Any advice 4 first time fasters?

Question

first time fasting... even tho i should've started yrs ago, it's just that i was rather skinny & fasting was hazardous to my health.

Answer 1

Eat alot of food before fasting. Make sure that you brush your teeth and DO NOT swallow it. I know it is hard to avoid eating food or drinks but think of African people. Look at them. They are so starving and they have no food or houses.

If you think you can do it, then Allah (SWT) will reward you.

Ramadan Mubarak!

Answer 2

Read all about Ramadan or at least listen to some lectures that talk about the benefits of Ramadan, learn all about the dos and the don'ts.

Once you understand the enormous awards that await those who fast,  fasting will become enjoyable for you.

articles such as the one below are excellent read for Ramadan.

intoductory and complementary notes by the translator:

1. Ramadhan is an auspicious opportunity for believers to renew their commitment to their Creator and the Sovereign of the Day of Recompense.  This commitment must be both outward and inward, so that a Muslim not only recites more Qur'an and offers more units of prayer, but that she or he does so with reflection, humility and attentiveness.

2. Muslims must ensure they are not formalists who concentrate only on the outward.  Achieving Allah's acceptance must be a believer's priority and is not easy.  "Indeed, Allah only accepts from the righteous [who fear him - al muttaqoon]." [Qur'an 5:27]

3. Ramadhan is a wonderful opportunity for accounting of one's sins and making repentance.  If one does not repent in Ramadhan, when will he or she do so?

4. Muslims should strive to worship Allah as best as they can from the beginning of the month, for that increases chances of the end of the month being good as well.

5. Muslims should consider what is it that they truly want to achieve in Ramadhan, whether they want to be from the winners or from the losers, and should make sure they do not perform acts of worship simply because it is the surrounding people's custom to do so.

6. Muslims must be firmly aware that Ramadhan is only a means and not an end.



Advice to Muslims in Ramadhan

From the book "Khulaasatul Kalaam" by Shaykh Jaarullah.

Brother Muslim, Sister Muslima:

1. Fast Ramadhan with belief and truly seeking the reward of Allah the Most High so that He may forgive you your past sins.

2.  Beware of breaking your fast during the days of Ramadhan without a valid Islamic excuse, for it is from the greatest of sins.

3.  Pray Salat ut-Taraweeh and the night prayer during the nights of Ramadhan - especially on Layatul-Qadr - based on belief and truly seeking the reward of Allah, so that Allah may forgive you your past sins.

4.  Make sure that your food, your drink and your clothing are from halal means, in order that your actions be accepted, and your supplications answered.  Beware of refraining from the halal while fasting and breaking your fast with the haram.

5.  Give food to some fasting people to gain a reward similar to theirs.

6.  Perform your five prayers on time in congregation to gain the reward and Allah's protection.

7.  Give a lot of charity for the best charity is that of Ramadhan.

8.  Beware of spending your time without performing righteous deeds, for you will be responsible and reckoned for it and will be rewarded for all you do during your time.

9.  Perform `umrah in Ramadhan for `Umrah in Ramadhan is equal to Hajj.

10. Seek help for fasting during the day by eating the sahoor meal in the last part of the night before the appearance of Fajr.

11.  Hasten breaking your fast after the sun has truly set in order to gain the love of Allah.

12. Perform ghusl before fajr if you need to purify yourself from the state of major impurity so that you are able to do acts of worship in a state of purity and cleanliness.

13.  Cease the opportunity of being in Ramadhan and spend it with the good that has been revealed in it - by reciting the noble Qur'an and pondering and reflection of its meanings so that it be a proof for you with your Lord and an intercessor for you on the Day of Reckoning.

14.  Preserve your tongue from lying, cursing, backbiting and slander for it decreases the reward of fasting.

15. Do not let fasting cause you cross your boundaries by getting upset due to the slightest of reasons.  Rather, fating should be a cause of peacefulness and tranquility of your soul.

16. Upon completion of fasting, be in a state of taqwa of Allah the Most High, being aware of Allah watching you in secret and in public, in thankfulness for His favors, and steadfastness upon obedience of Allah by doing all what He has ordered and shunning all that He has prohibited.

17. Increase in remembrance of Allah, seeking of forgiveness, asking for Paradise and protection against the Fire, especially when fasting, while breaking the fast and during suhoor, for these actions are among greatest causes of attaining Allah's forgiveness.

18.  Increase in supplication for yourself, your parents, your children and Muslims, for Allah has ordered making of supplications and has guaranteed acceptance.

19.  Repent to Allah with a sincere repentance in all times by leaving sins, regretting those that you have done before and firmly deciding not to return to them in the future, for Allah accepts repentance of those who repent.

20.  Fast six days of Shawwal, for whoever fasts Ramadhan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fa