Ramadan is a month of giving and
forgiving. It is also the time when Muslims devote themselves to the Almighty
in their effort to find inner peace, get blessings and turn over a new leaf. Some
may be strong enough to endure all the tests and challenges, but others may fail
to resist temptations because of the influence of others, lack of
self-awareness or due to the attitude of taking things for granted.
Many make a big mistake by waiting
for the perfect time – that may never come - to ditch their negative habits while
using the saying “old habits die hard” as an excuse but, sometimes, when it
comes to changing for the better, it is either now or never.
It is hard for active smokers to
abstain from lighting up during the daytime and even a bigger challenge for
those who are determined to stop smoking for the whole month. But is it not the
right time for smokers, be they active or passive, to free themselves
from the smoking world in which many are trapped for good? Some smokers may
argue that it’s easier said than done, but their mature and civilised minds
should be able to decide for their own health, as at the end of the day, it is
not the frightening facts about smoking that will help them quit, but their
self-motivation and strong will. Smokers should know that smoking is a suicidal
act that has caused many to die with regret.
It has become a seasonal phenomenon for
children to play with firecrackers to face the music. In fact, there is a recent case of a child losing five fingers. It is disappointing to
know that many parents still allow their children to play with the deadly “toys”. Firecrackers
pose a high risk to those lighting up, throwing and even being in the vicinity.
Not only does the irresponsible and insensitive act put others in danger, but the
explosive sounds can also disturb others, denying their rights to live in peace and
harmony.
Gossiping and spreading rumours are habitual
activities many fail to refrain from. Chatterboxes and “keyboard warriors”
indulge in this guilty pleasure as they try to kill time and stay energised
during the fasting month. Not only do these gossipmongers intrude into others’
private lives, but their bad behaviour also shows their lack of respect towards the
holy month, as they subconsciously and sinfully ‘quench their thirst’ by
joining in face-to-face or online conversations, bad-mouthing others.
The food wastage
during Ramadan is another issue caused by unhealthy habits. Customers
easily fall for food and drinks that look so tempting that
they drive buyers to spend excessively to satisfy their cravings and insatiable
yearnings. This pathetic situation reveals the bad reality of some Malaysians, who possess the attitudes of ungratefulness, greed and insensibility.
Ramadan is not the time for
bragging, smoking, mocking and overspending, nor is it merely about suppressing
hunger and thirst. Instead, it is a month of atonement, self-assessment and
devotion, and that makes Ramadan a meaningful and reflective time of the year.
Courtesy of New Straits Times,
2 July 2015
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