Fasting Spirit over Matter Fasting What is it

Fasting: Spirit over Matter

Fasting • What is it? Who Fasts? Why Fasting? • What is Ramadan? • The Significance of Ramadan? • Typical Ramadan Activities • Eid-ul-Fitr: Marking the End of Ramadan • Conclusions

What is Fasting • 4 th of the 5 pillars of Islam • Refraining from eating, drinking, and sexual relations. • Time: begins at the break of Dawn and ends at sunset • Duration: 29 -30 days according to the Islamic Calendar.

What is Fasting • The Quran says: “O you who have attained to faith! Fasting is ordained for you as it was ordained for those before you, so that you might remain conscious of God. ” (2: 184)

Who Fasts?

Who Fasts? • Every Muslim • Who has reached the age of puberty. • Who is healthy, sane, and has no disabilities or illness.

Why Fasting?

Why Fasting? • For the sake of God. • Aids in purification of the heart/soul through: – – – God consciousness Patience Empathy for those who are less fortunate Sacrifice Humility

What is Ramadan?

What is Ramadan? • Nine month of the Hijri (Islamic Lunar) Calendar • The lunar calendar is 11 -12 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar. Therefore, Ramadan is 10 -11 days earlier every year.

When Ramadan Starts? • The beginning of Ramadan could differ from location to another depending on ability to sight the moon. • Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “Whenever you sight the new moon (of the month of Ramadan) observe fast. And when you sight it (the new moon of Shawwal) break it, and if the sky is cloudy for you, then observe fast for thirty days” (Saheeh Muslim).

Can you spot the moon?

The Significance of Ramadan • The Month in which the Qur’an was revealed. The Qur’an says: “Ramadan is the month in which was sent down the Qur’an as a guide to mankind also clear (signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). • The devils are chained, Gates of Heaven are opened, and gates of Hell are shut • Special month of: Fasting, Repentance, increased prayer, increased charity. • Ends with the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr: Day of celebration and gratitude.

Typical Activities of Ramadan • Suhoor: A meal before dawn. The Prophet (pbuh) encouraged waking up for suhoor by stating: “Eat suhoor, for there are blessings in it” [Bukhari and Muslim]

Typical Activities of Ramadan • Iftar: Breaking of the fast at sunset

Typical Activities of Ramadan • Taraweeh prayers: Optional prayers performed everyday in Ramadan at night, after the 5 th prayer. In these prayers, the Imam attempts to recite of the entire Qur’an from memory throughout the month of Ramadan.

Eid-ul-Fitr • Eid means “festivity”, while Fitr means “conclusion of the fast” • The greeting of that day is “Eid Mubarak”

Conclusions • Ramadan is a month of fasting to get closer to Allah • Physical abstentions and intensification of acts of worship are a means towards attaining the spiritual objectives of self purification and improvement. • Essentially a month of training used to discipline/inspire oneself for the remainder of the year.