In preparation for the month of Ramadan, the fasting month, also the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar, I have compiled the following to enable us enter into the month prepared and ready to receive Allah's forgiveness and all other benefits associated with this great month. May Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) help us in our efforts to earn His pleasure.Ameen.
Whatever we do in Islam, Allah urges us to do with full knowledge and sincere faith. Therefore, before embarking on anything, we will only be fair to ourselves if we seek knowledge of that particular thing. I'll try my best to explain in the simplest of terms what Ramadan entails and how we should fast.
Unlike what some people are made to believe, Fasting is very easy and fun.Believe me!All you need to do is to tune your mind to it. You will not only love fasting, you will crave for it!!!
Meaning of Fasting
Fasting entails abstinence from some or all kinds of foods and drinks for a period of time, which varies depending on the aim of the person fasting. Fasting has been used over time for mainly spiritual purposes. It is also used for body detoxification, for weight loss and a whole lot of other purposes.
Fasting in Islam
In Islam, Fasting is the total abstinence from all kinds of foods and drinks (including water) and sexual intercourse. It does not stop there however. It also involves abstinence from smoking and all forms of behavior recognised as sins according to the Islamic Shari'ah. These include, but are not limited to stealing, back biting, gossiping, etc.
Fasting is the fourth pillar of Islam and fasting in the month of Ramadan is an obligatory act in Islam. It is also called Sawm. Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) gives the command to fast in His glorious Qur'an:
O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint, (2:183)
(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. (2:184)
The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.(2:185)
Those who are not Mandated to Fast
1. Young Children: These are children who have not reached puberty. For a girl, puberty is reached when she starts menstruating, while for the boy, it is when he wet dreams. These start usually between the ages of 9 and 15. However, parents should encourage their young children to fast so as to get them acquainted with fasting before it becomes mandatory on them.
2. Elderly People: These are people who have reached the stage of mindlessness, that is, people who cannot comprehend what they say or do. For this class of people, fasting is not mandatory and they are not required to feed other people as compensation.
3. The Mentally Unstable: People who suffer from a mentally challenging illness are not required to fast during Ramadan but the person is required to make up for the days missed when they get better, as instructed by Allah (SWT) ". . .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. (2:184)"
4. The Sick: This group includes people who suffer from a medical condition that makes fasting difficult. This may also include people who are under medication which is required to be taken during the day. The sickness referred to does not include simple headache or stomach pain due to hunger.
5. Nursing Mothers and Pregnant Women: If fasting will jeopardise the health of the baby or that of the mother, the mother is exempted from fasting but is required to make up the missed number of days later on. A doctor's opinion should however be sought as missing a fast unnecessarily is a very big sin.
6.The Traveler: A traveler on a journey, which Qasr is permitted, has a choice to fast or to miss the fast. He/She is also required to make up for the day missed before the next Ramadan.
What to do in Ramadan
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims are required to increase their acts of worship. This can be done by observing the following:
1. Doing the Tasbih: The tasbih can be done anywhere and at any time - Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar, La haula wala quwwata illa billah, La'ilaha illallah. They are very easy and can be done continuosly. You can pick one or all at a time.
2. Praying Salatul Taraweeh and Tahajjud: These are very important and special especially because they are only observed in Ramadan. They are strongly recommended and observed by the Prophet (Sallahu Alaihi wa Sallam). Salatul Taraweeh starts when the moon is sighted and lasts throughout the month (that is, until the moon for Shawwal is sighted), while Tahajjud prayer is observed in the last ten (or nine) days of the month. Taraweeh is done immediately after Isha Prayer and Tahajjud is prayed in the night(usually from midnight to the time for Sahur).
3.Qur'an Recitation: Muslims are encouraged to recite the Qur'an completely. It is also advisable to read it with meaning so as to increase taqwa.
4.Feeding the Poor: Muslims should spread love across the community by feeding the poor in the community (both muslims and non-muslims). Allah (SWT) commands us in His Glorious Qur'an to be kind to the poor and this is a very good oppurtunity to do that. Allah (SWT) says:
“Worship Allaah and join none with Him in worship; and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, the poor, the neighbour who is near of kin, the neighbour who is a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet), and those (slaves) whom your right hands possess. Verily, Allaah does not like such as are proud and boastful.” (An-Nisaa 4:36)
And His word, “Verily, Allaah enjoins Al-'dl (i.e. justice and worshipping none but Allaah Alone - Islaamic Monotheism) and Al-Ihsân (i.e. to be patient in performing your duties to Allaah, totally for Allaah's sake and in accordance with the Sunnah (legal ways) of the Prophet (peace be upon him in a perfect manner), and giving (help) to kith and kin (i.e. all that Allaah has ordered you to give them e.g., wealth, visiting, looking after them, or any other kind of help), and forbids Al-Fahshâ' (i.e. all evil deeds, e.g. illegal sexual acts, disobedience of parents, polytheism, to tell lies, to give false witness, to kill a life without right), and Al-Munkar (i.e. all that is prohibited by Islaamic law: polytheism of every kind, disbelief and every kind of evil deeds), and Al-Baghy (i.e. all kinds of oppression), He admonishes you, that you may take heed.” (An-Nahl 16:90)
5. Eating with the Ummah: Muslims are also advised to eat together when they break their fast.This spreads love among the Ummah.
All these are simple things that can be done together with the entire family.
How To Prepare For Ramadan
In preparing for Ramadan, most people forget the spiritual aspect and concentrate only on buying food stuffs and decorating their homes. The Spiritual aspects to concentrate on include but are not limited to:
1.Fasting in the Month of Sha'aban: The Prophet (SAW) is reported to fast more in the month of Sha'aban than anyother month except ramadan.
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “I have never seen the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) completing the fast of a month as he did for Ramadan, and I have never seen him fasting so much as he would in Sha’aban.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Aishah, the Mother of the believers (may Allah be please with her) said that the Prophet "used to fast most of the days of Sha`ban, but he stopped fasting when he got close to the month of Ramadan." (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
2.Increasing Night Prayer (Qiyamul Layl): One may observe or increase the number of raka'ts prayed in regular Qiyamul Layl. This will enable one to be acquainted with long night stands, which will be useful during Taraweeh and Tahajjud prayers.
3.Qur'an Recitation: Muslims should recite more chapters of the Qur'an so as to get used to it before the month of Ramadan.
May Allah (SWT) accept our Ibadaah during Ramadan, before it, and beyond it. Ameen.
I wish you all Ramadan Kareem in advance.
