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Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is the month in which all able Muslims are obliged to observe twenty-nine or thirty days of daily dawn to dusk fast. The Quran clearly states “O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become pious.”(Q2:183)
The basic objective for fasting is to gain piety by putting more efforts into practising the teachings of Islam. Al-Quran, which was revealed in the month of Ramadan, is completely recited in special night prayers during the last ten days of Ramadan. “We sent it (this Quran) down on a blessed month. Verily, we are ever warning.”(Q 44:3)
As an obligation, all Muslims observing fast are required to refrain from eating, drinking and having sexual relations with their spouses from dawn till dusk. In short, fasting goes beyond mere abstinence from meals, drinks and sex. It also includes fasting of the eyes, the ears and refraining from all acts such as visiting pornographic sites on the internet, reading profane messages on the internet and on mobile phones and other acts that are potentially injurious to Islamic faith. Fasting begins after observing pre-dawn meal called suhur and breaking the fast with iftar. The prophet peace (be upon him) said “Eat suhur for in suhur there is blessing.”
Though fasting is not mandatory in childhood, it is so in adulthood and children are to be encouraged to complete many days of fast as possible. This would prepare them for mandatory fast in future. Travellers of long distances, breast feeding mothers, menstruating and pregnant women are however exempted from fasting and should make up for the fast missed as soon as they are capable.
The month of Ramadan is categorically of three blessings from Allah. The prophet (peace be upon him) said “The month of Ramadan is divided into three parts. The first ten days are mercy, the second ten days are for forgiveness, and the last ten days are for purification from hell fire.”In the last ten days is laylatul qadr “night of power” a night which is better than thousand months. “The night of Al-qadr is better than a thousand months.”(Q 93:3).The prophet( peace be upon him) said “Whoever stays up during laylatul qadr out of faith in the hope of earning reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven.”
The month is a month of self-reformation and spiritual cleansing. Optional prayer, supplication, charity, constant remembrance of Allah, kindness and extending helping hand are encouraged ways to establishing a better relationship with Allah. Muslims are encouraged to do away with unworthy attitudes such as slandering and lying if they desire to achieve piety as the reason why they abstain from food and drink. The Prophet peace (be upon him) said “Whoever does not quit lying and acts dishonestly, Allah does not value his fast.”
“Indeed he succeeds who purifies his own self. And indeed he fails who corrupts his own self.”(Q 91:9-10)
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