4/4/2017, 7 Rejab 1438H

Fasting during month of Ramadhan

We must be productive at all time, even during Ramadhan

Fasting is not a new thing. Fasting is a must in Judaism, Christianity too. Prophet Jesus PBUH used to fast for forty days and nights. Those who claimed themselves as christian, should follow Prophet Jesus PBUH way of life. As for muslim, we follow Prophet Muhammad PBUH way of life. So, we fasting like the way of Prophet Muhammad PBUH fast during his life.

"And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred." (Matthew 4:2)

"At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness,

and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan" (Mark 1:12-13)

"Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry." (Luke 4:1-2)

Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow), Chapter 2:

"O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous -" (Quran 2:183)

"[Fasting for] a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] - then an equal number of days [are to be made up]. And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] - a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day]. And whoever volunteers excess - it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew." (Quran 2:184)

2:185

"The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful." (Quran 2:185)

In Islam, we determine the date and months by referring to lunar calendar instead of solar calendar. Ramadhan is one of the month in Islamic calendar. It is shorter by 11 days compared to solar calendar (Gregorian calendar). After Ramadhan is Syawal, our biggest celebration, Eidul Fitri.

Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow), Chapter 2, Verse 189:

"They ask you, [O Muhammad], about the new moons. Say, "They are measurements of time for the people and for Hajj." And it is not righteousness to enter houses from the back, but righteousness is [in] one who fears Allah. And enter houses from their doors. And fear Allah that you may succeed." (Quran 2:189)

Surat At-Tawbah (The Repentance), Chapter 9, Verse 36:

"Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred (i.e. the 1st, the 7th, the 11th and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them. And fight against the disbelievers collectively as they fight against you collectively. And know that Allah is with the righteous [who fear Him]." (Quran 9:36)

Why fasting?

Obligation

"But to fast is best for you, if you only knew." (Quran 2:184)

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“Every good deed of the son of Adam will be multiplied manifold. A good deed will be multiplied ten times up to as many as seven hundred times, or as much as Allah wills. Allah says: ‘Except for fasting, which is for Me and I shall reward for it. He gives up his desire and his food for My sake.’ The fasting person has two joys, one when he breaks his fast and another when he meets his Lord. The smell that comes from the mouth of a fasting person is better before Allah than the fragrance of musk.”

Grade

: Sahih (Darussalam)

English reference	: Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 1638
Arabic reference	: Book 7, Hadith 1707

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (ﷺ), who said:

Allah (mighty and sublime be He) says: Fasting is Mine and it is I who give reward for it. [A man] gives up his sexual passion, his food and his drink for my sake. Fasting is like a shield, and he who fasts has two joys: a joy when he breaks his fast and a joy when he meets his Lord. The change in the breath of the mouth of him who fasts is better in Allah's estimation than the smell of musk. It was related by al-Bukhari (also by Muslim, Malik, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah). (40 Hadith Qudsi)

Muslims fasting for the sake of Allah swt. Since Allah swt mentioned about fasting in Quran, it means that fasting is an obligation (wajib). It is rewarding for us to fast, and sinful to disobey. Everything that Allah ask us to do, means for our own benefit and also to the society. It does not mean to make Allah greater. Allah does not need us, but we need Allah swt ❤

It was narrated that Abu Dharr said:

"We fasted with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in Ramadan and he did not lead us in praying Qiyam until there were seven days left in the month, when he led us in praying Qiyam until one-third of the night had passed. Then he did not lead us in praying Qiyam when there were six days left. Then he led us praying Qiyam when there were five days left until one-half of the night had passed. I said: "O Messenger of Allah! What if we spend the rest of this night praying Nafl?" He said: "Whoever prays Qiyam with the Imam until he finishes, Allah (SWT) will record for him the Qiyam of a (whole) night." Then he did not lead us in prayer or pray Qiyam until there were three days of the month left. Then he led us in praying Qiyam when there were three days left. He gathered his family and wives (and led us in prayer) until we feared that we would miss Al-Falah. I (one of the narrators) said: "What is Al-Falah?" He said: "The suhur". (Sunan An-Nasa'i, Tirmidhi, Sunan Ibn Majah)

There are many benefits of fasting such as for our own health benefits and spiritual benefits.

Health benefits

Abstain from food and drink, will keep your guts rest from processing food during the day time. We are encourage to have early breakfast before the fajr, and to breaking fast as soon as the sun goes down.

Autophagy

Eating etiquette

Surat Al-'A`rāf (The Heights), Chapter 7, Verse 31:

"O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess." (Quran 7:31)

What Has Been Related About It Being Disliked to Eat Much

Miqdam bin Ma'dikarib said:

"I heard the Messenger of Allah (S.a.w) saying: 'The human does not fill any container that is worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat what will support his back. If this is not possible, then a third for food, a third for drink, and third for his breath."

Grade

: Sahih (Darussalam)

Reference	: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2380
In-book reference	: Book 36, Hadith 77
English translation	: Vol. 4, Book 10, Hadith 2380

Reference

: Sunan Ibu Majah, Books of Chapters on Food

English reference	: Vol. 4, Book 29, Hadith 3349
Arabic reference	: Book 29, Hadith 3474

Patience

Fasting teach you to be patient.

Sincerity

For those who fast for the sake of Allah, is the most sincere as they fast to obey Allah, not to show off. If a person fast to show off, he probably will drink/eat secretly when people is not around. However, not all like that. There are some non muslims who fast, in solidarity with the muslims society.

Taste of Hunger

It was narrated from Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“Whoever gives food for a fasting person to break his fast, he will have a reward like theirs, without that detracting from their reward in the slightest.”

Grade

: Sahih (Darussalam)

English reference	: Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 1746
Arabic reference	: Book 7, Hadith 1818

By fasting, you will taste the hunger of people who living in poverty. Thus, you will have the sense of mercy, pity and affection. When we can feel their pain and hardship, we will voluntarily willing to help the needy and the poorer. A sincere person, won't cheat for the sake of compliment from other people.

Gratitude

"glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful." (Quran 2:185)

Not all poor people living in difficulty. Maybe they are better than us. Some of the poor are more healthy than us, that they can eat everything. In contrast, there are some wealthy people that have more than enough money to buy food, but can eat certain food only due to health problem. Thus, we have to be grateful and thankful to Allah, for our health and wealth. We should share our wealth with the needy, poorer, orphan and other asnaf, to minimize the gap between rich and poor people. We should fasting to remember the poor, so that we will be grateful.

To control the sexual desire

Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow), Chapter 2, Verse 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 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." (Quran 2:185)

The unmarried person is encourage to fasting, so he/she can control his/her sexual desire. In Islam, watching pornography and to engage in illegal sexual intercourse are forbidden in Islam. For those who has problem with sexual identity like pedophile, gay, lesbian, transgender also encourage to fasting. Sexual intercourse in Islam only legal after marriage. During fasting day or month, the husband and wife can have sexual intercourse after the sunset (breaking fast/ifthar).

Fasting Period in Day and Month

Fasting period in a day is determined by the sun position at each places, from Fajr (Dawn) to Maghrib (sunset). Different places have different period of fasting during the day time. The purpose of fasting is not to torture our body, but for our own benefit and the community. We can determine the sun position and daylight period for each country, by determining the fasting period.

The country that has extreme period such as Finland when the sun does not set during the summer, there are Fatwa issued by the Muslim scholars to follow, that they can have ifthar (breaking fast) by referring to the time in Mecca, or the nearest city.

As for the fasting month, we determine the fasting month by lunar calendar, determined by the shape and size of the moon. Fasting month is similar all over the world, Muslim will fasting on the month. Each year, the Islamic lunar calendar is shorter by 11 days. For example, last year the fasting date began on 6th June 2016, as for this year the fasting day will begin on 27th May 2017. It will take approximately 33 years to repeat the same date.

For the Muslims who living in the 4 seasons countries such as USA, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, they will have chance to fasting in all seasons, autumn to summer. Fair to Muslims all over the world. The seasons in solar calendar is fixed.

Muslims fully utilize the use of sun and moon in our daily life. However, we do not worship the sun and moon, but we worship the Creator of the sun and moon, that is Allah swt.