Ramadan

Fasting is a ritual worship in all religions although the fasting rules are different. Some main reasons are:

• It is a demostration of obedience and surrender to God will,
• It is helps to develop more capabiblities in refraining yourself from doing what you are forbidden to do, anf
• It helps you to have better feeling of the poor and persuades you to help them.
• It brings you closer to Allah (God in English)

Fasting is not new to Islam; it is, indeed, as old as Adam(a.s) who was the first creature and the first Muslim to submit to one Allah. No one knows precisely when fasting began among Adam's progenies but it is the practice of all the Prophets of Allah and their followers. Qur'an mentions that Musa(a.s) fasted for 40 days (see 2:51) (this is what the Jews termed "Jewish Passover") and the Prophet(s.a.w) told us that Dawud(a.s) used to fast for half of the year (this involves fasting on every alternate day). 'Issa (a.s) (or Jesus) was also reported to have fasted for 40 days (this is what the christians termed "the Lent", usually observed before Easter festival). Since these Prophets were Muslims, it can be seen that by asking Muslims to fast, Allah intends to draw their attention to the practice and tradition of those pious predecessors who attained piety (in His sight) through fasting.

Fasting the month of Ramadan is the fourth pillar of Islam. It's a duty commanded by the Almighty Allah. It teaches many good things like patience,feeling with poor & hungry people & helping them,solidarity in the Islamic community.

The Almighty Allah promised to reward those who fast to obey Him & bessech His favors.

Fasting is considered to be important to Muslims because the Islamic faith is built on five pillars: Shahadah (or the declaration of faith), Salat (prayer five times a day), Sawm (fasting), Zakat (paying alms to charity), and Hajj (the holy pilgrimage to Mekkah). Fasting, especially during Ramadan is considered to have great spiritual value, and it is believed that fasting will allow you to get closer to Allah by means of Taqwa. Muslims believe that fasting allows them to appreciate God and how much he does for them, as well as inducing empathy for those less fortunate. Fasting also helps create a feeling of Umma within the Islamic community as Muslims across the world know that their brothers and sisters are going through the same ordeal that they themselves are.

Not everybody has to fast. Children under the age of 13 (girls) or 14 (boys) are exempt, as are pregnant and breast-feeding women, the elderly and the sick. There are also many things that negate the fast if a person commits them. For example, eating, drinking, sexual activities, smoking, swearing and immoral behaviour all exempt the fast. If a person commits one of these offences, depending on the severity, they would either have to make up the day of fasting, or fast for 60 days after Ramadan ends. If this is not possible, they have to make up the cost of two meals for sixty poor people - this generally equates to being around £300.

If a person fasts for the fist six days of Shawwaal, after Eid-ul Fitr, it is said that the benefits in heaven will be as if that person had fasted for a lifetime.

Although fasting is beneficial to health, it is mainly a method of self-purification and self-restraint. By cutting oneself from worldly comforts, even for a short time, a fasting person focuses on his or her purpose in life by constantly being aware of the presence of God. God states in the Qur'an: "O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed to those before you that you may learn self-restraint." (Qur'an 2:183)

Fasting in the month of Ramadan is compulsory on every Muslim adult. The Arabic word sawm is used for fasting. The word sawm (plural siyam) literally means 'to refrain', but as an Islamic term, it means refraining from food, drinks and sexual activity from dawn to sunset. Allah says in the Quran, in Surah Al-Baqarah (2-183): 'O you who believe, siyam is prescribed on you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you may become self-restrained.'

The importance of Siyam in Ramadan is clearly expressed in several sayings of the Prophet(S.A.W.). It is reported by Abu Hurairah that the Prophet said: 'He who fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeks his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven; he who prays during the night in Ramadan with faith and seeks his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven; and he who passes Lailat al- Qadr in prayer with faith and seeks his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven.'

(Bukhari and Muslim)

Fasting in Ramadan is practiced by Muslims all over the world. The most significant aspect of Siyam is the development of Allah-consciousness (Taqwa) in the heart and the soul of a fasting Muslim. One must abstain from immoral behavior and attitude as well. Refraining from food and such is essential during fast but it is not sufficient. The Prophet of Allah is reported to have said: 'If one does not abandon falsehood in words and deeds, Allah has no need for his abandoning of his food and drink.'

(Al-Bukhari)

WHO IS EXEMPT FROM SAWM?

Fasting is mandatory on every Muslim who is sane, adult, able and resident. The following exemptions apply:

1. the insane;
2. children who are not adolescent yet;
3. the elderly and chronically ill for whom fasting is unreasonably strenuous; Such persons are required to feed at least one poor person every day in Ramadan for which he or she has missed fasting.
4. pregnant women and nursing may postpone the fasting at a later time;
5. the ill and the travellers can also defer their fasting.

   Allah says in the Qur'an, Surah Al-Baqara:

   'But if anyone is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period should be made up by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put you to difficulties.'

6. Women during the period of menstruation or of post childbirth confinement. Fasting during these periods is forbidden and should be made up later, a day for a day.

DURATION OF SAWM:

Fasting starts everyday in Ramadan at the break of dawn, which is also the start of the Salatul Fajr time. Fasting ends at sunset or with the call of Salatul Maghrib.

VALIDITY OF FASTING:

The validity of fasting depends on the following:

1. Abstaining from food, liquids and sexual activity from dawn to sunset.
2. The intention to fast must be made every day before dawn. The intention (niyyah) may be made during night before going to sleep or it can also be made at the time of Suhoor before dawn. Suhoor is eating before fasting. It should be as close to Fajr time as possible. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) says:

   'Partake Suhoor, for there is blessing in Suhoor.'(Bukhari, Muslim)

   It is desirable to break the fast as soon as possible after sunset. Breaking the fast with dates or water is a tradition of the Prophet. Following is one of the Du'a for breaking fast: Allahumma laka sumtu WA 'ala ridhqika aftartu (O Allah! For You did I fast and with Your bounties did I break the fast.)

The things which invalidate fast are of two kinds. The first one requires Qada (only making up missed days), the other one not only requires Qada but also Kaffarah(a penalty).

The following are the things that require Qada only:

1. Eating or drinking intentionally. This includes non-nourishing items taken by mouth.
2. Deliberately causing oneself to throw up.
3. The beginning of menstruation or post-childbirth bleeding even in the last moment before sunset.
4. Ejaculation for reasons other than sexual intercourse.
5. Intending to break the fast before sunset even if one changes his mind, since intention is one of the pre-requisites of the validity of fasting.
6. Eating, drinking or having intercourse after dawn on the mistaken assumption that it is not dawn yet. Similarly, engaging in these acts before Maghrib on the mistaken assumption that it is already sunset.

Things that not only require Qada but also Kaffarah are the following:

Sexual intercourse during fasting(dawn to dusk). The penalty is to fast an additional period of 60 continuous days. If one is not able to do so then he must feed sixty poor people-one average meal each.

Before the days of the Prophet Muhammad(S.A.W.), slavery was a common practice in the Arab world. Islam eliminated slavery from the society in a very short period of time. A useful approach was to allow people free a slave as a charity or as a penalty for a sin. Thus during the time of the Prophet(S.A.W.), setting a slave free was the penalty one must pay as a kaffarah, if he or she had a slave.

What does not break the fast:

1. If anyone forgets that he is fasting and eats or drinks, he should complete his fast, for it is only Allah who has fed him and given him drink. (A Hadith from Muslim).
2. Unintentional vomiting.
3. Swallowing things which are not possible to avoid, such as one's saliva, street dust, smoke, etc.
4. Brushing the teeth.
5. Injection or intra-venous which is solely medical and not nutritional.

Breaking of fast under exceptional conditions:

Muslims are permitted to break the ordained fast of Ramadan when there is danger to their health. In this situation a Muslim should make up his fast later at any other time of the year.

Medical and health benefits of fasting:

In the bodies of fasting people, epinephrine and cortisone hormones mix into the bloodstream more easily. These hormones have effects also on cancerous cells. They serve as a shield against cancer; that is, they prevent the growth of cancer cells. Indeed, the body of a fasting person is in maintenance mode. The fat that surrounds internal organs melts away. The body becomes invigorated and gathers physical strength with an increased level of resistance to Diabetes as well as stomach, kidney, heart, and liver diseases.

The liver takes a rest for 3-5 hours during fasting, thereby stopping storage of food substances for a while. In the mean time, it prepares globulins, which will boost the immune system. Muscles in the stomach and cells that release secretions, too, have a rest for some time during fasting hours. As the volume of blood circulating in the body decreases and consequently blood pressure drops, the heart relaxes.

If waste materials from food are not burned thoroughly, they impair arteries. Unburned fats make arteries narrower and cause the disease called arteriosclerosis. [During the practice of fasting], nearly no substance is left in the body towards sunset. That is, all substances are metabolized. Hence, fasting is beneficial for some diseases, especially for arteriosclerosis sufferers. Other body organs, too, get a chance to rest. Eating less and fasting are of vital importance for body health. Zakat (obligatory charity) is the dirt of wealth. Just as a zakat giver protects his/her wealth against dirt, so a fasting person pays the zakat of his/her body and protects it against diseases. Our master the Prophet said, "There is a zakat for everything. The zakat for the body is fasting" (Ibn Maja).

In addition:

Benefits of fasting are many. Two hadith-i sharifssay:

(Fasting melts away the flesh and keeps a person away from Hellfire. The blessings that no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, and no mind has ever imagined will fall only to the lot of a fasting person.) [Tabarani]

(Whoever observes fast for a day in the way of Allah, Allahu ta'ala, owing to this single fast, keeps him seventy years' distance away from Hell.) [Bukhari]

The reward for fasting is much more compared with other acts of worship. It was declared in a hadith-i qudsi, "Each good deed is rewarded from tenfold to seven hundredfold. However, fasting is for Me, and it is I who will reward it because My servant has abandoned his lust and his eating and drinking for Me" (Bukhari).

Though it is Allahu ta'ala who gives reward for each good deed, there is a divine reason for His saying, "It is I who will reward it." Even though the whole globe is in Allahu ta'ala's possession, the Kaaba is called Baitullah (the House of Allah) in order to honor it. By saying, "Fasting is for Me," He grants it a special honor. The reward (thawab) that will be granted to the fast observers is beyond measure. Much thawab will be given to them in accordance with their states. It is more rewarding to fast when others do not. A hadith-i sharif says, "When those who do not fast eat near a fast observer, angels pray for him" (Tirmidhi).

Those who cannot observe voluntary fast for any reason whatsoever should render thanks to Allahu ta'ala and feed guests and the poor. It was declared in a hadith-i sharif, "He who feeds others by giving thanks is like the one who fasts by showing patience" (Tirmidhi).

The thankful people will be rewarded abundantly. To be thankful (shukr) means to live by Islam.

Hadrat Imam-i Rabbani states, "The rewards given for the voluntary worships done in Ramadan are like those given for the obligatory ones done in other months. One obligatory act of worship done in this month is like seventy obligatory acts of worship done in other months. If a person disrespects this month and commits sins during it, he/she will spend all the year sinning."

Therefore, we must more strictly avoid sinning especially in the month of Ramadan. Additionally, acts of worship performed at holy places are more rewarding. As a matter of fact, a hadith-i sharif says, "One Ramadan fast observed in Mecca is more meritorious than a thousand Ramadan fasts observed in another place" (Bazzar).

In a similar way, the reward for acts of worship offered on Friday is multiplied, and sins committed on Friday are registered twofold. We should appreciate the value of sacred days and behave accordingly.

Your roza can only be invalid if food or drinks pass through your esophagus. Therefore using toothpaste is allowed as long as doesn't pass your esophagus. In smoking however, the smoke does pass your esophagus and therefore makes your roza invalid. A huge part of Islam is resistance, which means you have to try to get to as close to perfection as possible even though you'll never be perfect. In the pursuit of perfection, try leave these bad habits.

Sorry! The statement "Your roza can only be invalid if food or drinks pass through your esophagus." is not the whole truth. Allah Almighty doesn't want to keep us hungry for nothing. The purpose of Fasting (Roza) is attaining 'Piety' - Taqwa. Taqwa doesn't mean keeping hungry. It is a kind of restraint on our feelings and emotions. There are many sinful activities which make Raza invalid.

Answer 2

All of the Ulama(scholars)Of Islam Agree that the Fast/Roza breaks when smoking.The non learnerd do not have the right to make up their own rulings.

Shab e Arafat lands on a different date each year. In 2015, it will be on September 22.

Upcoming Years:

September 22, 2015

September 10, 2016

August 31, 2017

August 20, 2018

August 10, 2019

July 30, 2020

July 19, 2021

July 8, 2022

June 27, 2023

June 15, 2024