“Faith Matters” is a column that features pieces written by local religious figures. O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint. (Quran 2:183, A Yusuf Ali translation) A little over a century and a half ag o, on March 10, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell uttered these famous words to his assistant electronically: “Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you.” With the invention of the telephone, the world has never quite been the same. Indeed, what we call a “telephone” today is in reality a small powerful personal computer with a screen that enables us to see who we are talking to! Unfortunately, according to an August 2025 publication of the National Library of Medicine, “The growing dependence on smartphones has led to the so-called ‘heads down’ generation whose physical and mental well-being can be harmed in several ways.”  Sadly, we live in an age of distraction with many of us checking our smartphones multiple times an hour. In such a world, it is often very difficult to find time and space for the silence and solitude that most world religions encourage as a way to deepen our relationship with the Creator.  For Muslims, the directive presented in the Quranic verse that opened this article provides an annual vehicle for developing self-restraint in a world filled with distractions, electronic and otherwise. For us, we believe that the Islamic month of Ramadan provides the perfect opportunity to recalibrate our priorities. This year, Ramadan coincided with mid-February until mid-March. During this time most of us fasted from food, drink and conjugal relations from dawn to sunset every day. In addition, we were encouraged to pray extra prayers, give extra charity and be on our best behavior when interacting with others. This particular approach to life is particularly useful in a world that, increasingly, seems to be led politically and religiously by those who are more motivated by self-interest than self-restraint. This is in spite of the fact that  such leaders often take oaths or vows to look out for the common good over and above their personal desires. Hopefully, the fact that approximately two billion Muslims participated in this regimen of self-restraint for 29 or 30 days (Muslims use a lunar calendar — most U.S. Muslims ended Ramadan on Thursday, March 19 with a special prayer and celebrations on Friday, March 20) will provide positive examples for our leaders, Muslim and non-Muslim, to emulate. Regretfully, far too many of them and us seem to have forgotten about God in this world of distraction. One alternative translation of the Quranic verse that we started with is “O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was for those before you, so perhaps you will become mindful of God.” (Quran 2:183, M. Khattab translation) In short, the world would be a much better place if we exercised self-restraint based on God-consciousness. Faith really does matter.  Jimmy E. Jones is Professor, Comparative Religion and Culture at The Islamic Seminary of America and President of New Haven’s Malik Human Services Institute.  Previous ​“Faith Matters” columns:  • Faith Matters: Will You Cross The Road?• Faith Matters: Jesus Remembered Immigrants• Faith Matters: 17 Steps To Self-Care• Extreme Compassion• Put A Shovel In The Ground• Start With The Foundation• True Sanctuary• Kingdom Questions• Faith Matters: Faith Over Fear• Faith Matters: Scar Glory• Faith (Still) Matters• Missions Ride on Faith• Why I’m Called To March• Faith Matters: Not Moonwalking• My Prayer For Peace Unity• Faith Matters: Belief In Action• Faith Matters: Gaza  Ramadan• Faith Matters: On Passover  Redemption• Faith Matters: Freedom Struggles  Holy Week• Faith Matters: Welcome The Stranger• Faith Matters: Beyond Neutrality• Faith Matters: The Lightened Yoke Is Love• Faith Matters: Combat Negativity With Compassion• Faith Matters: In The Middle• Faith Matters: Three Scandals• Faith Matters: The Three Hounds Of Hell• Faith Matters: In Praise Of Empathy• Faith Matters: Focus On God• Faith Matters: How To Say Goodbye• Missing Catherine• Faith Matters: Divine Light In Times Of Darkness• Jesus Islam• Faith  Famine• A Stick Of Faith• Faith Matters: For All The Saints The post Self-Restraint In The Age Of Distraction appeared first on New Haven Independent. ...read more read less