In the Holy Quran, Allah, the Most High has decreed on the believers: "0 you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that you may become al-Muttaqeen (pious, God conscious)"
(Qur'an:2: 183).
The month of Ramadhan is the ninth month of the Islamic calender, it's a unique month, unlike any other month. Laila-tul-Qadr or the night of power, which is described in the Quran as being better than a thousand months, is found within the last ten days of this month.
It was on this blessed night of Laila-tul-Qadr that the Angel Jibril (Gebriel) came down to the cave Hira in Makka to read the first five verses of the Holy Qur'an to the holy prophet Mohammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
Muslims all over the world observe a unique kind of fast known as sawm for the whole month of Ramadhan; totally doing without food, drink, intimate relationships, or smoking from sunrise to sunset. Moreover, the muslim is commanded to act and speak only in the most appropriate manner so as not to nullify his sawm by indulging in bad habits, such as gossip, idle talk, laziness, and all kinds of immoral activities.
The Messenger of Allah said, 'Fasting is a shield (or a screen or a shelter). So, the person observing fasting should avoid sexual relation with his wife and should not behave foolishly and impudently, and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should tell him twice, 'I am fasting.'
The Messenger of Allah said, 'Whoever fasts a day in the path of Allah, Allah will keep his face at a distance of seventy years from the fire (of Jahannum).'
He also said, 'The sleep of a fasting person is regarded as an act of ibaadah (worship), his remaining silent is regarded as a tasbeeh (glorification), the reward for his good deeds is multiplied, his duas (supplications) are accepted, and his sins are forgiven.'
Swam is therefore a spiritual regime and a re-orientation process for the Muslim body and mind -- the extent of benefit depends on the performance and sincerity of the individual Muslim.
Who should observe sawm in the month of Ramadhan?
- All adults who are physically and mentally well should observe sawm. Children are also encouraged to fast for a few hours or days from the age of seven, so children also get a taste of Ramadhan, too.
Who are excused from sawm in the month of Ramadhan?
- The sick person and the traveller may defer their sawm.
- Pregnant women and breast-feeding mothers who are unable to endure the fast may put their sawm on hold, likewise, women in their menses and those in confinement put their sawm on hold and pay back all the days missed after their periods.
- The very old who are too weak to fast may feed a needy person for every day missed, if they can afford to do so.
- The mentally ill are exempt from sawm.
Islam is a way of life, a complete code of conduct that helps the Muslim to live his temporary life in accordance with the Commandments of Allah, the Lord of the Universe; Ramadhan offers the Muslim a great chance to bond with the Creator.
There are five pillars in Islam to which all Muslims must totally submit to, and these are:
1. Shahada:
To witness with your tongue and heart that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah, and that Mohammad is the messenger of Allah.
2. Salat:
To observe the five congregational daily prayers five times a day, standing before the Almighty and bowing and prostrating to Him only.
3. Zakat:
To pay a compulsory charity at the minimum rate of 2.5% on one's savings once a year.
4. Sawm (Fasting):
To observe sawm in the month of Ramadan and
5. Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca):
To go on (annual pilgrimage) to Makka during the sacred month of Dul Hijja, once in a life time, if one is able to do so.
Now, since sawm in the month of Ramadhan is a duty on the Muslim, a Muslim fulfills this duty without fuss. It's a commandment from Allah and the Muslim carries it out to the best of his ability.
Besides the promised reward of Paradise, there are many earthly benefits for the fasting Muslim, some of which are:
(Qur'an:2: 183).
The month of Ramadhan is the ninth month of the Islamic calender, it's a unique month, unlike any other month. Laila-tul-Qadr or the night of power, which is described in the Quran as being better than a thousand months, is found within the last ten days of this month.
It was on this blessed night of Laila-tul-Qadr that the Angel Jibril (Gebriel) came down to the cave Hira in Makka to read the first five verses of the Holy Qur'an to the holy prophet Mohammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
Muslims all over the world observe a unique kind of fast known as sawm for the whole month of Ramadhan; totally doing without food, drink, intimate relationships, or smoking from sunrise to sunset. Moreover, the muslim is commanded to act and speak only in the most appropriate manner so as not to nullify his sawm by indulging in bad habits, such as gossip, idle talk, laziness, and all kinds of immoral activities.
The Messenger of Allah said, 'Fasting is a shield (or a screen or a shelter). So, the person observing fasting should avoid sexual relation with his wife and should not behave foolishly and impudently, and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should tell him twice, 'I am fasting.'
The Messenger of Allah said, 'Whoever fasts a day in the path of Allah, Allah will keep his face at a distance of seventy years from the fire (of Jahannum).'
He also said, 'The sleep of a fasting person is regarded as an act of ibaadah (worship), his remaining silent is regarded as a tasbeeh (glorification), the reward for his good deeds is multiplied, his duas (supplications) are accepted, and his sins are forgiven.'
Swam is therefore a spiritual regime and a re-orientation process for the Muslim body and mind -- the extent of benefit depends on the performance and sincerity of the individual Muslim.
Who should observe sawm in the month of Ramadhan?
- All adults who are physically and mentally well should observe sawm. Children are also encouraged to fast for a few hours or days from the age of seven, so children also get a taste of Ramadhan, too.
Who are excused from sawm in the month of Ramadhan?
- The sick person and the traveller may defer their sawm.
- Pregnant women and breast-feeding mothers who are unable to endure the fast may put their sawm on hold, likewise, women in their menses and those in confinement put their sawm on hold and pay back all the days missed after their periods.
- The very old who are too weak to fast may feed a needy person for every day missed, if they can afford to do so.
- The mentally ill are exempt from sawm.
Islam is a way of life, a complete code of conduct that helps the Muslim to live his temporary life in accordance with the Commandments of Allah, the Lord of the Universe; Ramadhan offers the Muslim a great chance to bond with the Creator.
There are five pillars in Islam to which all Muslims must totally submit to, and these are:
1. Shahada:
To witness with your tongue and heart that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah, and that Mohammad is the messenger of Allah.
2. Salat:
To observe the five congregational daily prayers five times a day, standing before the Almighty and bowing and prostrating to Him only.
3. Zakat:
To pay a compulsory charity at the minimum rate of 2.5% on one's savings once a year.
4. Sawm (Fasting):
To observe sawm in the month of Ramadan and
5. Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca):
To go on (annual pilgrimage) to Makka during the sacred month of Dul Hijja, once in a life time, if one is able to do so.
Now, since sawm in the month of Ramadhan is a duty on the Muslim, a Muslim fulfills this duty without fuss. It's a commandment from Allah and the Muslim carries it out to the best of his ability.
Besides the promised reward of Paradise, there are many earthly benefits for the fasting Muslim, some of which are:
Sawm makes the Muslim more humane as the fasting Muslim gets a first hand knowledge of hunger and thirst, which naturally sensitizes one to the pain of the less fortunate.
Sawm teaches self-restraint and empowers the Muslim to control his passions. When the emotions say, 'Time for chocolate...' the fasting Muslim says, 'Sorry, I'm fasting. I promised Allah.'
Sawm is body-friendly. For eleven months of the year our body machine is at work, day in day out, swallowing food, grinding food, digesting food, burning it, rejecting it, and so on. By fasting the whole day, the Muslim closes shop and our body machine is given a rest. Teeth go on vacation. Gums and jaws take a leave from all the chewing. The stomach goes on holiday, too and the gullet and the intestines get a break from the food traffic.
Sawm is an enemy of bad habits, drug abuse, theft, lying, fornication, smoking, alcohol addiction…for those who indulge in these, this is the time to quit. When one has fasted for thiry days from all these harmful stuff, one gains self-control and a sense of 'I can do it!'
Sawm reduces body weight. Even after concluding the fast for the day with the iftar (Iftar is the breakfast food at sunset) the Muslim is required to be moderate in his food intake, following the prophet's tradition, 'The worst place one can fill is the stomach.'
The prophet divided the stomach into three parts: a part for food, a part for water and a part for air (a habit that's to be kept all year round).
Ramadhan strenghtens the community. During iftar Muslims invite one another for the iftar meals, with neighbors exchanging food, and therby creating concern and frienship among the neighbors, families and friends. Many people also take their iftar in the mosques. After breaking their fast for the day Muslims offer a long unique congregational prayer performed only during Ramadhan, this is called salatu taraweeh.
Ramadhan brings Muslims closer to their Creator, the Most High. During this month Muslims devote more time to worship; reading the Qur'an from cover to cover and offering extra prayers, doing good to others, and are generally more alert spiritually. Charity is in fact a part and parcel of Ramadhan.
Ramadhan brings Muslims closer to their Creator, the Most High. During this month Muslims devote more time to worship; reading the Qur'an from cover to cover and offering extra prayers, doing good to others, and are generally more alert spiritually. Charity is in fact a part and parcel of Ramadhan.
At the end of Ramadhan, Muslims around the world celebrate a festival called Eid-al Fitri, but before the festivities begin, every single Muslim household, adult and child, must have already contributed towards zakat fitra, in cash or meal to a needy person, to make sure that none are excluded from this happy occasion.
After the taxing month of Ramadhan, Eid is a day of joy and thanksgiving. Families wake up early in the morning, put on their best clothes and go to the mosque for the Eid sermon and congregational prayers to thank the merciful Allah for having given them the opportunity to experience the blessed month of Ramadhan.
And the Muslim is left with a feeling of happiness and joy and re-newed energy to face the rest of the year with renewed faith and determination.
Since the real aims of life for a Muslim are to avoid sins, lead a balanced life and seek real closeness to the Lord of the Universe, the month of Ramadhan serves this purpose for those who truly work hard to benefit from it.
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