Are we truly fasting from dawn to dusk out of fear and love for Allah? I mean, the math isn’t quite adding up! Where is that same fear of God when we’re taking bribes, lying through our teeth, indulging in interest-based dealings, cheating people, or getting involved in corruption? It’s the same God, right? But somehow, we selectively forget His presence.
Fasting is obligatory—we endure physical hardship for the sake of pleasing our Creator. But isn’t earning halal sustenance also a command? Doesn’t haram wealth taint our souls and invoke His wrath? Still, we continue with illegal earnings, flaunt false power, entrap our egos in arrogance, and knowingly neglect our responsibilities. Where does the fear of God go then? Why do we give fasting such priority?
So people will call us “pious”? Or are we scared of being labeled as non-fasters if others find out? Even in countries where religion has little presence—no mosques, no temples, no public sermons—people don’t hoard goods, adulterate food, short-measure, exploit crises to raise prices, or hold society hostage for profit. Yet here we are—surrounded by mosques, temples, religious gatherings, preachers, spiritual leaders, and religious schools—still, how many genuinely righteous actions do we see?
With the number of religious institutions and events across the country, you’d expect the people to practically wear angelic halos! But judging by how we behave, it’s as if we aim to make the devil laugh out loud.
Satan doesn’t even need to worry about Bangladeshis anymore. We commit such extreme irreligious acts in the name of religion that even the devil must feel outmatched. He probably sighs and says, “If only I were Bengali!”
Here, people are more committed to plotting someone else’s downfall than they are to their own betterment. Even before prostrating in the mosque, some of us sneak in a few juicy slanders. Charity? Oh, some only give so long as they can make sure everyone knows they gave. Do we really accept the Creator beyond our self-interest? Or do we keep Him close only when it’s convenient? That’s a serious question. Very few people’s beliefs, words, and actions actually line up.
In many parts of the world—like right here in Canada—religion might not dominate public life, but ethics and integrity are deeply rooted. People follow rules, respect others, and value fairness. Meanwhile, in our highly religious societies, everything is done with full flair—prayers, rituals, traditions—yet morality remains painfully fragile. One person offers prayers, then walks into their office and takes a bribe. Another finishes a religious lecture and goes home to mix harmful chemicals in food for profit.
So, is our fear of God truly about Him—or just for show? We’ve somehow turned faith into a performance, a tool to serve personal gains. We fast, and then we lie without hesitation. We attend sermons, and then cheat without flinching.
Do we think God can be fooled? He sees everything—public and private. We may act like we fear Him, but do we really feel it in our hearts? Judging by our deeds, one would think we’re more afraid of public opinion than divine accountability.
Fasting is not just abstaining from food—it’s a spiritual discipline meant to cleanse the soul. But for many, it looks more like a countdown to Eid shopping sprees and charity photo-ops. We have some understanding—but how much better it would be if that understanding were truly sincere.
