You Don’t Need To Be a Monk to go into “Monk Mode”

By Shazad

“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you,

so that you may become righteous.”

The Holy Quran (Ch. 2:V.184)

It’s the start of Ramadhan again all over the world. Over a billion Muslims will be participating in this holy month at the same time and will seem to have become a kind of ascetic or “monk”. The term Monk Mode is becoming a trendy phrase in wellness circles. It is commonly defined as a temporary, high-discipline protocol designed to maximize productivity and achieve specific, intense goals by eliminating distractions. It involves adopting strict routines, such as daily meditation or prayers, exercise, or deep work, while cutting out non-essential activities for weeks or months at a time. There is no prescription for a monastic lifestyle in Islam; however, each Ramadhan sees a large number of Muslims observing their own version of ‘monk mode’ for this lunar month, called Ramadhan, which lasts 29 or 30 days.  I will explain some key aspects of this month and the benefits for a person living in the modern world, regardless of whether you are a Muslim or not.

Every Muslim man or woman who is considered an adult and is healthy (e.g., not on prescription medications) is instructed to observe the daily fasting window from about 1 hour before sunrise to sunset each day. It’s a challenging “Dry Fast” in which no food or drink of any kind is permitted. Each day is a kind of ‘marathon’ from before dawn to exactly dusk, when the fast ends with a simple meal. This offers relief to those who observe fasting as it should be done. Science tells us there are great medical benefits for the mind and body related to fasting. History confirms that many cultures of the world used to fast, and some still do so today, so it’s not a fad or Internet trend like many other things.

Besides food and drink, Muslims are encouraged to give up every non-essential activity, quarrels, socializing, and bad habits, during the entire month. This is a form of training for believers who want to experience their own transformation of the mind, body, and soul. A practicing Muslim seeks nearness to his Creator and self-purification by withdrawing from much of the noise, distraction, and nonsense of the world. Muslims are not required to leave their jobs or school obligations during Ramadhan. They are also not shunning non-Muslims or the world entirely. There is no point in a Muslim’s life when he must sever all ties with the world or reject modern living and its conveniences. Ramadhan is the closest thing to this, and it simply involves withdrawing into a quieter personal space to reflect, pray more, rest, and give thanks for all the blessings in life. The fasting Muslim seeks a higher level of spiritual awareness during and at the end of Ramadhan through these daily practices based on simplicity, self-discipline, and gratitude. 

I’ve found that I can reach a higher level of productivity at my job and that I have greater clarity during my university days whenever Ramadhan falls during the school year. I experienced some hunger and thirst, and even tiredness at the end of each day, but I also learned to cultivate more patience, gratitude, and resilience during and after Ramadhan. Looking back, it was great training for life, as the month of Ramadhan shaped my habits and personality over the long run. This blessed month and it’s practices encouraged me to be more generous in giving my time and money to charity as well as having more empathy towards the poor, needy, less fortunate, and those who are lost in life. I have developed a greater appreciation for their suffering and pain.

You don’t have to be a very spiritual person or a Muslim to experience what I and 100s of Millions of other Muslims experience each year. You do need a plan, an intention, and some daily habits that pull you in the direction you want your life to go. No one can “push” us into a more conscious or balanced way of living. We have to be drawn to it and pursue our own path of enlightenment and wisdom. Only then is lasting human transformation and spiritual elevation possible.

We all need to step back from the world and look inward with greater attention, reducing distractions.  Only then can we connect to something greater than repetitive tasks and meaningless work.  We can better understand ourselves, our world, and our place in it.  I send my sincerest Ramadhan Kareem and blessings to all those who are seeking the blessings of Ramadhan or simply a more meaningful life. May you find the best of what you are seeking during this month and every time you stop and reflect on your life.

Have An Awesome Day Every Day!

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