Ramadan 2021 / 1442AH – Juz 21 – Source of Sustenance

“How many are the creatures who do not store their sustenance! God sustains them and you: He alone is the All Hearing, the All Knowing. … It is God who gives abundantly to whichever of His servants He will” 29:60-62

Unlike camels who can go for weeks without eating, we generally eat a couple of times a day (outside of Ramadan). We’re fortunate enough for this to be our lives and aim to be mindful and thankful every time we eat or sit down for a meal.

Ramadan provides the perfect opportunity for this, we’ve fasted all day because Allah commanded us to. And when we break our fast we can thank him for the delicious food he has given us to break our fast.

Of course we thank those involved in preparing iftar “He who does not thank the people is not thankful to Allah.” “‏ لاَ يَشْكُرُ اللَّهَ مَنْ لاَ يَشْكُرُ النَّاسَ ‏” —Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)

For an even a “simple” iftar we may be eating dates from Palestine, oranges from Spain, rice that has come all the way from India and fish from across the pond. How amazing then that all of this food arrived on our plates cured and prepped perfectly in time for iftar.

Did we grow the rice, raise the animals or take the time to grow the vegetables? Even the farmer wouldn’t take all of the credit, knowing that their yield is determined by the climate, the rainfall and other factors outside of their control. Alhumdulillah, praise and thanks to God, for all the precise factors that came together to make one meal.

This is encapsulated beautifully in the dua (prayer) one may read when breaking the fast:

“Oh Allah I have fasted for You (and believe in You and put my trust in You) and I break my fast with your sustenance”

اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ صَمْتُ (وبك امنت وعليك توكلت) وَعَلَى رِزْقِكَ أَفْطَرْتُ

May Allah accept it from us