Ramadan: A Reboot for the Soul

Many years ago, I worked as a programmer in the offices of a university’s physical plant. A lovely young woman accountant who knew where I was heading always said something about my going to reboot as I passed her office on my way to the mosque for Friday prayers.

I have often thought of that concept since those days. To me it perfectly describes what happens during prayer and I get the same sense of a reset and strengthening of my essence — my soul — during the lunar month of the Ramadan fast.

“Strange”, you may think. However, consider the following. When we exercise the body the muscles, bones, etc., grow stronger. Similarly, as we discipline ourselves to regular prayer and to fasting from food and drink in the period from dawn to sunset for Ramadan our souls grow stronger. Also, just as exercise helps the body to rid itself of impurities, fasting and prayer helps purify the soul.

In another way of looking at this process, as we strengthen the soul by obeying God’s commandments,

it begins to become a master over the body which comes to obey its direction with increasing readiness and eventual enjoyment. When that happens the “reboot” process gives a small taste of the paradise we strive to attain in the hereafter.

Since we are still in Ramadan let us focus a bit more on what happens during this sacred month, at least as I perceive it.

The following verses state the major goals for a Muslim (Submitter) in this life: You shall commemorate the name of your Lord, to come ever closer and closer to Him. (Quran 73:8)

You shall sing the praises of your Lord, and be with the prostrators. And worship your Lord, in order to attain certainty. (Quran 15:98–99)

When my body reacts to the fast with a growling stomach or a parched throat, it reminds me why I fast: to obey God.

He helps us get through the day, even during the long, hot days of summer. I am fortunate that as I am getting older and my body is a bit more sensitive

to the fast, Ramadan in my part of the world has moved into the spring. This happens because the Muslim calendar is a lunar calendar which moves up about 10 days each year in relation to the solar calendar.

This change in seasons helps us see that our souls have become strong enough to control our bodies despite the changes in the numbers of hours they fast. I admit I am reassured by that fact because sometimes I find it difficult to tell if my soul has grown stronger.

I realize now that I am not really doing anything. God does for me what I cannot do for myself. He grows my soul, purifies it and my body. In truth, since only He can claim omnipotence, He does everything good in my life. When I try to interfere, I invariably make a mess of it. So, over the years I learned to trust in Him and stay out of His way to the best of my ability. Just that lesson makes my life much more pleasant and might well be considered a mini reboot.

Gaining control over my body provides just one benefit of the Ramadan fast.

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