Religion & Belief (Alor Pothay) > Ramadan and Fasting

A Quick preparation guide for RAMADHAN

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Shamim Ansary:
Blessings of Fasting

21. Lailatul Qadr (The Night of Power):
Whoever observes it with sincerity and good intention will get the following benefits:
Forgiveness of mistakes
Better than 1,000 months
Dua
Zikr
Prayers
Reading Holy Quran
Rewards
Blessings
Better human being

22. Generosity:
Kindness, hospitality, visitation, etc. All of these and many more are among the benefits of Ramadhan.

23. Zakat al-Fitrah (Charity on Eid Day):
The benefits of paying such as charity to the needy are tremendous, among which are the following:

Purity
Feeding the needy
Sharing happiness
Improving human relations
Improving society

24. Sadaqah (Charity):
The benefits of paying sadaqah are many. These are summarized as follows:
Purity
Flourishing of wealth
Improving economy
Circulation of wealth
Elimination of inflation
Elimination of poverty

25. Fasting and Health:
By fasting, one gets the following benefits:
Purification of body from toxins
Reducing of weight
Purity of brain
Rejuvenation of body
Living of life with happiness
Looking younger

26. Change of Lifestyle:
By living a different life style, one gets rid of the monotony of life and hence enjoys his life span.

27. Sharing:
Of hunger, thirst and rituals with others in the society.

28. Eid-ul-Fitr (Feast):
Sharing of happiness and visitation of one another as members of the society.

29. Graveyards Visitation:
One will get the following benefits by visiting graveyards.
Dua for the deceased
Preparing oneself for departure from this world
Feeling respect for the deceased
Making the person to be humble in his life

30. Every breath is Tasbiih:
Every breath and even sleep is Ibadah and awarded.

31. Umrah in Ramadhan:
Visiting Makkah during the fasting month of Ramadhan is:

Equal to one Hajj (pilgrimage)
Equal to one Hajj with Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

32. Historical Successes and Victories in Ramadhan:
Muslims throughout their history received many benefits during Ramadhan the month of fasting, among which are the following:
Battle of Badr
Battle of Khandaq
Opening of Makkah
Battle of Tabuk
Tariq Ibn Ziyad opened Europe
Salahuddin liberated Jerusalem from the crusaders
Egypt and Israel, 1973 – Egyptians kicked the Israelis out of Egypt during Ramadhan the month of fasting, etc.

33. Learning lessons from historical incidents that happened during Holy Ramadhan the month of fasting:, e.g.
Wafaat Hazrat Khadijeh(A).
Wiladat Imam Hasan bin Ali(A).
Shahadat Imam Ali bin Abi Talib(A).
Youm-al-Quds

Shamim Ansary:
The History of Ramadan

Considered the most sacred Muslim occasion, Ramadan is observed throughout the ninth month (also known as Ramadan) of the Islamic calendar. Held since ancient times, this holy event has pious Muslims fasting, practicing extreme self-restraint, praying, doing charitable activities and all such actions that are recommended by Islam. Go through our informative article on the "History of Ramadan" to know when Ramadan originated and how it came to be established. If you like reading about the fascinating history of Ramadan and want to share it with your friends and loved ones, please click here and refer it to the. Wish you a sacred Ramadan!

The origin of "Ramadan", the sacred Muslim occasion, can be traced partly to historic accounts as well as the various holy Islamic texts. A great part of the history of Ramadan depends on ancient Islamic folklore.

According to the Islamic texts, Ramadan began with Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam who was born in 570 CE in the Arabian city of Mecca. Orphaned at a young age, Muhammad was reared by his uncle Abu Talib. The boy grew up to be a merchant, as well as a shepherd. He was first married by age 25.

Gradually Muhammad began to be dissatisfied with his life in Mecca. Having an idealistic and religious temperament from his very early days, he retreated to the caves in the surrounding mountains of Mecca for meditation and reflection.

According to Islam, one night during the month of Ramadan in the year 610 A.D. when Muhammad was 40 years of age and was passing the month in meditation in Mount Hira, he had a vision of an angel appearing before him. This angel introduced himself as Jibril and revealed that Muhammad was the messenger of Allah and was born to be a prophet to his people. The angel asked Muhammad to recite what he said:

"Recite in the name of your Lord Who creates.
Creates man from a clot.
Recite: And your Lord is the Most Bountiful
Who teaches by the pen,
He teaches man what he does not know."
With a confounded mind, Muhammad descended from Mount Hira and told everything to his wife Khadijah. He feared that he had had an encounter with an evil spirit. But Khadijah allayed his fears reminding him of his good conduct until then and that it was impossible for him to be visited by a demon. She took him to her old cousin Waraqa ibn Nawfal and told the latter everything about Muhammad's meeting with the angel. Waraqa ibn Nawfal was a much learned man and was well-versed in various sacred texts concerning different religion. The lettered man convinced Muhammad that he was indeed a messenger of God and the angel who visited Muhammad was the same divine messenger Gabriel who had also visited the Hebrew prophet Moses.

In the following twenty-three years, Muhammad was visited many times by Jibril who taught him the holy knowledge in verses. This sacred knowledge consists of the code of conduct that Allah wants his people to maintain on earth. It is inscribed in verses which are compiled in the holy Qur'an, the most sacred book in Islam.

It is said that the sacred knowledge was revealed to Muhammad during the month of Ramadan. "Laylat al-Qadr" - a night of the month is symbolically regarded as the same night on which the holy knowledge was gifted to Muhammad and mankind. The followers of Islam consider "Laylat al-Qadr" as the "Night of the Power", the holiest night of the year.

As a mark of respect to Allah and to show gratitude to him for the true knowledge that he gifted to his sons and daughters, the prophet asked his followers (and therefore the followers of Islam) to pass the month of Ramadan in fasting, prayers and other austerities and end the month-long non-indulgence with festive celebrations.

The Quran instructs us:

"Ramadan is the month during which the Quran was revealed, providing guidance for the people, clear teachings, and the statute book. Those of you who witness this month shall fast therein. Those who are ill or traveling may substitute the same number of other days. Allah wishes for you convenience, not hardship, that you may fulfill your obligations, and to glorify Allah for guiding you, and to express your appreciation." [Surat Al-Baqarah 2:185]

Thus was born the sacred occassion called Ramadan, a month-long period of austerity that sees devout Muslims across the world keep themselves away during the entire daytime, offering prayers and abstaining from almost every kind of enjoyment including drinking and abstaining from sex. For Muslims all over, it is a very special time - of introspection, meditation, self control, charitable activities, spirituality and of course, devotion to Allah.

bidita:


Reason of Ramadan

The third pillar of Islam is fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise until sundown abstaining form eating food, drinking and having sexual relations. There are many reasons why Muslims fast during Ramadan.

 

·        One reason why Muslims fast is because it helps them share the feelings of the hungry, and the less fortunate in the community. People often take the blessing of food for granted, forgetting that there are others who do not have the privilege of having food. By fasting, a Muslim learns how it feels to be hungry, which causes greater appreciation for the blessing of food, as well as increase giving charity to the poor.

·        Fasting also provides a form of unity for Muslims all over the world because during Ramadan, all Muslims around the world fast together.

·        A third benefit for fasting is the cleansing of the soul and the strengthening of the faith through increased worship.

·        One reason is that it benefits the health by cleaning the system of the body. Doctors agree that fasting every once in a while is healthy.

bidita:
Nine reasons why we must plan for Ramadan

Have you noticed that each year, Ramadan goes by faster and faster? Personally, I can remember details of Ramadan 11 years ago better in some ways than of Ramadan last year. It’s frightening.

This blessed month can’t be left to become a blur in our memories. It has to be more than that time of the year we squeeze in fasting amongst the other things we do daily.

One way to make the most of Ramadan is to plan beforehand. Here are ten reasons why you should plan for Ramadan:

Reason #1: To be in "Ramadan mode"

By planning for Ramadan before it arrives, you put your mind in "Ramadan mode". If you plan, you will mentally prepare for it, and it will force you to see it as the special month it is outside of your regular routine the rest of the year.

Reason #2: To adjust your schedule

By planning in advance, you can adjust your work, sleep and meal schedules in such a way as to make time for Suhoor, Iftar, etc. That means, for instance, that if you normally go to bed at midnight, in Ramadan you would sleep earlier in order to get up early for Suhoor. Or if you usually study late, you can instead sleep earlier and start studying after Suhoor in the early morning hours. Planning in advance allows you the luxury to make time for the change in schedule that Ramadan brings.

Reason #3: You can plan Ramadan family time

Is dinnertime usually an individual affair in your home, as opposed to a time the whole family eats together? Are Friday evenings the time every family member goes off to his/her own social activities? Planning in advance can change this at least in Ramadan. Calling a family meeting about a month in advance, explaining the importance of Ramadan, its implications for the family and the need to eat Iftar together when possible as well as to attend Tarawih prayers, for example, will allow all family members to adjust their work and school schedules accordingly. That will, Insha Allah, make Ramadan a blessing not just to every person in the family, but to the family as a whole.

Reason #4: To make the menu

While Ramadan may mean extra Ibadah to some of the brothers, it usually means extra cooking for most of the sisters. Ramadan’s blessings are for men and women. Making a Ramadan menu for Iftar and meals, and working out when you want to invite relatives, neighbors and friends for Iftar will give sisters the opportunity to catch Tarawih and various other advantageous Ibadat instead of spending Ramadan’s 29 or 30 days stuck in the kitchen. (And by the way, brothers, helping out with cooking or cleaning was a practice of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him-maybe this is a way you can increase your Sawab [rewards] this month).

Reason #5 : You can plan a Iftar at your home

You may have eaten fantastic Iftars at friends’ homes last year. This year, open your doors. There is blessing in feeding a fasting person other than yourself and your family. Planning in advance gives you the luxury of calling friends over the month before and setting a date, so you can "grab" them before others get an opportunity to. Muchos Sawab, Insha Allah!

Reason #6: To make a travel schedule

Do you know a fellow Muslim in your neighborhood who wants to get to the mosque for Tarawih every night but doesn’t have a car? Or do you look at your work schedule and realize you have to work overtime near the end of Ramdan, so your family will miss out on Tarawih at the mosque the last ten nights of Ramadan? Planning in advance helps you work out your daily or weekly travel schedule to attend Tarawih prayers at the mosque, or even a trip for Iftar at a friend’s place who may life farther away. It also helps ease the burden of transportation in winter. Maybe you can start a car pool? Since you have the time before Ramadan begins, you can work this out with neighbors and friends.

Reason #7: To do good at high Sawab times

Being generous is definitely an Islamic merit, but being generous in Ramadan is even more highly rewarded. Match Ibadat with specific times that carry more reward. Prepare to do Itifkaf, increase asking Allah for forgiveness in the last ten nights of Ramadan. Plan to give increased Sadaqa this month. Plan to visit that relative you may have not seen for months, if not years. Thinking about and arranging to do these things and finding other ways of gaining the pleasure of Allah in Ramadan will Insha Allah help you benefit more from it.

Reason #8: You can squeeze in Eid shopping

Planning in advance helps you think about all of those things you wanted to do in time for the end of Ramadan or Eid last year but couldn’t. Maybe you wanted to go Eid shopping for gifts for family and friends in the last week of Ramadan but were too busy with the last ten nights of Ramadan. No problem. This year, you decide to go in the third week of Ramadan instead.

Reason #9: You can plan Dawa activities during Ramadan

Some Muslims have gone to soup kitchens and made meals during Ramadan, while they were fasting. Not only will, Insha Allah, they be rewarded, but this is a great Dawa opportunity to explain what Ramadan and Islam are about. Planning in advance for such an activity gives you the time to call up a soup kitchen in your area, explain what you want to do, and get your act together. You can also plan school Dawa activities in Ramadan by planning in advance, by meeting with the principal or teacher beforehand, preparing a presentation, etc.

bidita:
Importance of Ramadan

   Ramadan is one of the religious festivals of the Islamic community that is widely celebrated all over the world. Although this festival includes fasting and sacrifice, yet the Muslims celebrate this occasion with a lot of joy and enthusiasm. There are fireworks, lights, decorations and feasts (once the daily fast gets over) that make this festival a joyous celebration.

Importance of Ramadan in Islam

Ramadan includes fasting which is the third pillar of all the five pillars of Islam. This means that the fasting during Ramadan is one of the five most basic beliefs or acts that a Muslim is supposed to do. Fasting in Islam is considered to be a means of practicing self-control. It is also considered to be a way of experiencing what hunger is all about, sympathizing with the poor and the needy, and thanking god for everything you have received in life.


An important part of Ramadan festival is offering gifts in the form of Zakat which means giving away one’s wealth to charity. The Zakat is one of the essential pillars of Islam. The concept of Zakat is to purify one’s wealth by giving a part of it to people who aren’t blessed by god.

Importance of Ramadan to Muslims

Ramadan is the time for offering intense prayers to god. During this month, Muslims try to read the Quran, the holy scripture of Islam, as much as possible. They may also visit the mosque to listen to the recitation of the Quran.

The last 10 days of Ramadan are special because during this time, the Muslims indulge in intense prayers with the belief that they’ll get closer to god because of their good deeds, sacrifices, and devotion.

According to Quran, the 27th night of the month of Ramadan, known as the Lailat ul-Qadr or the Night of Power, is actually considered to be auspicious than any other night. So, the Muslims spend almost this entire night in prayers.


Some common beliefs of the Muslims regarding Ramadan are listed below.

    The Muslims believe that fasting will enable them to feel for those who get very little to eat daily.
    The Muslims feel that through Ramadan prayers, they’ll connect better with their inner selves, strengthen their faith and get closer to god who has created them.
    They think that Ramadan teaches them how to appreciate god for every single happiness and achievement they’ve had in their lives.
    The Muslims believe that self-control during Ramadan will teach them good manners and good speech.
    They believe that charity during this festive occasion will actually make them more generous and develop a sense of goodwill in them.
    The Muslims feel that family gatherings during Ramadan will help strengthen their bonding with their friends and family members.

Importance of Fasting in Ramadan

The concept of fasting is not to starve but to take oneself to a spiritual level where one fully devotes himself to god. It has been proved that during fasting, the body develops immunity and gets rid of the toxins that have earlier accumulated.

Fasting during Ramadan helps the Muslims develop the spirit of sacrifice due to which they refrain from all natural desires on this earth. Although they may not think about the poor and downtrodden in everyday life, yet during fasting, they’ll learn to think about the less fortunate. Fasting also helps them get rid of overindulgence in life.

Fasting in Ramadan enables a Muslim to train his body and soul so as to develop self-restraint. It helps shape up the personality of a Muslim who is expected not to commit wrong during the remaining part of the year. Fasting is not just physical but the Muslims actually commit their body and soul to the spirit of fasting. They restrain every part of their body. For example, they restrain their tongue from backbiting or gossiping. They don’t touch anything that doesn’t belong to them. Their eyes don’t see anything that’s unlawful. The Muslims also avoid listening to obscene words during the Ramadan.

During Ramadan, the Muslims re-evaluate their lives under the principles of Islam. They are expected to make peace with their dear ones even though the latter may have wronged them. The Muslims are expected to purify their minds during the month of Ramadan. Not only should they purify their thoughts, but also their words and actions.

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