Sarah Ward
Communication is the key to every relationship. This is a fact I have found to be true in both my personal and professional environments. The new mother, cradling her precious baby, has to learn to interpret the need from the cry given out – hunger, thirst, pain, discomfort – all are communicated in non-verbal ways. Similarly, teenagers (in my case more particularly teenage boys) can express their hunger as anger and it’s key for parents to understand the message and not the actions. This is such a widely established phenomenon it now has its own word – hanger. Anger is merely the means of expressing the hunger when words are too difficult to produce.
Both hunger and anger are naturally occurring emotions or states of being. They begin as perhaps some of our most basic feelings and reactions. Real hunger can have such an overwhelming presence in our brain, that it can overpower other functions and impair decision making. As Albert Einstein once said, “An empty stomach is not a good political advisor 1”. A recent study outlined by the BBC reported that when hungry, people are more likely to feel pessimistic, judgemental and negative in their outlook 2. So there are clear scientific studies to show that hunger can and does impact our emotional responses.
So how does such a finding square with the Islamic practise of fasting? This month, Muslims around the globe will be observing Ramadan, where healthy adult Muslims fast for up to thirty days – denying themselves all food and drink from sunrise to sunset. Knowing that hunger impacts us emotionally and psychologically, why does Islam instruct this each year? Why does the faith promote a practise that could potentially increase anger and negativity?
Firstly, fasting is not meant for all. Those who are young, ill, elderly, travelling, pregnant and menstruating women are not required to fast. This observance is not a test of resilience for those already at a medical or other disadvantage. Fasting is prescribed for those fit and well and mature enough to meet the demands. Secondly, Islam advocates the suppression of anger and Ramadan is the opportunity to practise this. By observing fasting annually, Muslims can improve their ability to control anger and to strengthen their emotional regulation. It is in fact a safeguarded framework, where societies are fasting together there is a strength in communal observance and there is a shared mercy between people who recognise that everyone fasting is facing the same endeavour.
Secondly, Islam does not simply ask Muslims to stop eating and expect them to automatically control their anger. Instead, it delivers comprehensive guidance and guidelines as to exactly how to achieve this. There is the advice to abstain from situations where arguments may occur, to avoid conflict by not being physically present. Muslims should not swear, shout or quarrel when fasting. There are additional daily and nightly Prayers so that time is consumed in worship of God – leaving less chance for anger to appear. There is renewed focus on serving the poor and needy in Ramadan, this enables Muslims to acknowledge gratitude, share resources and increase positive wellbeing and communal harmony. For example, neighbours will share food with one another, regardless of faith, throughout this holy month. Islam also instructs Muslims on what to say if anyone does begin to provoke them while they are fasting.
The Holy Qur’an, and the teachings of Islam embodied by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be on him), instructs Muslims to exert control over their emotions, to become moral beings by displaying the correct emotion at the correct time, rather then merely being ruled by the emotions themselves. In the Holy Qur’an, suppressing anger is seen as a virtue in the correct place. It states: ‘Those who spend in prosperity and adversity, and those who suppress anger and pardon men; and Allah loves those who do good 3 ’. Here, this quote demonstrates that Muslims are not just told to remain calm, they are giving the mechanism by which to achieve such a state. By spending on others, the ego is suppressed, developing a collective sense of responsibility for those in need. Pardoning men is seen as doing good on behalf of individuals.
This is not to say that crime does not deserve punishment. What Islam advocates here in a personal control over anger. Ramadan provides the opportunity to link the physical and spiritual experiences, as the body hungers and the anger rises – Muslims are given the opportunity to practise supressing this instinctive reaction. As a teacher, I know full well that punishment or consequences should be just and decisions made with a rational mind. Punishment given in anger is not always just – perhaps we have felt this when dealing with our own children. Logic, justice and rationality are the basis for punishment in Islam – not anger. Indeed, God Himself, states in the Holy Qur’an: “…but My mercy encompasses all things…” 4. So, anger is not the basis for God’s justice, just as the suppression of anger in people does not afford them the chance to trample on the rights of others without consequence. The Promised Messiah, His Holiness Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, (peace be on him) further writes: “Unlike the Gospel, the Quran does not only forbid you from being angry with your brot hers without due reason. Rather, it instructs you not only to suppress your own anger but to act upon تَوَاصَوْا بِالْمَرْحَمَۃِ [And exhort one another to mercy.] and exhort others to follow this example as well” 5.
Ramadhan provides Muslims with the chance, annually, to focus upon this. That, in the full grip of hunger, Muslims must be vigilant not to slip into hanger. In fasting, there is a conscious effort to avoid this and practical steps are taken to achieve it. May the blessings and benefits of Ramadan carry with Muslims throughout the year, so that society can be based on mutual care and friendship, not ego and anger.
References
2. BBC Future – How hunger can warp our minds
3. Holy Quran 3:135
4. Holy Quran 7:157
5. Noah’s Ark, p47
Voice of British Muslim Women 
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