When the fasting month of Ramadan came late last month, it marked the beginning of intense devotion by Muslims to spiritual activities and acts of kindness and charity. However, the sanctity of this blessed month has been tarnished by IS fighters who took the opportunity to launch more terror attacks. At least 149 people have reportedly been killed during Ramadan from three separate attacks this year alone.

IS fighters claim that Ramadan is a month of Jihad and martyrdom. Hence, they justify these attacks by twisting the true meaning and spirit of Ramadan: rather than emphasising the lofty ideals of Ramadan, these IS fighters chose to focus on war and the offensive spirit. Their focus on violence in the month of Ramadan stirs revulsion among many Muslims who consider it as a time of intensified spirituality and increased religious activity.

Mohamed Bin Ali is Assistant Professor with the Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University. He is also a counsellor with the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG).