Is Your Tongue Fasting? Reflection in the middle of Ramadan

Talking about Ramadan fasting, of course there are many advantages. Even in one of the hadiths Qudsi Famously, Allah SWT once said that all the worship of the Bani Adam was for themselves, except for fasting. Because indeed fasting is for Allah, and Allah Himself knows best how great the reward is given to His servants who fast.

Apart from the virtues of fasting Ramadan, there is one question that we should answer. Namely, how can we get the great virtue of fasting? To answer this question, of course we have to pay attention to the quality of the fasting we do. Logically, the higher the quality of our fasting, the higher the reward that Allah will give us. So, we must fast in totality, not just as a formality to abandon sharia obligations.

Now, regarding the quality of fasting itself, the author is reminded of the classification of levels of people who fast that Imam Al-Ghazali presented in his book. Ihya’ Ulumuddin. Imam Al-Ghazali divided the levels of people who fast into three as stated below:

Know that there are three levels of fasting, namely: fasting for ordinary people, fasting for special people, and fasting for elite people. As for fasting for ordinary people, that is, abstaining from the stomach and genitals from fulfilling lust, as previously explained in detail. Fasting specifically means keeping hearing, sight, tongue, hands, feet and all parts of the body away from sin. The fasting of the elite is fasting the heart from worldly digestion and worldly thoughts, and abstaining from everything other than God Almighty completely. Breaking the fast during this fast is achieved by thinking about something other than God Almighty and the Last Day.

It means, “Know that there are three levels of fasting: general fasting, special fasting, and the most special fasting. What is meant by general fasting is restraining the stomach and genitals from fulfilling sexual needs. Special fasting means restraining the ears, hearing, tongue, hands, feet, and all parts of the body from sin. Meanwhile, the most special fasting is restraining the heart from approaching humiliation, thinking about the world, and thinking about other than Allah SWT. This third fast (shaumu special special) is called void if thoughts other than Allah SWT and the last day appear in the heart.”

Based on the information above, we must reflect. Over the years of fasting until now, what level have we been at? If in previous years it was still at the first level (general fasting), then yes we try to raise our fasting level to the second level (special fasting). If in previous years it was at the second level, then maintain it as much as possible, hopefully we can move up to the third level.

Apart from these three levels, there is one thing that is interesting and needs to be discussed at the special fasting level. In the special fasting level, it is stated that fasting is not only limited to not eating and drinking, restraining lust, and refraining from things that break the fast, but also involves fasting members of our senses, one of which is verbal.

Oral Care while Fasting

Yes, when we fast, don’t forget to ‘educate’ our tongue to also fast. This verbal fast is very important for us to pay attention to and carry out. Because even though we fast regularly, if our tongue still likes to gossip or say dirty things, we could lose the reward of fasting. Until all we get from fasting is hunger and thirst. No reward. The Prophet SAW once said:

How many people who fast get nothing from their fast except hunger and thirst?

It means, “How many people fast but they get nothing from their fast except hunger and thirst?” (HR An-Nasa’i).

Apart from not backbiting and saying dirty words, another form of verbal fasting is that we don’t say anything that has the potential to hurt other people’s feelings. We must be very careful in this matter. Because, if this is not the case, we could say something that we think is good, but because we don’t pay attention to certain situations and conditions, these words actually have the potential to hurt other people’s feelings.

For example, we who Just that (coincidentally) ordained by Allah to be able and have the opportunity to perform tarawih prayers regularly during the month of Ramadan, one day he met gentlemen who were still working at night. Then, as a form of ‘our gratitude’, we talked about how enjoyable it was for people to be able to pray tarawih prayers in front of these gentlemen.

It could be that words like this hurt and hurt the feelings of these working fathers. Because those who have to work at night actually also want to have the opportunity to perform tarawih prayers. In his heart he must have said so. However, because they have to work at night (perhaps forced due to economic conditions or other reasons), they lose the opportunity and are unable to perform the tarawih prayers.

If we really want to be grateful because Allah has given us the blessing of the opportunity to participate in tarawih prayers, then do it wisely. Maybe by giving shodaqoh after tarawih prayers to the workers or other parties who need it.

Things like this will have a better impact, because what we do can make him smile. We are made happy by Allah through the blessings of tarawih prayers, then we also make other people happy through the shodaqoh which we offer as a form of gratitude to Him.

Don’t even say things like that (even if the initial intention was ‘grateful’). We must be very clever at guarding our tongues, encouraging our tongues to fast. Because good intentions require intelligence in reading situations and conditions. Once again, we need to get used to our verbal discipline so that we don’t easily hurt others.

Things like this, if we look carefully God willing will have a positive impact in the future. In short, if we get used to guarding our words during Ramadan, when Eid arrives, we will also be good people with words when visiting relatives or neighbors’ houses.

God willing there will be no more judgmental or passionate questionsnosyand regarding other people’s life matters that emerge from our words during the halal bi halal forum. In this way, the fasting that we do for a month becomes meaningful, brings good together, and is not in vain.

May Allah SWT give us all the convenience and ability and privileges to carry out our worship in this holy month, especially the fast of Ramadan, with a trained tongue and disciplined words so that we don’t easily hurt other people’s feelings. Amen…

God bless.

Also read: Training children to fast for half a day, what is the law?

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Writer: Dhoni Dwi Prasetyo