The Month of Ramadan is coming to a close on the 4th of June this year. With that being said, I’ve had this whole month to reflect on myself. Durning this time we are “burning” everything that’s bad in our lives, hence the point of fasting. As were fasting we discipline our selves to go without water and food from 4am to 8:30-9pm. Durning this process you learn a lot about yourself. It takes 30 days to develop any given habit, or break a habit. This is when the person fasting must be prepared mentally for this worship. Were fasting for Allah’s sake and not for our own FYI. The intention to fast must be made the night before and there are consequences for breaking your fast knowingly or unknowingly in some cases. Nonetheless being mentally strong is ideal. Throughout the month you start to think sharper, your body gets stronger, you loose unneeded weight, your testing the limitations on your body and mind. Eventually you begin to discern between what your vices are. We all have flaws but durning this month the flaws that we have total control over are made clear to us. Whatever that flaw is, BURN IT!!! Get rid of it!! It may be a way of thinking, temper, hitting the snooze button, coffee, speeding, over eating, not paying Zakat (giving, charity) regularly, or any number of things. These are things that become aware to us after about the first week. Well in my case it became aware to me after the first week. One of my flaws was me not being truly understanding of someone else’s situation and feeling. I didn’t understand the concept of not worrying and stressing about things I have no control over. I also realized that instead I need to focus on when I will be released from prison shortly. I also had to come to grips with knowing that everything I had before this prison sentence no longer exist. So much deteriorated and fell apart that its hard to accept but I have to in order to move on. Knowing that I tried to mend, grow and build tells me that maybe life’s better off the way it appears to be going. One major factor in The Month of Ramadan is your prayer habits. Its obligatory to pray in the morning before sunrise, in the afternoon just after the sun has reached its peak, in mid afternoon when the sun begins to decline, in the evening when the sun has set and at night anytime after the sunset prayer. Its many other prayers but those are the obligatory 5. I never use to pray before I came to prison. I grew in in the church and my grandmother taught me how to pray at night and would take me to church and it all faded away with age and the street life. Now that I’ve grown intellectually and I’m conscious of a lot more I know that prayer is needed. The first thing you do everyday should be prayer and the last thing should be prayer and pray in between those times as well. Another thing that I’ve noticed is my health. I’m only 31 and I don’t want to have too many health problems 5, 10, or 50 years from now InshaAllah. I’ve been working out while I’m fasting which strengthens my body and mind as well. Tao years ago I was 250 pounds and I’ve worked my way down to about 200-205 pounds. In closing I just want to say that its important to know yourself, know what you want in life, know where you want to go and be, know your worth people, but more importantly have a relationship with your creator. Burn off the sinful desires and behaviors. Build healthy relationships and be patient, stay watchful out there!!
Da’Von Joshua Motley Sr. (Abdul- HaLeem RaQeeb)
ODRC #707-119
Allen Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 4501
Lima, OH 45802
