Experts state that during the worship of fasting, a person is in a state of worshiping Allah all day long, thus strengthening their spiritual ties with Him, and also that by going hungry, one learns, feels, and experiences the situation of the needy and the poor.
Sufi researcher Prof. Dr. Reşat Öngören said, “The worship of fasting is a training in patience for a person,” adding, “It is in line with the spirit of worship for a person to break their fast with a menu that is at least not very extravagant, just enough to satisfy their hunger, in order to feel the situation of the poor and needy during iftar.”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Institute of Sufi Studies faculty member Prof. Dr. Reşat Öngören evaluated how a Ramadan table should be in accordance with the spiritual atmosphere of the holy month.
“The worship of fasting has two dimensions”
Prof. Dr. Reşat Öngören stated that the worship of fasting observed during Ramadan has two dimensions: “One is the dimension of the servant's relationship with Allah, which we can call the vertical dimension. The other is the servant's relationship with the social environment, which we can call the horizontal dimension. When we look at the issue from the vertical dimension, a person strengthens their spiritual ties with Allah throughout the day because they are in a state of worship. At the same time, the worship of fasting also has a horizontal dimension, bringing benefits to a person in terms of social relations. The worship of fasting is a training in patience for a person, and more importantly, it is the situation of learning, feeling, and experiencing the plight of the needy and the poor by going hungry.”
“Ostentatious tables create a situation contradictory to the feeling experienced throughout the day”
Prof. Dr. Reşat Öngören stated that when a person fasts, they gain the opportunity to empathize with the needy. “Then, a person who has been hungry all day will feel the suffering and difficulties the poor endure. If, when coming to the iftar table with these feelings, the iftar table is set like the extravagant tables of ultra-wealthy individuals, then a situation contradictory to the feeling experienced throughout the day arises. It is also in line with the spirit of worship for a person to break their fast with a menu that is at least not very extravagant, just enough to satisfy their hunger, in order to feel the situation of the poor and needy during iftar.” he explained.
“The feeling of supporting the poor is gained through the worship of fasting”
Prof. Dr. Reşat Öngören noted that fasting should not be reduced to merely skipping a meal, and since there is an opportunity to empathize with the poor and develop patience, this should be continued during iftars. “In this case, since a person will also develop the feeling of helping the poor, the feeling of supporting the poor is gained through the worship of fasting, both during and after Ramadan.” he said.
“Preparing an iftar table with enough food for several meals is not appropriate”
Prof. Dr. Reşat Öngören also stated that since fasting is an act of worship that reminds a person of the needy, preparing a menu for iftar by considering how a needy or poor person would set a table is in line with the spirit of fasting. He added, “Therefore, it would not be very appropriate for someone who has been hungry all day to prepare an iftar table with enough food for several meals, as if rewarding themselves.”
“We cannot continue to break our fasts with elaborate tables while watching our brothers and sisters die of hunger in Gaza”
“Due to the events taking place in Gaza today, if we continue to break our fasts with elaborate tables while watching our brothers and sisters die of hunger before our eyes, then we would be demonstrating that the social dimension of this worship has no effect on us,” said Prof. Dr. Reşat Öngören, continuing:
“If we feel the situation they are experiencing, then true fasters would perhaps find that the food would not pass their throats at iftar tables, but would get stuck in their throats. Only then would we feel that the social dimension of fasting has an impact on people, and we would embed this feeling of empathy throughout Ramadan.”
“Remembering our brothers and sisters in Gaza, we must plan how to deliver our Zakat, Fitra, and aid”
“Now, another dimension of this issue is that after experiencing and feeling this emotion, a person must seek ways to help the needy and support the poor. Especially remembering our brothers and sisters in Gaza, we must plan and calculate how to deliver our Zakat, Fitra, and also our extra aid, as there is also the command of ‘Financial Jihad’ in the Quran, and we must make programs to realize this.”
“Although Zakat can be given at any time of the year, it is especially recommended to give it during Ramadan”
Prof. Dr. Reşat Öngören emphasized empathy with the poor during Ramadan, stating, “We must remember all the poor and needy, especially those children in Gaza, through this fasting and through the month of Ramadan. In our religion, there is the matter of Fitra and Zakat. Fitra is given during Ramadan. However, although Zakat can be given at any time of the year, it is especially recommended to give it during Ramadan. It is stated that its reward will be higher.”