Omani scholar sheds light on repentance

According to Islam, if criminals sincerely repent during Ramadan, they will be absolved of their sins, said noted Omani Islamic scholar.

In an interview with Gulf News, Sheikh Khalfan Mohammed El Esry commented on various aspects of fasting and other significant issues during Ramadan.

Sheikh Khalfan, who is also corporate Omanisation manager of the Petroleum Development Oman, said absolving of sins, however, is not by fasting alone. "One has to sustain what they have learnt during Ramadan."

In Islam, if people repent and if their repentance is earnest and heartfelt, their past sins would be absolved. "But, they should not make a habit of repeating their sins," he stressed. And contrary to popular opinion, productivity levels do not drop during Ramadan, he said.

The whole idea of providing fasting Muslims with fewer working hours is to ensure that they spend quality time with their families and with God, Sheikh Khalfan said.

The reduced hours at work enable the fasting devotee to engage in other productive pursuits like visiting relatives; helping the poor and so on.

"So, I don't agree that productivity slumps," he maintained. Also, there was less distraction on all fronts and hence smaller chance of wasting time during this period, he added.

Sheikh Khalfan noted that fasting did not hold good only during the day. There was a misconception that once the fast was broken, everything was lawful.

"This is not true. What was unlawful during the day remains so during the night, except for eating, drinking and lawful sexual contact," he said, adding that one should refrain from all negative acts, emotions, abusive language and so on even after the fast was broken.

The underlying principle of fasting was to go back to the basics, he said. "And there is no better time than the month of Ramadan to do it."

"Ramadan is the month of piety, because that it is the centre of all worship. In this month, the devotees look inward, because in the other 11 months, they are looking outward. It is one month, where you get a chance to commune with yourself, devoid of all distraction," Sheikh Khalfan said.

"Also, for the past 11 months, we are stuffing ourselves. Our stomach never had a chance of going empty. If it does not go empty, the body does not need to go for its reserves. It will not resort to the stored fat; stored intoxicants etc and we pile on one over the other.

"But, during Ramadan, the beauty of it is that the stock goes empty and then the body begins to draw from its extras. So, in a way it is a challenge and also a method of losing weight."

"What is fasting during Ramadan? People look at it as a month where we deprive the body of food and drink. But, on the other side, such deprivation is actually nourishment for our soul," he said.

"When we fast, we are meant to disconnect with worldly matters. It is a spiritual journey. And when we recite the Holy Quran, we are communicating with the One - the invisible God."

"When we fast, the body goes weak - and when the body goes weak, the soul begins to surface a bit and it begins to communicate with God. And during the month of Ramadan, people enjoy praying; because they are communicating. They are not content with the five-daily prayers either."

Sheikh Khalfan noted that Ramadan also offers an opportunity to spend wisely. "There are those who spend unnecessarily on food. Let them do that, but if they pass this food (or any necessary item) to the less privileged, it is indeed commendable. And mind you, there are many who do that."

Sheikh Khalfan noted that the other element of fasting also offered a chance to resist temptation in many ways.

"You may see food before you (during the fasting period), but you don't respond to it. It helps you to develop your will power; you stop smoking, drinking; you cut away from all such addictions. During Ramadan, you do not succumb to temptation for at least 12 hours - so, it is developing will power, which in a way is gaining strength, morally or otherwise.

"More importantly, it helps us understand and experience hunger; what is starvation. And unlike any other act, here, during fasting, you are not alone. There are more than one billion people out there who are fasting along with you. You are in a marathon of fasters all running ahead with a common goal of attaining piety."

Sheikh Khalfan also noted that this element of "shared suffering or pain" also helped in understanding the less privileged out there.

"It also makes us appreciative of what we have and why we should be thankful of the fact that we are privileged.

"It also teaches us not to be extravagant. This will be foremost in our minds when we throw food away next time. We will be asking ourselves the question, what if this food had gone to a hungry mouth?"

Sheikh Khalfan also noted that another aspect of fasting was that it helped Muslims prepare themselves for any natural calamities, disasters etc. "Life is unpredictable and so we must be prepared for any eventuality."

Sheikh Khalfan give lectures on the message and principles of Islam to a cross section of the community (every two weeks) at the Grand Mosque in Oman.

He also comes live on the Radio Sultanate of Oman's English FM (90.4 and 91.3 FM) and on ArabSat (2A 7.7 Mg Hz) during Ramadan every Saturday, Monday and Wednesday from 9pm to 10pm.