AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): A Muslim media outlet in India, in an analytical report criticizing common narratives about Ramadan, stated that each year, as the holy month approaches, prevailing portrayals describe it as a period of love, social solidarity, and large communal gatherings, a depiction that, according to some critics, does not reflect the true nature of the religious observance.
According to this perspective, although Islam emphasizes values such as compassion, moral responsibility, and empathy, reducing Ramadan to a cultural and social celebration obscures its spiritual essence. Within this framework, Ramadan is regarded primarily as an opportunity for conscious detachment from worldly attachments, the strengthening of personal discipline, and a focus on spiritual proximity to God.
The report states that fasting, intensified acts of worship, charity, and reflection serve as means of restraining desires, regulating priorities, and enhancing self-control. Social engagement also continues during the month; however, such interactions, it argues, should be purposeful and defined within the framework of ethical responsibility rather than treated as the central focus.
It further emphasizes that the spiritual orientation of Ramadan does not conflict with social responsibility, noting that significant events in Islamic history have taken place during this month in pursuit of justice and human dignity.
The analysis also criticizes secular interpretations of Ramadan, describing them as attempts to present a culturalized image of Islam while diminishing its theological and ritual dimensions.
In conclusion, the authors maintain that a proper understanding of Ramadan requires recognizing its nature as a period of purification, inner discipline, and the conscious orientation of life toward spirituality, rather than merely social rituals and cultural expressions.
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