Ramadan is the most sacred month for Muslims and is of great value to them. Every year, when this time comes, a holy shift takes place in the Muslim world. Hearts become softer, nights holier, and days filled with a higher sense of purpose. Its essence lies in fasting, which is a profound exercise of mind and body. It teaches Muslims devotion and discipline. Fasting refrains people from eating anything from dawn to dusk. However, on a deeper level, fasting is much more than stopping oneself from eating. It is a chance to purify the soul, develop consciousness of God (taqwa), and renew one’s faith. This is the reason that many people see this month as a chance to grow in worship and devotion by embarking on Umrah. Therefore, they prefer booking Ramadan Umrah packages in advance to avoid missing out on this golden chance. When Umrah is performed during Ramadan, its spiritual rewards multiply because the spirit of fasting also combines. So, Umrah and fasting, together, help foster faith among the believers.
5 Ways Fasting Can Help Strengthen One’s Faith
1. Disciplines the Soul
Everything grows and perfects with practice. Faith is one of them. It needs consistent effort from believers to get close to Allah. One of the best ways to do so is by fasting, as it trains the soul. When a Muslim abstains from food and drink from dawn to dusk, he develops a sense of gratitude for the blessings he has. Moreover, apart from avoiding food and drink, fasting also awakens one’s consciousness to stay away from evil thoughts, hateful speech, and harmful actions. All these things teach self-discipline that a Muslim willingly chooses to practice out of love and devotion to Allah Almighty. In Surah Al Baqarah, the holy Quran teaches the spirit of fasting in teaching self-discipline in the following words:
“O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain Taqwa (God-consciousness).” (2:183)
It is Taqwa that fuels the hearts of the Muslims and prepares them for spiritual rewards. Fasting lights up this quality that makes every act a way to remember the Almighty’s blessings.
2. Detachment from Dunya
The world is tempting, and it pulls us daily to its various distractions. These diversions typically include screens, noise, material desires, and societal pressures, to name a few. Fasting acts as our saviour. Taqwa detaches us from these worldly distractions. The spirit of fasting allows us to experience the true nature of ourselves out of the context of worldly strings attached to our souls. When we fast, our senses sharpen, letting us be mindful of not our control over hunger but emotions and inner state. This helps in creating a safe distance from worldly attachments, and it makes room for self-reflection and prayer. These qualities teach us the real essence of peace that lies in the fulfilment of spiritual acts. Moreover, fasting teaches us that the body lives not only on the food that it consumes but also on the good deeds that it performs.
3. Awakens a Sense of Gratitude
One of the greatest lessons that fasting teaches is gratitude. We take each little blessing, like food and water, for granted until we have to stay away from them, even for a while. Ramadan comes to train us to practise gratitude for every blessing that Allah has bestowed upon us. When we fast, even these little blessings like food and water become highly valuable. At iftar, a glass of water is enough to quench our thirst, and a few dates refill the body with energy. This shows that we must be grateful for the things in our lives. When we practise gratitude, we start to develop a strong bond with the Giver of these blessings – Allah Almighty. The Quran also teaches us the value of gratitude in Surah Ibrahim (14:7) in the following words:
“If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favour]”
This shows that gratitude can way to a deeper and stronger faith. This change in attitude not only fosters the quality of being content but also strengthens a Muslim’s reliance on Allah for every little thing and in every walk of life.
4. Fasting and Umrah
For a Muslim, what can be better than performing Umrah in Ramadan? In Islam, doing Umrah during Ramadan holds great value. This can be seen from a Hadith quoted in Bukhari and Muslim. The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) said that “doing Umrah in Ramadan is equal in reward to performing Hajj with me”. Hence, this act of worship becomes a truly enriching experience in the holy month. This is the reason millions of Muslims from all over the world travel to Makkah to perform Umrah. If you also want to reap the benefits of a Ramadan Umrah, make sure you book all-inclusive Ramadan Umrah packages as these deals include visa processing, flights, accommodations, and on-ground transportation.
As Umrah is Sunnah, while doing its rituals, Muslims walk in the steps of the Prophet. They make prayers by standing at the places where the Prophet used to pray and make duas, all while being in the state of fasting. This is a truly sublime experience for them and creates such a lasting impact on their hearts that words alone cannot describe. This experience deepens the faith of the Muslims, allowing them to return to their homes with renewed spirits. To get all of this, it is best to look for the best Ramadan Umrah packages at least 6 months before the arrival of the holy month, so you don’t have to face any hurdles later on.
5. Strengthens Sabr
The Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) has called Ramadan a month of patience. This is because fasting teaches Muslims Sabr by abstaining from worldly temptations, food, and drink. It is a sort of strength that is gained by passing through difficulties and discomforts. These hardships let the light of relief in. It signifies the blessing and mercy of Allah to his people. When a Muslim endures the struggles of hunger, thirst, and exhaustion, he develops the ability to stay calm in every other phase of life and face the challenges with grace, believing in Allah’s wisdom behind every cause.
Sabr, or patience, is not a quality that you can acquire at once. It needs a daily drill and demands control over one’s self. Once you have gained enough control over your senses, you can become a better version of yourself. When a person gets sabr, his or her faith in Allah strengthens.
The Last Word
Ramadan is the most sacred month for Muslims. It is a time to reflect on our faith and redevelop a strong bond with the creator. Its essence lies in fasting, which teaches great values of humility, self-discipline, gratitude, and patience. Umrah in Ramadan may be a bit challenging but it is completely worth it. This act of worship helps a Muslim to seek Allah’s countless blessings. Therefore, one needs to prepare for it well in advance. In order to manage Umrah logistics, pilgrims need to seek help from a reputable travel agency. It will allow them to focus on praying and worship during Umrah, rather than worrying about other things. For this purpose, the UK Muslims can contact Muslims Holy Travel, a leading tour operator in the country which offers the best Ramadan Umrah packages at affordable prices.
