioural models. Study\nand learn from what you see, for the wise man learns from the mistakes of\nothers; only a fool learns from his own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In relation to fasting, the conduct of this type of people in\ngeneral, and that of hypocrites in particular, Jesus had in mind when he said:\n\u0153And when you fast, dont put on a sad face (be downcast in countenance) like\nthe hypocrites. They distort their faces (go about with changed looks) so\npeople will know they are fasting. I assure you that they have their reward\n(only public adulation)\u009d (Matthew, 6:16).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is those people, furthermore, who are most responsible for the untoward\nroutines associated with fasting, such as gluttony, consumerism, wastefulness,\nextravagance and pretence. To them, fasting is a cultural expression and \u0153fun\u009d,\nrather than a revolutionary spiritual experience. They are thus most\nresponsible for damaging the reputation of Ramadan and fasting in the eyes of\nthe world.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enhance your communication with Allah<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fasting is a golden opportunity to enhance our communication with\nour Creator and Lord. Our intentions, involvement in fasting, prayers,\nsupplications, meditating, reciting and contemplating the Quran, and the rest\nof recommended and voluntary worship acts, are intended exactly for that\nspecific objective. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Islam, everything is to be inclusive and reciprocal. Everything\nis about forming a sound relationship with Allah first, in the light of which\nother relationship types are then formed, like the relationships with people\nand the natural world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consequently, when Allah speaks about fasting, He uses the personal\nplural pronoun \u0153you\u009d, indicating at once the directness, nearness, intimacy and\ntotality. A fasting person does the same in his various fasting-related worship\nacts. He constantly addresses Allah as \u0153You\u009d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emblematic of this is the customary supplication for braking the\nfast: \u0153O Allah! I fasted for You, and I believe in You, and I put my trust in\nYou, and I break my fast with Your sustenance.\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the opening chapter of the Quran, al-Fatihah<\/em>,\nwhich is repeated many times on a daily basis, especially in the daily prayers,\ncontains a verse that is fundamental not only to the chapter itself, but also\nto the life of each believer: \u0153It\nis You we worship and You we ask for help\u009d (al-Fatihah, 5). Al-Fatihah<\/em>\nis the best chapter in the Quran. It is called the \u0153Mother of the Quran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a microcosm of a life of piety, fasting, therefore, is a\nblissful experience generated by a spiritual progression from one \u0153you\u009d (from\nGod to man) to another \u0153You\u009d (from man to God). In fact, nothing in life is\nexempted from the effects of this powerful joint relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A persons communication with Allah ought to be sincere,\nmeaningful, profound and sensible. It ought to be felt, properly understood, followed\nup and acted upon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A person should know that talking (chanting and reciting) too much\nand too often is not necessarily communication imbued with love, hope,\ndevotion, respect, awe and God-fearing. Communication with anybody, let alone\nAlmighty Allah, cannot be based on premeditated ignorance, heedlessness and\nindifference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Communication cannot be one-sided. It must be based on quality, in\nlieu of quantity, and on substance, in lieu of sheer form and perhaps\nsymbolism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Communication with Allah is not confined to the province of the mouth\nand tongue only. In point of fact, the mouth and tongue are least involved. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Communication is chiefly a matter of the heart and soul, with the mouth and tongue playing a minimal role. Communication with Allah is a blend of silent spiritual rhythms, tunes and synchronisations. It is an inaudible upheaval and rapture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Befriend the Quran<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a primary source of communication with\nAllah, take the Quran as your closest friend. It is your best ally on your fasting\n\u201c and entire existential – journey. With it, impossible is nothing; without it,\nnothing in heavenly terms is possible. With it, moreover, you and your life are\nsomething; without it, you and your life in heavenly terms are nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Quran is an everlasting miracle. It is\nAllahs final testament to humanity. It is His Holy Speech, and so, the only\nremaining undeviating connection with Heaven. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Quran was revealed in Ramadan, in the Night of Qadr (decree,\npower, value, destiny or measures). It was then that the whole Quran was\nrevealed to the earthly heaven, and from there, during the same Night of Qadr, it\nstarted to be gradually revealed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). That marked the\ncommencement of a revelation process that lasted about twenty three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is on account of this that Ramadan is called the month of the\nQuran. One of the most recognisable worship activities linked with fasting is\nreading the Quran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Quran is what only Allah says it is.\nThus, the Quran is: a guidance, book, clear proofs of guidance, a criterion,\njudgment between right and wrong, glad tidings, a good advice, reminder, truth,\nhealing for what is in the breasts, a mercy, clarification for all things, a\nlight, inspiration, spirit, enlightenment, and clear insight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just like the case of general communication\nwith Allah, befriending and reading the Quran during the month of fasting,\ntoo, must be beneficial and effective. It is to become a life-defining\nexperience. The process of dealing with the Quran starts with reading it, and\nculminates in living it and transforming it thereby into a miracle, whose\noperational locus will be the multidimensionality of human life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid pitfalls<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, a number of pitfalls must be avoided in the process. The Quran is not to be read mechanically, unconsciously and unthinkingly. It is not to be rushed through without striving to understand, contemplate, internalise and apply its divine messages as much as possible. One is not to worry about sheer numbers: how many verses, pages, chapters, sections, etc., compromising the specified quality and essence of the Quran recitation by doing so. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If all that is done excessively and time\nafter time, such could yet be regarded as an insult to the Quran. It can\nbecome a sinful activity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Insisting that people should read the whole Quran as many times as possible during every Ramadan, that they should memorise as much of it as possible, and that various competitions and programs be organised for measuring and celebrating the successes of those initiatives \u201c albeit without promoting the true guiding, uplifting, empowering, enlightening and educating spirit of the Quran as a transformative cultural and civilisational force \u201c is not a commendable approach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During those initiatives, ignorance, misguidance, confusion and spiritual lethargy, instead of knowledge, guidance, enlightenment and spiritual dynamism, are promoted and acclaimed. Instead of being inspired and motivated by the Quran, many people get turned off and demoralised thereby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The efforts are turning, step by step, suicidal. In the eras of globalisation, internet, agnosticism and doubt, there is rarely anybody who is genuinely interested in a deadening formalism, literal symbolism, spiritual myopia, and a blind as well as irrational following of any kind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In passing, this is the main reason why\nmodern Muslim youth are increasingly confused and are more and more rebellious\nconcerning the values and teachings of their Islam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always go for quality<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hence, use this latest fasting opportunity\nto build a meaningful and productive rapport with the Quran. Do not worry\nabout extents and numbers, just worry about merit, value and application, even\nif your progress appears to be very slow. Use good translations, commentaries\nand whatever else is necessary to achieve your target. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indeed, a little quality and value is much\nbetter than a lot of inadequacy and mediocrity. A little excellence goes a long\nway, whereas a lot of flaws and incompetence can only backfire, sooner or\nlater.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, a single page of the Quran which is painstakingly read, understood, internalised and implemented as part of a sincere on-going procedure, is better than tens of pages which are recited mechanically and mindlessly, without thinking, nor caring, about their meaning and implications for life and conduct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This assertion is premised on how much\nIslam favours knowledge grounded in faith (and faith grounded in knowledge)\nover not only ignorance, but also illiterate piety, and how much it gives\npreference to excellence and quality over mediocrity and poor standards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Prophet (pbuh) said, for instance: \u0153The virtue of the scholar over the worshiper is\nlike the superiority of the moon over the stars\u00a6 The scholars are the\ninheritors of the Prophets\u009d (Sunan Abi Dawud).<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You have to remember that whatever the Quran\nand Sunnah<\/em> say about reading and reciting the Quran, this holistic\noutlook is thus implied. Islam never championed spiritual <\/strong>illiteracy, short-sightedness, low\nstandards and incompetence in any field of human endeavours. Islam with\neverything it stands for is their antithesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hence, be like the companions of the\nProphet (pbuh), the best generation of Muslims, who are said to have been\nthought the Quran in stages. The Prophet (pbuh) would teach them merely ten\nQuranic verses (a small portion of the Quran) at a time. They would not move\non to the next ten verses (a new portion of the Quran) unless they learned the\nfirst set of verses and were able to implement them in terms of halal<\/em>\nand haram<\/em>, and in terms of religious injunctions and prohibitions (were\nable to grasp and implement their actual meanings and lessons).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was owing to this that the Prophets\nmission was so successful. It was owing to this, furthermore, that his\ncompanions were regarded as a living form of the Quran as a miracle. It is\nrightly asserted that if the Prophet (pbuh) had not had any miracles other than\nhis companions, \u0153they would have been enough for his prophet-hood.\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a diametrically opposite side stand\nKhawarij, the earliest Muslim sect with beautiful preaching, but erroneous\nprinciples and evil deeds. The Prophet (pbuh) foretold their emergence,\ndescribing them as a people who will \u0153recite the Quran, but it will not pass beyond\ntheir throats\u009d, and \u0153they call to the Book of Allah, but they have nothing to\ndo with it\u009d (Sunan Abi Dawud).<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is thus clear what path you should\nfollow and who should be taken as a role model. Follow specifically those who\nwere \u0153living and walking qurans\u009d, so to speak. Try to be one yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides, needless to say that Islam is a\nreligion of excellence and distinction only, both in faith and deeds. The\nQuran clearly highlights that the sole objective of creation is \u0153to test you (as to) which of you is best in deed (conduct)\u009d\n(al-Mulk, 2). Here the key word is \u0153best\u009d, not \u0153most\u009d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Separate the chaff from the wheat<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, there is so much that has been written and said about\nfasting and the holy month of Ramadan. Unfortunately, some of it is inaccurate,\nand yet some is plain wrong. There are so many weak and fabricated hadiths<\/em>\n(the Prophets traditions) and inept scholars views in circulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those missteps have been committed sometimes due to ignorance and at other times due to some populist and theatrical tendencies, and sometimes by ignorant persons and at different times by relatively knowledgeable ones for the sake of sentimentalisation, promotion and attractive preaching. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is no wonder that today those views and interpretations easily find their ways into the spheres of what could be described as a Muslim pop(ular) culture, where the tastes and criteria of ordinary people, rather than those of a truly educated and guided elite, dominate. That is done through a wide scope of religious programmes, dramatic and showy orations, mediocre religious publications, religious dramas and films, religious songs, etc.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though it is hard for everybody, you should try your best to\nget to the bottom of the problem. Carry out some research. Consult the honest\npeople of knowledge. Be a soldier of truth. There are many excellent scholarly\nwebsites dedicated to the subject matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Almost everything is at your fingertips. We spend most of our time\nwith our computers and smartphones, often overusing and even abusing them. Lets\nput them to some good use. There will be no excuses accepted on the Day of\nJudgment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is crucial because everything pertaining to fasting is so authentically important and so truly beautiful that it does not need to be hyperbolised and misrepresented in any way. Authentic fasting is way bigger and way more meaningful than anything people can concoct. It does not need any additional gloss. Nor are any over-the-top means needed for its exposure.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this manner, the true meaning and spirit of fasting can easily\nbe tainted. If you fall victim to this disagreeable circumstance, regardless of\nthe extent and intensity, fight it off as soon as possible. Do so before it\nfights, and defeats, you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the prevalent untruths and misrepresentations eventually\nbecome known to you, some of your religious experiences will inevitably become\nanticlimactic. They may yet morph into an outright let-down. Disillusionments\nand frustrations may start surfacing next, creating a fertile ground for\nhesitations and doubts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Herein lies another cause of the confusion and scepticism of\nespecially Muslim youth today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The case is similar to eating junk food. It is tempting and very delicious when eaten. However, in essence, the food is very unhealthy, lacking all the necessary nutrients to keep the body energised and healthy. In the long run, disproportionately consuming it can destroy the body. It is a killer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most certainly, spirituality-wise, you are special. So, go for and enjoy only the special things. Make sure nothing stands between you and your God-given rights. Always separate the chaff from the wheat.***<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Spahic Omer Fasting during the month of Ramadan \u201c and everything that goes with it – is extraordinary. It is one of the best… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":139557,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,21],"tags":[],"nelio_content":{"isAutoShareEnabled":true,"autoShareEndMode":"never","automationSources":{"useCustomSentences":false,"customSentences":[]},"followers":[111,12,134,5],"suggestedReferences":[],"efiUrl":"","efiAlt":"","highlights":[],"permalinkQueryArgs":[]},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/timthumb.jpeg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139545"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=139545"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139545\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":139558,"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139545\/revisions\/139558"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/139557"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=139545"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=139545"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=139545"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}