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Benefits
The third pillar of Islam is
fasting. Fasting has many spiritual, physical, and behavioral
benefits along with being a religious obligation of Islam. One month
out of the year we celebrate Ramadan (the month of fasting). Ramadan
is a extraordinary month of the year for over one billion Muslims
throughout the world. Ramadan is also a time of intense worship,
reading of the Quran, giving charity, cleansing one's behavior,
self-control and doing good deeds. Abstaining from our bodily
desires during the daylight hours gives us more time to dedicate to
Allah, which brings us closer to God.
Out of Love for Allah
Observing fasting is
accomplished out of love for Allah. The one who loves God truly will
be the successful in the next life. While we fast, we prove our
devotion, dedication and closeness to God. We fast for Allah and for
His sake alone, we keep our fast. All Muslims are brought into
social equality, and brotherhood. The gap between financial statuses
is broken down. Feeling the pains of deprivation, enduring them with
patience, developing sympathy for the poor, and learning to be
thankful for all of Allah's blessings.
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of
the Islamic calendar. The much-anticipated start of the month is
based on sightings of the moon and astrological calculations. Each
area of the world relies on different calculations for the moon if
it can not be seen do to weather conditions. In the United States,
most communities follow the decision of the Islamic Society of North
America, which accepts legitimate sightings of the new moon anywhere
in the United States.
The end of the month, marked
by the celebration of 'Eid-ul-Fitr, is similarly determined. Only
during Ramadan is fasting mandatory. Seriously ill, travelers,
children under the praying age, women who are having post partum
bleeding, and woman during her monthly period are exempted from the
fast. The woman who is pregnant or the one who is breast-feeding can
break fast if they fear for themselves or their children. If you
begin fasting and then become sick you are allowed to break your
fast. If traveling over the equivalent of 80 km, it is up to you to
fast or not. Each person excluding children are required to make up
their fast or feed the poor.
The Quran says
[2-185]so evey one of you who is present during that month (Ramadan)
should spend it in fasting.
Fasting should begin by making
the intention the night before. The intention should be made in your
heart. Muhammad (pbuh) said that all actions are judged by
intention. It is recommended to have a pre-fast meal (suhoor) before
dawn and a post-fast meal (iftar) after sunset. It is forbidden
while fasting to eat or to drink or to allow any water to enter the
body threw the mouth, nose or ear. This also includes any gums or
mints. The only substance that may enter the body is water during
wudu. If you eat or drink while fasting forgetfully or mistakenly,
or due to other persons threats, you do not need to Qada (make up
your fast) but you should continue fasting when you are able or
aware. Deliberately inducing vomiting will break your fast and
requires Qada. If you vomit with out meaning to you should continue
you’re fast so long as you did not swallow back any of the vomit.
You must also abstain from smoking, and marital sex. Who ever has
intercourse with (penetration and ejaculation) your fast is broken.
You must then Qada, and Kaffarah (free a slave or fast for sixty
days consecutively or feed sixty poor people) If you approached each
other without penetrating and without ejaculating your fast would
continue. The same rules apply for kissing. Kissing without entering
each others mouths will not break the fast.
What else should You Know?
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The last
ten days of Ramadan are very special. The night on which the
first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet (pbuh),
known as the Night of Power (Lailat ul-Qadr) occurred during the
last ten days. The Quran states that this night is better than a
thousand months. Therefore many Muslims spend the entire night
in prayer.
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It is a
common practice for Muslims to break their fast at sunset with
dates (iftar), following the custom of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Here is a sampling of common phrases
used during fasting:
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"Kullu am
wa antum bi-khair"
May you be well throughout the year
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"Atyab
at-tihani bi-munasabat hulul shahru Ramadan al-Mubarak"
Congratulations on the occasion of the coming of Ramadan
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"'Eid
mubarak”
A Blessed 'Eid
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