Fasting and Ramadan

[Madiha kanwal]

Fasting and Ramadan

Ramadan is the name of one of the holy months in the Islamic calendar. It is one of the holiest months in the whole year. This is the month in which the Quran was revealed. About this month the Prophet said that it holds a night which is better than a thousand months of worship. This night is called the Laila-ul-Qadr meaning "the night of power". On this night the Quran was revealed.

Al-Quran, Chapter 97 Al-Qadr, Verse 1-5

In the Name of Allah, The Benevolent, The Merciful

We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the night of Power:

And what will explain to thee what the Night of Power is?

The Night of Power is better than a thousand Months.

Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah's permission on every errand:

Peace!... This until the rise of Morn!

Ramadan in the month of mercy, in which all the gates of mercy are opened and the gates of hellfire are shut and Satan is chained up so he cannot carry out his evil anymore on this earth. This month is an opportunity for all people to cleanse themselves of all the handiwork which Satan carried out in the whole year on them. The effects of his evil works may last and still be seen in this month (thus you still see evil being carried out by many), but when a person fasts with sincerity and devotion, they emerge from this month shining like a sparkling diamond clean from sin. And Satan sits in chains watching all his work being put to waste. Satan is an avowed enemy to mankind and does not spare any means to destroy mankind. Satan has lost all hope and is too arrogant to ever turn back towards God in repentance, he is the accursed one. However for mankind Allah has provided many means to seek refuge from Satan, and one of the greatest of moments is the Holy Month of Ramadan.

The Prophet once said, "There is a Zakah for everything and the Zakah for the body is fasting." [Ibn Ma'ajah]. The word Zakah means 'purification', by fasting we purify ourselves in mind, body, heart and soul, from the handiwork of Satan and from the evil we did with our own hands.

The Prophet said, "Allah has said that every deed of the son of Adam is for himself except fasting, which is for me and I will give its reward. Fasts are shields protecting from punishment. Thus when any of you is fasting, he must not indulge in obscenity, nor shout: if anyone speaks to him in a vulgar manner or fights with him then he must tell him that he is fasting. By Him in whose hand is Mohammed's life, the odor in the mouth of the fasting person is better to Allah than the fragrance of musk. There will be two moments of happiness for the fasting person - one at the time of breaking the fast because of that and the other when he will meet his Lord and he will feel glad because of his fasting." [Bukhari]

He also said, "Fasting and the Quran will intercede for the worshipper on the day of resurrection. Fasts will say, "Lord! I kept him away from eating and sexual desires so accept my intercession for him." The Quran will say, "I kept him from sleeping in the night so accept my intercession for him." Therefore the intercession of both of them will be accepted." [Ahmad, Targheeb]

In The Quran Allah made fasting in the month of Ramadan compulsory for all Muslims by addressing humanity in the following glorious words,

Al-Quran, Chapter 2 Al-Baqara, Verse 183-187

In the Name of Allah, The Benevolent, The Merciful

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

(Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill or on a journey the prescribed number (should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (with hardship) is a ransom the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more of his own free will it is better for him and it is better for you that ye fast if ye only knew.

Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an as a guide to mankind also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So everyone of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting but if anyone is ill or on a journey the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you He does not want to put you to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.

When my servants ask thee concerning Me I am indeed close (to them); I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me; let them also with a will listen to My call and believe in Me; that they may walk in the right way.

Permitted to you on the night of the fasts is the approach to your wives. They are your garments. And ye are their garments. Allah knoweth what ye used to do secretly among yourselves; but He turned to you and forgave you; so now associate with them and seek what Allah hath ordained for you and eat and drink until the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread; then complete your fast till the night appears; but do not associate with your wives while ye are in retreat in the mosques. Those are limits (set by) Allah; approach not nigh thereto. Thus doth Allah make clear His signs to men that they may learn self-restraint.

Important things to learn about fasting in the month of Ramadan,

When the month of Ramadan begins, All Muslims must observe fast.

To fast one must abstain from eating, drinking, obscenity, vain talk, sexual intercourse, fighting and negative things from dawn till sunset.

The fast begins at dawn with the Fajr prayer, the person takes a meal before the prayer known as the sahur.

During the day the person must abstain from all things mentioned above and go about their normal daily activities.

While fasting it is better to indulge in extra acts of worship since the rewards are greatly increased.

All compulsory prayers must be observed during the fast otherwise it will make the fasting useless.

At sunset at the time of the Maghrib prayer, the fasting person breaks their fast. This meal is known as Iftaar.

It is a practice of the Prophet Mohammed to break the fast with a date and water.

Sick or ill people are exempt from fasting and can either make it up later or feed the poor in recompense

During the nights of Ramadan there is an optional prayer known as Tarawih in which the Quran is recited excessively. Standing up for these prayers holds great rewards. It is an optional prayer and should not be considered to be compulsory.

Though not required, but it is a good idea to indulge heavily in worship and acts of good during the month of Ramadan since the rewards are far far greater than in normal months.

To provide means for someone to keep their fast at the time of sahur or break their fast at the time of iftaar is a means to paradise, so we must all seek to do it.

All disputes, arguing, quarrelling, backbiting, gossiping, and such activities should be abandoned in the month of Ramadan.

At the end of Ramadan EVERYONE who fasted, rich or poor must pay the sadaqat al-fitr before the Eid prayers. (Eid is the day of rewards for the ones who fasted in the month of Ramadan)

The sadaqat al-fitr is set at one sa' of dry food (barley or flour or dates) per person. Even though people pay money instead but the recommend practice of the Prophet is to pay in food. On sa' is equivalent to three kilograms approximately.

Sadaqat al-fitr which is also know as Zakat-ul-fitr MUST be paid BEFORE the Eid prayers. It can be paid anytime during the month of Ramadan. If one fails to pay it, their fasts are not accepted.

Things which invalidate a persons fast include:
Eating or drinking intentionally - if it is done by forgetfulness unintentionally it does not invalidate the fast.
Having sexual intercourse with your wife or husband
Masturbation or ejaculation through other means invalidates the fast. Having a wet dream does not invalidate the fast since it is not in our control.
Purposely delaying the breaking the fast at the time of Maghrib.
Fighting with people, cussing at people, looking at nudity, or porn also invalidates the fast.
Not observing the five daily compulsory prayers
Vomiting because of illness or sickness.
Bleeding excessively or being in an accident, in such cases for the safety of the person and preservation of life the fast must be broken.

Here is a sermon of the Prophet which describe Ramadan, its benefits and rewards on the day of Eid, in the best of words,

The Prophet Mohammed said, "O People! You are about to have the opportunity of a month which is at once glorious and full of blessing. It is a month which has a night that is better than a thousand months and that is laylat al Qard (Night of Power). Allah has prescribed for you fasting during this month and has made your standing in worship during its night an optional act (taraveeh prayers). If anyone does an act of piety during this month to gain nearness to Allah then he gets as many rewards as one gets after performing a fard (compulsory) in any other month. If he performs a fard (compulsory) during this month then he gets so many rewards as he accrues on doing seventy faraid (compulsory acts) in any other month.
This is the month of patience. The reward against patience is Paradise. This is a month of good-will and compassion. It is a month in which the provisions of a believer are increased. If anyone offers iftaar (meal taken at breaking fast) to a fasting person in this month, his conduct becomes a means of forgiveness for his sins and deliverance from the fire and he gets as many rewards as the fasting person will get without anything being deducted from the rewards of the fasting person.
The companions enquired, "O Messenger of Allah! Everyone of us does not have so much as to offer iftaar to a fasting person."
The Holy Prophet replied, 'Allah rewards even that person who offers a single date, a sip of water, or milk to which water is added as iftaar to anyone'.
It is a month whose first portion is mercy, the middle of it is forgiveness and the final part of it is deliverance from hell. If anyone remits some of the task of his servant (employees) in this month, Allah will forgive him and deliver him from hell. Therefore, do four things frequently in this month, two of which will fetch you the pleasure of your Lore and the other two are such that you cannot do without. The two which will fetch you the pleasure of your Lord are:
1. Keep testifying "Laa ilaha illa Allah" (There is no god but Allah)
2. Seek forgiveness of Allah by saying AstaghfiruAllah
The two which you cannot do without are:
1. Keep asking Allah for paradise and,
2. Seek his protection from the hellfire.
If anyone feeds a fasting person to a satiating point, Allah will give him such a drink from my spring (al-Kauther) that on drinking it he will not feel thirst until he enters paradise.
The fasts of the month of Ramadan remain suspended between heaven and earth and only through sadaqat al-fitr they are raised to heaven.
When it is the day of Eid-ul-Fitr, the Angels stand at the corners of roads and call out 'O Muslims! Come to the Lord who inspires you to good and thus favors you and then rewards heavily against that. You were asked to stand in the nights and you stood accordingly. You were commanded to observe fasts during the days and you kept the fasts. You obeyed your Lord, so now collect your rewards.'
So when the people have offered prayers, a caller announces: 'Listen! Your Lord has forgiven you. Go now, to your homes having received guidance." In fact, the day of Eid is a day of rewards and in the heavens it is called Yawm ul-Ja'izah (the day of rewards). [Tabarani, Targheeb, Abu Hafs, Ibn Khazeemah, Bayhaqi]

[Wafa]

Re: Fasting and Ramadan

wonderful sharing madiha.....:jazak: :rose

[sufiaamir]

Re: Fasting and Ramadan

Thanks

[Madiha kanwal]

Re: Fasting and Ramadan

Thankz 2 both 4 liking :)

[maha]

Re: Fasting and Ramadan

really awesome