Alhamdulilah Ramadan is here!!! For many of you this is your first Ramadan and others are seasoned pros at this point. If this is your first Ramadan you're in for a wonderful experience. When I think of my first Ramadan I remember feeling very peaceful, calm, nervous, anxious, and excited all at once. Mostly because I had only been a Muslimah for a few months and still had a lot to learn but it was amazing time for me. = ) Insha' Allah this post will be informative to the new shahaadahs and a helpful refresher for others.
What?
What does it mean to fast during the month of Ramadan? It means abstaining from the following: food, drink and sexual intercourse. This means no water, candy or gum. We must do more than simply not eat while we are fasting.
"Many a one who fasts obtains nothing from his fasting but thirst, and many a one who prays during the night obtains nothing from his night prayers but wakefulness." (Al-Tirmidhi)
To avoid this we want to mindful of our thoughts, actions, temper and words.
Most importantly because it was prescribed by Allah (s.w.t.) in the Quran
"O you who believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious)? [al-Baqarah 2:183]
The month of Ramadan is a blessed month. It is the month in which Allah revealed the Quran as guidance for the whole of mankind. It is the month in which Allah gave the Muslims victory in their first and greatest battle at Badr. It is the month which has Laylat al-Qadr, a night which is better than a thousand months.
Fasting during the month of Ramadan is the 3rd pillar of Islam and it is a means of learning self-control. Ramadan is a time of intensive worship, reading of the Quran, giving charity, purifying one's behavior, and doing good deeds.
Who?
Fasting in Ramadan is obligatory on all adults who are sane. Sick people, women who are menstruating or post natal bleeding and some travelers in certain conditions are exempt from the fast but must make it up as they are able. They can do this either by feeding the hungry of fasting later on in the year.
When?
The daily period of fasting starts at the breaking of dawn and ends at the setting of the sun. We start our day off with suhoor (a pre-fast meal) before dawn and a iftar (post-fast mea) after sunset.
The Islamic lunar calendar, being 11 to 12 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, migrates throughout the seasons. Thus, if Ramadan begins on January 20 one year, next year it will begin on approximately January 9. In this way, the length of the day, and thus the fasting period, varies in length from place to place over the years. Every Muslim, no matter where he or she lives, will see an average Ramadan day of the approximately 13.5 hours.
This year Ramadan began on the 22nd of August.
Where?
Worldwide! Muslims around the world are fasting for the month of Ramadan.
During Ramadan the gates of paradise are opened and the gates of the Hell-Fire are closed and the Shayaateen are locked up. (Muslim). There are no excuses to not do what we are supposed to. What ever you naffs are, give them up for the month and insha' Allah everyday after Ramadan as well. Insha' Allah, if you can do it or not do for 30 days you can maintain it for ever.
The rewards for fasting during this month are great, let's not let this opportunity pass us by.
Fasting is a means for one's sins to be forgiven. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said: "He who fasts Ramadan, due to iman and hoping for reward (from Allah) then his past sins are forgiven." [Bukhaaree, Muslim]
May Allah grant us all a successful and blessed Ramadan and may our previous sins be forgiven- ameen
Asalaamu alaikum
Nadira
Muslimah2Muslimah
