Thread: bear with me.

Reclaiming the Spirit of #Ramzan

Looks like this will be a Ramzan in lockdown.

As everybody knows, the past few years witnessed a massive spike in what can be described as a frenetic, consumerist approach to Ramzan. (1/n)

#Ramadan
#lockdown
#Covid_19

Food became synonymous with the month, and in a manner of speaking, interchangeable. I am not implying businesses thriving in Ramzan is wrong. Far from it. Businesses flourishing is an indication of a booming or growing economy. (2/n)

#RamadanMubarak
#Ramadan2020

t is in Ramzan that young men and women were seasonally employed, even as small businesses - such as restaurants and clothing stores - did well. It gave much needed succour to thousands of unemployed people from the weaker sections of society. (3/n)

#RamadanMubarak
#Ramadan2020

Like some people say, and I happen to agree with them, Ramzan brings barakah.

But this year, are going to be difficult for them. Please pray that Allah makes it easier on them and that they find a solution to their problems soon.

Lets try to identify those who need help. (4/n)

Having said that, the approach to Ramzan became frenetically consumerist. It became a month of relentless feasting. People ate till they dropped. Quite literally. (5/n)

Iftar parties by the rich and for the rich; iftar parties by the political elite, for the political elite, with crumbs thrown to the lesser privileged. (6/n)

Instead of zakaat being used as an instrument of thorough poverty alleviation, some resorted to a cosmetic measure best described as 'Diet Zakat'. Cheap sarees bought from zakaat money were distributed. Zakaat became a dole for recurring recipients. (7/n)

By no means am I exonerating myself. I am merely stating that perhaps the time has come for us to rethink Ramzan and reclaim it's spirit: fasting, empathy, prayer, expiation, giving as much as one can and contemplation.

Fin.