11/23/2023 0 Comments Islam fasting month“Allah desires ease for you, and He does not desire for you difficulty.” ( 2:185) The Philosophy of Fasting Some of those people have to make up the days they have missed when their situation returns to normal while some are exempted totally. The old-aged people, the sick, those who are traveling, the pregnant woman, and the nursing mother – all such people are exempted from fasting during the month of Ramadhan. Of course, Islam is a practical religion. This is one example of the justice and fairness by Allah so that all people may fast through various seasons and that is why the lunar system of calendar is preferable for the religious rituals. But when Ramadhan occurs in summer, the days are longer, and it is not that easy to fast. When Ramadhan occurs in winter, the days are shorter and it is easier to fast. An Islamic month begins with sighting of the new moon, and ends upon the sighting of the next new moon. The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar system it is ten days shorter than the common calendar. The length of the days of Ramadhan depends on the season in which that month occurs. The Qur’an is very clear that the fasting starts from dawn and ends after the night has set in – “then complete the fast till night” – and that is why the Shi‘a Muslims, in following the Imams of the Ahlul Bayt, emphasize that one has to wait for some time after the sunset to break the fast because in their view sunset (al-ghurub) and night (al-layl) are not the same. They get up while it is still night time to have their pre-dawn meal and then go without food, drink or smoking for the entire day until the night. So during the month of Ramadhan, the daily schedule of a Muslim family changes. “Eat and drink until the ‘white thread’ (i.e., dawn twilight) becomes visible from the ‘black thread’ (i.e., darkness below the horizon) and then complete the fast till night time…” “It is made lawful for you to have sexual relations with your wives during the night of the fast.” ( 2:187) This abstinence has to be exercised every day from dawn to dusk. How do the Muslims Fast?įasting for Muslims means that all physically fit and mature Muslims have to totally and completely abstain from food, drink, smoking and sexual activity. For example, the Jewish people observe fasting in connection with the Day of Atonement and there is the Christian tradition of Lent which refers to the period of forty days, excluding Sundays, from Ash Wednesday to Easter, which was until recent past observed annually as a season of fasting. So that you may guard yourself (against displeasing Allah).” ( 2:183)Īccording to this verse, the tradition of fasting is not unique to Islam even the Christians and the Jews are familiar with this tradition. “O you who believe! Fasting has been prescribed for you as it had been prescribed for those (communities) who came before you. Fasting during the month of Ramadhan is one of the pillars of Islamic teachings.
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