Benefits of Ramadan and Fasting in Islam
Benefits of
Ramadan and Fasting in Islam
By Rilwan Emeje
Submitted On
June 07, 2015
Ramadan is the regarded as the month of
fasting, according to Islamic calendar is the ninth month. In this month,
Muslims all over the world fast every day from dawn till dusk. This fast
includes abstinence from food, drink, smoking, and sexual relations.
Furthermore, foul talk, lustful thoughts, and vain speech is even more
discouraged than normal.
The religion of Islam is
based on five pillars which fasting is very key among all. These pillars
include:
·
Testifying
there is no deity worthy of worship besides Allah, and that Muhammad is His
messenger.
·
Praying
five times a day.
·
Fasting
during the month of Ramadan.
·
Giving
a portion of one's wealth in charity to the poor and needy.
·
Making
a pilgrimage to the Kaaba in Mecca at least once in a lifetime.
Fasting is the third pillar
and has a very important role in Islam. While Muslims may fast throughout the
year, fasting during the month of Ramadan is an obligatory action just like
praying and giving charity. However, some people are exempt from this
obligation.
This is discussed further
below.
Muslims
are commanded to fast in the Quran. In Chapter 2, verse 183, Allah tells us:
You who believe, fasting is prescribed on you as it was prescribed on those
before you, so that you may learn self-restraint.
When
Allah says 'those who came before you,' He is referring to Jews and Christians
since they follow books and prophets that came before the Koran and Muhammad.
Therefore, Allah is telling
us that Jews and Christians were ordered to fast as well. There is ample
evidence of this statement in both the Old Testament and the New
Testament.
Moses
fasted while on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.
In order
to avoid punishment from God as prophesied by Jonah, the people of Nineveh
fasted.
Jesus
fasted for forty days and forty nights in the desert.
We can see that fasting was
practiced well before the time of Prophet Muhammad and the establishment of the
religion of Islam. Jews still fast on certain days of the year, and some sects
of Christianity, most notably Catholics and Orthodox Christians, also fast on
certain days. However, very few Protestant denominations mandate fasting,
though many do encourage it among their faithful.
The
Islamic fast has many benefits. For example, since most fasting is done during
a certain month, there is a sense of community and belonging. It is nothing
short of amazing that over a billion people the world over are all fasting at
the same time.
Furthermore, even though
both rich and poor must fast, the wealthy amongst us have the opportunity to
feel some of the hardship experienced by those less fortunate. In addition to
this, since Ramadan is also known as the month of charity, the poor also have
the chance to gain from the enhanced benevolence of the wealthy during this
time.
Some people are exempt from
fasting.
·
Muslims
who are traveling do not have to fast.
·
Pregnant
and nursing women do not have to fast.
·
Muslims
who are sick do not have to fast.
·
Menstruating
women do not have to fast, though it must be made up later.
The month of Ramadan begins
and ends with the sighting of the new moon. When the month ends, Muslims
celebrate the end of Ramadan with Eid ul Fitr, one of only two Islamic
holidays.
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