Fast n' Furious

It's barely a week of Ramadhan, where Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.. Ramadhan has always brought back great childhood memories.

It's usually a time for strengthening family ties. Instead of working late, my dad would be home to break fast with all of us. Instead of shying away from the kitchen, I'd gladly 'help' my mom in preparing the dishes for buka puasa. Instead of gallivanting with their friends, my brothers would be home before sunset to join in the scrumptious home-made meal.

Ramadhan is also the opportunity for my dad to coax us all to join him for Tarawih prayers at the mosque. And we'd all have supper after the prayers and get a good night's rest before waking up pre-dawn for a meal before fasting the next day. Yes, Ramadhan is a month of strengthening family ties and cleansing the soul.

So it kindsa irks me when I hear the 'reasons for fasting' from some people:
a) It's a great chance to lose weight
b) It's a great way to save money
c) Ah good, no lunchtime.. can get more work done

It's also annoying to see how 'commercialized' Ramadhan has become. Look at the amazing number of Ramadhan Buffets and Ramadhan Bazaars. The mass number of these 'Great Havens of Gluttony' is made more horrid by the masses of those who frequent them!

Are we really THAT bad? Has EVERYTHING been completely taken-over by materialism and superficialism? (not sure if this is a word...)

The act of charity has long been swallowed by trumpeting one's generosity... Charity events are often 'covered by the media' and the 'generous beings' are glorified and showered with immense gratitude.

The act of congregrational prayer has also been sullied with 'power battles' by the "ahli2 masjid".. where political beliefs taint the pure nature of prayer and drive the people away.

The act of performing the Hajj has also been defiled by acts of kiasuism whereby people insist on performing Hajj EVERY year and pay to get the privilege while the less-affluent are kept on the waiting-list year in, year out.

Must the act of fasting also be victim to this rampant dehumanization?

I dunno... Maybe I'm being overly-dramatic and excessively pessimistic.

If so, I'd be glad to be proven wrong.