Ramzan. Iftars. Preferences.

While Quran assures us that the month of Ramzan (or Ramadan, if you so prefer), has been decreed as a strict training regimen,

O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint,-

We've done a brilliant job of morphing it into a month of food gala activities and iftar parties. Every year its this month when the phrase "All You Can Eat" hits the society with a 4 digit price tag, and we all go bonkers. Hurray!

A few days back I came across a status at a public platform which looked like this:

Fundamentally, there's nothing wrong with celebrating food, or spending upon it as lavishly as one's pocket permits, or even instagramming the food you think the rest of the world has no clue about! 

What is wrong is the very idea that you *think* you're fasting while you plan a Rs 2000+tax individual meal when a haunting count of people going to bed at an empty stomach in the same city, could have been fed within the same amount. Whatever happened to the idea of fearing God, of self restraint?

I realize its not my place to dictate you my definitions of right and wrong, however, I'll be thoroughly grateful if you find it another perspective over a month we could, and should, benefit from. 

As a parting note, let me share a relevant fact: Iftar meal for a group of 4 at any place in Gulberg costs +/- Rs. 7000. 

Meanwhile,  SOS Children's Village says: The amount for complete sponsorship of a child is Rs. 10000 US $100 per month. Partial sponsorship amount for one child, is Rs. 5000 US $50 per month.

In addition, you can transform a life: pay for a child's entire year's schooling in Rs. 15,000, by contributing to TCF.

May Allah enable us all to reap the blessings of this month to the fullest, amen.