Ramadan, di holiest an most important month for di Islamic calendar, don dey near. Dis weekend, almost two billion Muslims for di world go start dia one-month fasting. For dis time, dem go fast from morning till evening, no go chop or drink. If you no sabi wetin Ramadan mean, here be some key tins to know.

Ramadan na time for deep spiritual renewal, e dey help person discipline demself, show gratitude, an connect well well – e no just dey about no chop or drink.

Di health benefit of fasting don dey known tey tey, but apart from dat one, Ramadan dey also help build an strengthen di human spirit. Some tins dey wey stand out well well.

Fasting for di soul

Prophet Muhammad encourage di faithful make dem pursue di highest an complete form of spiritual fasting by removing distractions – like food an drink – an focus on deeper connection wit Allah.

Because of dis, Ramadan dey turn to time for deep spiritual reflection an self-discovery, e dey give di people wey dey observe am chance to pause, reset, an try to be di best version of demself. Di aim na make dis change continue even after di month don finish, dey shape dia character an actions for di rest of di year.

As one early 20th-century Muslim scholar, Bediüzzaman Said Nursi, talk, di goal na make person use all di inner an outer parts of dem body for spiritual fasting an enter one kind angelic state.

Avoiding bad feelings an actions na one of di goals for fasting. Muslims dey try avoid bad talk like gossip, vex, an lie. Di focus na on self-purification an to grow better moral character. To hold body from bad talk, bad look, an bad behavior na ways to reach di high level of fasting.

For dis process of full devotion an deep thinking, di person wey dey fast go try develop more mindfulness an other important virtues like compassion, kindness, humility, patience, persistence, an resilience. Di Qur’an – wey dem first reveal for di month of Ramadan – na di ultimate guide for dis spiritual self-transformation.

Embracing simplicity: Di power of less

For dis world wey dey full of consumerism, Ramadan dey remind di human spirit say to live simple life dey good for di soul.

To dey chop too much processed food an overdo consumption no dey good for healthy lifestyle. Simple life wey dey contented dey allow di spirit to breathe well. E dey teach respect for di natural resources wey dey for dis earth.

Make person no dey waste or do excess. To understand say you no need too much to dey satisfied na powerful way to free di mind. At di same time, Ramadan dey increase gratitude an appreciation for basic tins like water an food by showing dia true value.

Essentialism also mean make person reduce distraction, remove heavy burden from di heart, an free demself from toxic relationships. To stay away from stress an envy an limit materialistic lifestyle na good way to focus on simplicity.

To take digital detox from social media, if e don dey too much an dey affect person mental well-being, na wise idea. Ramadan na time to think about life an relationships.

Strengthening bonds

Di food wey person dey enjoy for evening na many people hand dey prepare am. Ramadan dey remind us say we need each other for dis life.

E dey bring sense of community, solidarity, an charity. Ramadan dey call people to help an support each other by sharing wealth an goods. Muslims dey usually donate 2.5 percent of dia wealth to di poor as part of dia zakat. Dem dey also host an sponsor public community iftars an invite dia non-Muslim neighbors join dem. Dis programs na good chance to learn an connect wit each other.

To build healthy an meaningful social connection dey important for human well-being. Ramadan dey encourage people to strengthen social ties an respond to di emotional an mental needs of others.

To dey break fast together, spend more time for communal prayers, reach out to others wit kindness an charity – all dis dey help reduce loneliness an bring sense of belonging.

Ramadan dey encourage people to take care of family, friends, neighbors, an fellow human beings. To forgive, let go of grudges, an reconcile na ways to clean di heart from unnecessary weight.

For all dis reasons an more, Ramadan dey called di month of mercy an Muslims dey welcome am as time for spiritual rebirth an renewal. Wit di focus on personal growth an community building, even non-Muslims fit appreciate di benefits of dis spiritual season.

Di author, Zeyneb Sayilgan, PhD, na Muslim scholar for di Institute for Islamic Christian Jewish Studies wey dey specialize for Islamic theology, Christian-Muslim relations, an di connection between religion an migration.

Disclaimer: Di views wey di author express no necessarily reflect di opinions, viewpoints, an editorial policies of TRT Afrika.