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Time to purify and train
body and soul
The Blessed
Month of
Fasting
RA
MA
DA
N
A quick and easy summary on the meaning, purpose
and benefits of fasting in Islam.
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This presentation is a part of More on Islam presentation series. For other titles please contact [email protected] 2
A warm welcome to you!
The month of Ramadan is a blessed month. This presentation, we expect, would help you to explore more about Ramadan and to appreciate the significance of this blessed month.
We also hope that this
presentation will make your fasting purposeful and rewarding.
Introduction
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Ramadan – Sacred Month in the Islamic Calendar
Muharram Safar Rabi al Awwal
Rabi as Sani Jumadi
al Awwal
Jumadi as
Sani
Rajab
Shaban Ramadan
Shawwal
Dhul Qadh Dhul Hajj
Islamic Calendar or the Hijri Calendar is based on the lunar year.
It is obligatory on Muslims to fast in this month.
Holy Quran states: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to
those before you... ” [2:183]
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Physical Aspect of Fasting – Abstinence from…
From Dawn until Dusk
Smoking, Seesha, Meera etc. also prohibited during fasting !
X X X
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Physical Fasting – Ramadan Time-table: What does fasting involve?
Eating before dawn
Break fast
Day Night
Eating,
drinking
and sexual
activity
permitted
Eating,
drinking
and sexual
activity
forbidden
Special Prayers
Special Prayers
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Physical Fasting: People Who are Exempted from Fasting
Aged* Sick**
Pregnant
Women** Suckling
Women**
Menstruating
Women**
Minors Traveler**
Islam is very
considerate
religion
Mentally
Retarded
“… but whoever is sick or upon a journey, then (he shall fast)
a (like) number of other days; Allah desires ease for you,
and He does not desire for you difficulty, and (He desires)
that you should complete the number and that you
should exalt the greatness of Allah for His having guided you
and that you may give thanks.” -Quran- 2:185
* Should donate a meal to the needy
* * Should fast an equivalent number of days afterwards
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Spiritual Fasting: Opportunity & Training for Character-Building
Ramadan
Rest of the year
Ramadan provides opportunity
and training to an individual that
is meant to fulfil the character-
building by self-restraining from
evil acts to be near to Allah.
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Spiritual Dimension of Fasting
The goal of fasting is to develop self-restraint.
Holy Quran states: “O you who believe! Fasting is
prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those
before you, so that you may develop Taqwa (self-
restraint) ” [2:183]
Fear of God Love of God +
What is Taqwa? Taqwa is an Arabic word. It is the state of
heart that motivates virtuous conduct and
prevents evil action.
leads to Taqwa (Self-restraint)
Example: God says about Mary in the Qur’an that
she said: “Verily!, I have vowed a fast to the Most
Beneficent…[Maryam 19:26].
Taqwa is the ability to safe-guard.
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Spiritual Dimension of Fasting
Fasting
Patience
Self-control
Self-discipline
Responsibility
Obedience
Purification of soul
God-fearing nature
Afterlife Accountability
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What does the Quran say about Fasting?
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.
(2:184-5)
O ye who believe!
Fasting is prescribed to
you as it was prescribed
to those before you, that
you 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)
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What does the Quran say about Fasting?
the white thread of
dawn becomes distinct to
you from the black thread
[of night]. Then complete
the fast until the sunset.
And do not have relations
with them as long as you
are staying for worship in
the mosques. These are
the limits [set by] Allah,
so do not approach them.
Thus does Allah make
clear His ordinances to the
people that they may
become righteous.
(2:187)
It has been made
permissible for you the
night preceding fasting to
go to your wives [for
sexual relations]. They are
clothing for you and you
are clothing for them. Allah
knows that you used to
deceive yourselves, so He
accepted your repentance
and forgave you. So now,
have relations with them
and seek that which Allah
has decreed for you. And
eat and drink until
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Reward of Fasting in the Quran:
“..and fasting men and fasting
women…Allah has prepared for them
forgiveness and a mighty reward.”
(Surah 33 Verse 35)
“Fasting is for my sake, and I am
its reward.”
(Hadith e Qudsi)
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“A great blessed month…”
Prophet Muhammad’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
address on the eve of Ramadan:
“
People, a great blessed month has come upon you.
Allah has made fasting during it an obligation, and steadfastly
observing its nights in worship is a voluntary act.
Whoever undertakes an act of obedience to Allah during this
month with a righteous deed, it is as if he has performed an
obligatory act at other times,
and whoever performs an obligatory act during it is as one who
performed seventy obligations at other times.
It is the month of patience, and the reward for patience is
Paradise.
It is the month of goodwill, during which provisions are multiplied. ”
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Fasting and Sins Don’t go together
“ Allah has no need for the hunger and the thirst of the
person who does not restrain from telling lies and acting
on them even while observing fast.”
(Prophet Muhammad)
“ When one of you is fasting, s/he should abstain from
indecent acts and unnecessary talk, and if someone
begins an obscene conversation or tries to pick an
argument, s/he should simply tell him, ‘I am fasting.’” (Prophet Muhammad)
“ Your day of fasting should not be like ordinary days.
When you fast, all your senses, eyes, ears, tongue,
hands, and feet must fast with you.” (Imam Jafer as Sadiq)
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Developing Ethics through Fasting: Social Responsibility and Individual
Morality
“Two-fold , I learned is the purpose of fasting. One has to
abstain from food and drink in order to feel in one’s body
what the poor and hungry feel. Thus, social responsibility is
being encouraged into religious consciousness.
The other purpose of fasting during Ramadan is self-
discipline, an aspect of individual morality strongly
accentuated in all Islamic teachings ( as for instance in the
total prohibition of all intoxicants which Islam regards as
too easy avenue of escape from consciousness and
responsibility).
In these two elements- brotherhood of man and individual
self-discipline-began to discern the outlines of Islam’s
ethical outlook.”
Muhammad Asad ( formerly Leopold Weiss) perspective on fasting in his
book Road to Mecca
Social
responsibility
Self-
discipline
Islamic
Ethics
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Cultivating Feelings for Poor and Hungry
These are familiar images from Africa. But
poor and hungry people may be present in
your neighbourhood. Do you feel how the
hungry and thirsty feel?
The condition of hunger gets highlighted on each
fasting person leading to:
Care and concern for the poor and hungry
Helping attitude towards have-nots
Charity and donations
Refrain from wasting food and drinks.
Social responsibility
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Fasting for Good Health
“Fast and
you shall
become
healthy”
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings
of Allah be upon him)
“Fasting gives the body the environment to
heal itself--physiologic rest”
“Abstinence from food for a short time can
in no way operate to the disadvantage of a
normal person.”
“In fact, individuals affected with certain
types of gastrointestinal disorders are
benefited by fasting.”
“Fasting has also been used in cases of
diabetes and obesity.”
“It is a cleansing process and a physiologic
or functional rest which prepares the body
for future correct living.”
Recent Perspectives by Others
Stated
1400 years ago
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The Role of Fasting According to Dr Jack Goldstein*
It promotes elimination of metabolic wastes
It allows the body to adjust and normalize its
biochemistry and also its secretions
It lets the body break down and absorb
swellings, deposits, diseased tissues, and
abnormal growths;
It restores a youthful condition to the cells
and tissues
It increases the powers of digestion and
assimilation (absorption and utilization of food into the system)
It permits the conservation and re-routing of
energy; It clears and strengthens the mind;
It gives vital organs a complete rest
Fasting is good
for the human
body
* From the Book Triumph Over Disease By Fasting and Natural Diet
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Scientific Facts about Fasting*
Fasting:
Does not cause the stomach to atrophy
Does not paralyze the bowels
Does not deplete the blood
Does not produce anemia
Does not cause the heart to weaken or collapse
Does not produce deficiency or mal nutritional
disease
Does not reduce resistance to disease
Does not harm the teeth, the nervous system,
glands or vital organs
Does not weaken the vital powers or cause
mental disturbances.
Blood sugar is little depressed; it is synthesized
from protein.
* From the Book Triumph Over Disease By Fasting and Natural Diet
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Conclusion: Why Should One Fast?
Spiritual Reasons
In obedience to the command of Allah
As an obligatory act
To earn rewards and blessings from
Allah
To seek and receive forgiveness from
Allah for our errors and shortcomings
To receive increased sustenance from
Allah, by observing the ‘Night of Qadr’
To practice self-restraint
To guard against evil
To become pious and regular in our
prayers
To achieve peace of mind and
tranquility
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Conclusion: Why Should One Fast?
Moral, Ethical and Social Reasons
An opportunity to get rid of undesirable
habits
To inculcate and increase fortitude
and patience
To empathize with less fortunate
members of humanity who suffer
from hunger
To keep Satan and his prompting away
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Conclusion: Why One Should Fast?
