Learning in the school of Ramadan

Spiritual mindfulness is taught by the awareness that though we may hide what we do from the public eye, God knows whether the fast or anything else we do is truly and sincerely being carried out.

IN the Islamic tradition, knowledge and practice go hand in hand. Islam aims to transform a person’s behaviour from traits that are blameworthy (madzmumah) – such as ghadab (ill temper), hasad (envy), bakhil (stinginess), sharrut ta’am (gluttony), sharrul kalam (talking too much), hubb al-jah (love of power), hubb al-dunya (loving the world too much), ’ujub (self-glorification), takabbur (pride) and Riya’ (showing off) – to those that can potentially raise humankind to levels even higher than the angels through characteristics described as mahmudah (praiseworthy).