What is fasting and what does it have to do with Ramadan?

Question

I keep hearing questions about Ramadan and fasting.

Answer 1

Fasting during the Islamic month of Ramadan can be good for one's health and personal development. Ramadan fasting is not just about disciplining the body to restrain from eating food and drinking water from predawn until sunset. The eyes, the ears, the tongue, and even the private parts are equally obligated to be restrained if a Muslim wants to gain the total rewards of fasting. Ramadan is also about restraining anger, doing good deeds, exercising personal discipline, and preparing oneself to serve as a good Muslim and a good person during and after Ramadan.

This is why the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him, Pbuh) has been attributed, by Hazrat Abu Hurairah in hadith, to say: "He who does not desist from obscene language and acting obscenely (during the period of fasting), Allah has no need that he didn't eat or drink." (Bukhari, Muslim). In another hadith by Hazrat Abu Harairah, the Prophet (Pbuh) said: "Fasting is not only from food and drink, fasting is to refrain from obscene (acts). If someone verbally abuses you or acts ignorantly toward you, say (to them) 'I am fasting; I am fasting." (Ibn Khuzaoinah). Restraint from food, water, and undesirable behavior makes a person more mentally disciplined and less prone to unhealthy behavior. In an investigation in Jordan (1), a significant reduction of parasuicidal cases was noted during the month of Ramadan. In the United Kingdom, the Ramadan model has been used by various health departments and organizations to reduce cigarette smoking among the masses, especially among Africans and Asians (2).

Answer 2

Ramadan is the Muslim holy month. At the onset of Ramadan Muslims all over the world start fasting from dawn to dusk daily for 30 days as ordained in Qur'an.

But why do we need to fast? It is our experience that temptations and ways of the world tend to spoil our purity and austerity. Thus we indulge in food all of the time, snacking and nibbling the whole day, heading to obesity. We drink too much coffee, or tea, or carbonated drinks. Some sexaholics can not stay away from s*x unless they do it at least once or more a day. When we argue, we leave our decency aside and resort to vulgar talk and even physical fighting.

Now when one is fasting, he or she cannot do all of that. When he looks at the mouth watering food, he cannot even taste it and he has to give up snacking and nibbling as well as smoking cigarettes if he does. No constant coffee, tea or Coke drinking either. Sexual passions have to be curtailed and when he is provoked to fight, he says " I am fasting that I cannot respond to your provocation". To achieve God consciousness or God nearness, a better word, we are advised to do additional prayer and read the Qur'an.

There are many benefits of fasting, it's great for the mind. There are psychological effects of fasting as well. There is a peace and tranquility for those who fast during the month of Ramadan. Personal hostility is at a minimum. You should try it some time, don't have to be Muslim to fast. It's a great detox for the mind. You'll feel great.

Answer 3

if you dont know about it you dont have to know about it.

Answer 4

Thank you for your question.

Fasting in the month of Ramadan is obligatory upon every Muslim, male or female, who is adult (i.e. has reached puberty) and sane and who is not sick or on a journey.

Fasting is called sawm in the Qur'an. The word sawm literally means "to abstain". In Surat Maryam, Allah tells us about Mary the mother of Jesus that she said, "I have vowed a fast (sawm) for the sake of the Merciful, so today I shall not speak to anyone." (Maryam 19: 26) The meaning is “I have vowed to abstain from speaking to anyone today”. According to Shari'ah, the word (sawm means to abstain from all those things that are forbidden during fasting from the break of dawn to the sunset, and to do this with the intention of fasting.

The Qur'an says: "O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those who were before you, in order that you may learn taqwa." (al-Baqarah 2: 183)

Answer 5

Salam for you my dear sophie. Fasting is managing or controlling our own lusts for eating,drinking,s*x and anything which will break the requirement of fasting.We muslims have been instructed by Allah as stated in the Qur'an surah Al Baqarah verse 183,that we should fast during the month of ramadan for strengthening our own faith and our taqwa (compliance) to Allah By fasting we will feel more social,honest and discipline.The digestion in the stomach will take arest for about 14 hours a day so we will get more healthier By fasting we will not be easily tempted by syaitans or iblises. During ramadan we should multify our good doings and avoid bad doings.At night we should make taraweeh praying in togetherness at the mosque,reciting the Qur'an and make xikir or reminding Allah.By good fasting,Allah will bless and forgive us.

Answer 6

Is been answerd manytimes do a search

Answer 7

In Islam, fasting for a month is an obligatory practice during the holy month of Ramadan, from fajr (dawn), until maghrib (sunset). Muslims are prohibited from eating, drinking, smoking, and engaging in sexual intercourse while fasting. Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the Pillars of Islam, and thus one of the most important acts of Islamic worship. By fasting, whether during Ramadan or other times, a Muslim draws closer to their Lord by abandoning the things they enjoy, such as food and drink. This makes the sincerity of their faith and their devotion to God (Arabic: Allah) all the more evident.

The Qur'an states that fasting was prescribed for those before them (i.e., the Jews and Christians) and that by fasting a Muslim gains taqwa, which can be described as the care taken by a person to do everything God has commanded and to keep away from everything that He has forbidden. Fasting helps prevent many sins and is a shield with which the Muslim protects him/herself from jahannam (h**l).

Muslims believe that fasting is more than abstaining from food and drink. It also includes abstaining from any falsehood in speech and action, from any ignorant and indecent speech, and from arguing and fighting, and lustful thoughts. Therefore, fasting helps develop good behavior.

Fasting also inculcates a sense of fraternity and solidarity, as Muslims feel and experience what their needy and hungry brothers and sisters feel. However, even the poor, needy, and hungry participate in the fast. Moreover, Ramadan is a month of giving charity and sharing meals to break the fast together.

While fasting in the month of Ramadan is considered Fard (obligatory), Islam also prescribed certain days for non-obligatory, voluntary fasting, such as:

each Monday and Thursday of a week

the 13th, 14th, and 15th day of each lunar month

six days in the month of Shawwal (the month following Ramadan)

the Day of Arafat (9th of Dhu al-Hijjah in the Hijri (Islamic calendar)

the Day of Ashura (10th of Muharram in the Hijri calendar), (Only Sunni Muslims fast on this day. In Shia Islam it is prohibited.)

Fasting is forbidden on these days: [7]

Eid Fitr (1st Shawwal) and Eid Adha (10th Dzulhijjah)

Tashriq (11th, 12th, 13th Dzulhijjah)

Although fasting is fard (obligatory), exceptions are made for persons in particular circumstances:

Prepubescent children; though some parents will encourage their children fast earlier for shorter periods, so the children get used to fasting.

Serious illness; the days lost to illness will have to be made up after recovery.

If one is traveling, since the fajr and maghrib times will change; but one must make up any days missed upon arriving at one's destination.

Women who are pregnant or nursing.

A woman during her menstrual period; although she must count the days she missed and make them up at the end of Ramadan.

An ill person or old person who is not physically able to fast. They should donate the amount of a normal persons diet for each day missed if they are financially capable.

Penalty of purposefully breaking fast at Ramadan:

For elders who will not be able to fast, a lunch meal (or an equivalent amount of money) is to be donated to the poor or needy for each day of missed fasting.

If an adult who is sane, men or women, breaks his fast intentionally and without any excuse, some sayings tell that he cannot ever be excused and/or forgiven; however, most Islamic scholar opinions say that salvation / redemption can be attainted if the violator fasts for 60 days successively (two months) without missing a day.

Answer 8

ramadan is a month of character building and self control.

that's why we fast.