ramadan mubarak

hamza81

Hi Tom, It is more difficult this year as we have shorter days and longer nights. I feel sorry for Muslims in Iceland who have to fast for 22 hours but you would be surprised how quick the body adapts. After 4 days or so I feel very good. It is like a month long detox.

The mistake many Muslims make is that we don't prepare for Ramadan fasting. We eat like normal all year around and then when Ramadan comes around we suddenly fast for 30 days and that is why the first few days are quite hard. The best way to do it is as the Prophet did which was to phase in fasting gradually leading upto Ramadan. That way one does not feel the negative affects during the first few days.

So if you want to feel what it is like to fast then phase it in. Fast for 6 hours one day. Then 10 another day. Then 14 and then a full fast. By phasing it in you will allow your body time to adapt. Hope that helps.

hamza81

TommyKnocker wrote: »

From what I have read folks observing the holy month of Ramadan break their fast each evening with dates and water, then pray the Maghrib prayer and then eat a proper meal. So would they not be sick of the sight of dates at the end of Ramadan?

Hi Tommy,

No I wouldn't say so unless one was binging on dates throughout the month. We normally have between 1-3 dates when opening fast and that's it. Dates are the perfect way of opening the fast as they are packed to the brim with all the vitamins and nutrients a person needs.

hamza81

silverharp wrote: »

reliable or hyped I dont know seems reasonable to believe people could act oddly if they are not watered or fed

Just looking at the source of where you got that article from says it all. Please be more open minded and do not take your knowledge of the world from liars and deceivers.

Actually during Ramadan one feels generally more calm and at peace with ones self as it is a very spiritual month and a time of reflection and self betterment.

That is not to say that everyone will be angels all of the time as we are all humans.

hamza81

Old Perry wrote: »

So i dont know much about ramadan. can someone give bit more info on it. i undrstand the not eating and also doing good deeds but what else is there. can smokers smoke? Whats said about it in religious texts? what do muslims think of it in general? would many not partake?
Do all types of muslims acknowlege it? if i said i was sitting here with a dairy milk and a glass of wine would u be jealous?

interesting to know its actually from sunrise to sunset. always assumed that meant 6 to 6 and not actually sun up/down.

Some very good questions.

God says in the Qur'an about fasting:

O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so

that you may guard (against evil).


The month of Ramadhan in which was revealed the Qur'an, guidance for mankind, and clear

proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present,

let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast the same)

number of other days. Allah desires ease for you; He does not desire hardship for you; and (He

desires) that you should complete the period, and that you should magnify Allah for having guided

you, and that peradventure you may be thankful.

Qur'an (2:183-185)

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said about fasting: "All of the actions of the son of Adam are for him, except for fasting. [Fasting] is for me and and I reward for it [what I please]" (Sahih Muslim)

Al-Ghazālī who was a great scholar of the past writes that God (swt) has given the action of fasting an extra degree of honor, by attributing it to Himself, in two ways

Firstly, fasting is a hidden act of worship; no one is actually able to see you fast. This fact guards one’s intention from being corrupted, unlike prayer, charity and, Hajj (pilgrimage).

Secondly, fasting is an act by which one subdues the devil. Recall, the devil’s capacity is only exercised via one’s desires. By abstaining from food, drink, and intimacy, a Muslim is able to control his desires and hinder the effects of the devil. By defeating the devil, one aids in bringing victory to God (swt), i.e., God’s religion:

“O you who have believed, if you support Allah , He will support you and plant firmly your feet” (Qu’ran 47:7).

In the commentary of al-Jalālayn, we find that bringing victory to God (swt) means bringing victory to His religion and Messenger ﷺ.

After elaborating on the merits of fasting, followed by rules of fasting, al-Ghazālī discusses the methodology by which we can realize the fruits of fasting.

Fasting is practiced at one of three levels:

(1) the level of the lay people,

(2) the level of the elect, and

(3) the level of the elect of the elect.

The fasting of the laity, the lowest level of fasting, involves merely following the outward rulings of fasting. Fasting at the next level up involves fasting with one’s limbs (the present article will elaborate on this level as it is the most relevant). The third level of fasting involves being physically, spiritually, and intellectually occupied with one’s lord without breaking consciousness from this state for even a moment. This includes fasting with one’s heart and mind.

The second level of fasting involves six things:

1. Fasting with one’s sight.

One should abstain from looking at things that are disliked (makrūh) or illicit (harām). This includes things that distract one’s heart from the remembrance of God (swt).

2. Fasting with one’s tongue.

While fasting, one should not lie, backbite, slander, use obscene language, quarrel with others, speak insincerely, or engage in idle chatter. Rather, one should try to spend more time being silent, remembering their Lord, and reciting His book.

3. Fasting with one’s ears.

One should refrain from listening to things that are disliked (makrūh) or forbidden (harām). Al-Ghazālī mentions that anything which is forbidden to say is forbidden to listen to. In the Qur’ān, God juxtaposes those who engage in listening to lies with those who consume what is unlawful [5:42].

4. Keeping the remainder of one’s body parts (e.g. hands, feet) from engaging in blameworthy acts.

Hopefully this is not an issue for any of us, but speaking to such a wide audience, al-Ghazālī warns people of consuming from that which is unlawful. After all, doing so defeats the whole purpose of fasting.

5. Do not overeat.

Everyone knows they shouldn’t, but we all do. Al-Ghazālī advises against overeating when it comes to breaking one’s fast. After all, the point of fasting is to control one’s desires. What has one gained if they end up binging in one (or several) meals and make up for what they’ve managed to hold off on. Moreover, as al-Ghazālī mentions, many of us deck out our dining tables with such an assortment like we are trying to eat the food pyramids of Giza. And you know someone is going to get the wrath if the samosas run out. So much for keeping the devil at bay.

6. After breaking one’s fast, one should balance a feeling of hope and fear.

One should be hopeful that one’s fast has been accepted by God yet also be fearful that the fast may have been lacking. In short, one should not become overly confident because the quality of one’s fast will slowly dwindle.

Yes, fulfilling the outward aspects of fasting will make one’s act valid. But we should be concerned with more than just that, as al-Ghazālī mentions. At a higher level, in consideration of the Hereafter, we should be concerned with the act being accepted and the objectives being fulfilled, in addition to it being valid. In al-Ghazālī’s understanding, the objective of the fast is embodying one of the attributes of God, al-Samadiyya, namely, being resistant, enduring, and mastering our desires. In this way we follow the example of the angels who are above having desires.

The beauty of Ramadan is not only to be found after the sun has set. The struggles of fasting have their own share of beauty and spirituality. As al-Shaykh Shabīr Ahmad al-ʿUthmānī writes in his renowned commentary of Sahīh Muslim, we bear the toils of fasting for the sole purpose of gaining God’s pleasure.3

Finally, al-Ghazālī leaves us by posing a question we should all ask ourselves. Fasting, and every act of worship included, has both an outward and inward realization. Will we be satisfied with fulfilling the outward, or will be strive towards realizing the inward beauty?

silverharp

this kind of stuff shows that Islam has a lot to do to move from the 7th century to the 21st. why people put up with it is beyond me " there is no compulsion in Islam" :pac:



http://en.trend.az/iran/society/2413070.html

By Khalid Kazimov – Trend:

A judiciary official of the Iranian city of Shiraz, Fars province said since the beginning of the Islamic month of Ramadan (which started June 18), some 500 people have been arrested around the city for breaking their fasting regulations.

The official, who wished to remain anonymous, said in the meantime 2500 people were given verbal advice to observe Ramadan regulations.

He said the 500 people were arrested by the police or Basij members, adding that 20 people were warned of prosection, while the rest were to be given verdicts within 24 hours, ISNA news agency reported July 1.

The source did not mention the verdicts, however last year two people in Shiraz were lashed for breaking the fasting regulations.

Other reports indicated that people also have been arrested for breaking regulations in public and in cars.

It is said that according to the law in Iran, people who break their fasts in public are liable to between 10 to 60 days in prison or 74 lashes.

Tom Dunne

silverharp wrote: »

this kind of stuff shows that Islam has a lot to do to move from the 7th century to the 21st. why people put up with it is beyond me " there is no compulsion in Islam"

You always have to remember two things:

1: these societies are deeply religious, the whole separation of state and church as we see it in the West simply does not even register as a possibility

2: I have found during my time in the Middle East that you simply cannot trust the local media. They will unquestioningly peddle the line of whatever regime they are supporting and give no thought to "updating" the facts. So what possibly happened in this case is that 2 or 3 people were caught, warned/sanctioned/whatever, but to "put the message out there" figures were inflated to ensure a subtle threat of consequences is dangled in front of the population to ensure compliance. Pure and utter conjecture on my part, but it is not beyond the realms of possibility.