Peace

We will start our journey through all these days by taking a deep though about the values of Islam (that we know which one of the most important values that we have as Muslims).

When we come back to the meaning of Islam, we translate it into the word of "submission". But in fact, deep down, the very meaning of Islam when it comes to the Arabic understanding is all about peace.

Peace has many dimensions. Not only the peace that we have with other human being but the first and the most important peace is the peace that should we have within our own selves, "salaamati an-nafsu" or inner peace.

As we are fasting these days, as we are trying to improve our relation with Allah ta'ala and also with our own selves, then we can train ourselves to get that "salaamati an-nafsu". This is exactly the very meaning of fasting. Fasting is come back to yourself. Prevent yourself from eating and drinking and get that inner peace as "sakiinah" or tranquility. For example it is said, "huwalladzii anzalassakiinata fii quluubil mu'miniina", "It is He who sent down sakiinah (tranquility) into the hearts of Mu'miniin".

So, what are we trying to do with our life? It's to get that peace. The peace that not only intimate peace, but peace also with nature, with creations, with animals, and peace with our fellow human being. And we should be the agent of peace. Get it first by our own selves all these days during Ramadan, and spread it into all human being then.

Why we are here? We should be the agent of peace. This is why fasting in the Ramadan is essential because it helps us to understand the very meaning of peace. Ramadan is essential for us because we can master our selves to get that peace during the days of Ramadan.

When the prophet shallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam arrived in Madinah, he said, "afsussalaam; spread peace around you". What does it means? It means the thing that we have to do during our life is to spread the peace. But to do this, we have to master ourselves, educate ourselves, and come back to ourselves.

And Ramadan is a medium for us to train our selves to get this inner peace. Ramadan is our medium to get the intimate peace.

Started from us, hope peace will spread to all around the world.

Allaahu ta'ala a'lam.

Summary of advice of Prof. Tariq Ramadan: https://youtu.be/6LHaH5-eOTY