Obervation Of Fast
This is the fourth principle of Islam. The obligation of fasting in the month of Ramadhan is obligatory on all Muslims, excepting the infants, the insane, and the invalid.
Fasting is an act of abstaining from eating, drinking, smoking, allowing anything whatsoever to enter into, what is understood as, the interior of the body, as also voluntary
vomitting, self-pollution, sexual intercourse, etc., from the break of dawn till sunset. The observation of fasts is obligatory in the month of Ramadhan because it is the blessed
month of the year during which Holy Qur'an (the word of Allah) was revealed.
The real significance of fasting consists in the habit of self-control that it fosters and develops and thus enables one to save oneself from being an easy victim to temptation, and consequently minimising the chances of committing sins. This in turn will make the practice of virtue easier and lead one nearer to the Kingdom of Allah.
It is not permissible to spread out the period of fasting and complete the observation of fasts for the required number of days - 29 or 30 days, as the case may be - at any time during
the year. The Holy Qur'an...click enjoins upon Muslims to observe the fats consecutively for 29 or 30 days, as the case may be (depending upon the sighting of the new moon), during the
month of Ramadhan alone.
Exemptions From Fasting
Men and women too old and feeble to bear the hardships of a fast are exempted, but it is incumbent upon them to feed a poor or a needy Muslim to satiation twice a day, or pay the amount of one
Sadaqa ul-Fitr for every day that the fast was not observed.
Deferment Of Fasting
One can defer the observation of fasts if:-
As soon as one is relieved of the respective disabilities, one must observe the fasts immediately (even, if it has to be after the month of Ramadhan).
(1) One is so sick that the observation of fast is likely to increase his or her sickness.
(2) A woman who is suckling a child, and there is a danger of reduction in the supply of milk if she observes fasts.
(3) A traveller who has reason to fear that observing of fasts will make him or her unable to prosecute the journey.
(4) A woman is in the family way and, also during the period of menses.
Niyyat For Starting The Fast
The usual form of Niyyat (intention) for fasting during the month of Ramadhan is by reciting the following intention before or at the start of the daily fast at the break of the dawn
or when the Azan (Call for Prayers) for Fajr (dawn, morning) Prayers...click is first heard:
"Nawaitu sauma ghadin 'an ada'i fardi Ramadhana hazihis-sanati lillahi ta'ala."
Translated this means, "I intend to fast for this day in order to perform my duty towards Allah in the month of Ramadhan of the present year."
Niyyat For Breaking The Fast
Prior to the breaking of fast at sunset, each day, when the call for Maghrib Prayers...click is first heard, the following du'a is recited:
"Allahumma laka sumtu wa'ala rizqika aftartu."
It means, O Allah! for Thy sake have I fasted, and (now) I break the fast with the food that comes from Thee."
Fasting For Well-Being And Development
For devout Muslims, Ramadan is a time for contemplation and reflection on one's life in this world and the hereafter. Apart from obligatory abstinenec from food and drink, from dawn to dusk, Muslims are also required to indulge in good deeds throughout the month.
These goods include, giving generously to the poor and unfortunate and refraining from gossip or sinful acts.
Ramadan is also a time for Muslims to devote themselves to God as well as to strengthen their ukhwah-islamiah, the Muslim brotherhood. This is achieved by daily evening prayers called tarawih performed in a congregation either at mosques or void-decks of housing blocks. Fasting, therefore, contributes to the total well-being and development of Muslims.
Unfortunately, many Muslims see fasting less from that point of view. Instead, they perceive it as simply a process of mental cleansing, a time to think good, have pure thoughts, and eradicate lustful desires.
While all these are in accordance with Islamic teachings, fasting should be seen in its wider context, that is, the total quality of the well-being and development of all Muslims, wherever they may be and whoever and whatever they are. Fasting enables a man to learn to become a member of a civil community, one that is not based on self-centredness and individualism. This is achieved when
he breaks his fasts with fellow Muslims as well as when he performs the congregational prayer every evening.
Fasting is compulsory only for those who are akil baligh (of sound mind and having reached puberty) and whose health will not be affected adversely by it.
There are many verses in Holy Qur'an and also in the Hadith (the Sayings of the Prophet of Islam), which encourage Muslims to ease the sufferings of others, regardless of the person's race and religion, especially if the person in trouble is one's neighbour. This notion of helping one another will continue to be nurtured in a Muslim in the process of fasting when he feels the pangs of hunger and thirst. Once this is ingrained in him deeply, he or she will have no qualms about helping another person in difficulties.
One we achieve a situation where people help the poor and unfortunate readily without being told to, then only can the income gap between the rich and poor be narrowed considerably. Throughout Ramadhan, therefore, Muslims are encouraged to give generously to the poor and those less fortunate in the society. They can do this by contributing to the charitable organisations or paying the zakat fitrah...click (tithe). Such an act is also their willingness to sacrifice their wealth.
Fasting helps Muslims to be moderate in the things they do. This is seen during the breaking of fast, when they are encouraged to eat moderately - a cold or hot drink with dates and some other snacks. They usually eat a hearty meal after having performed Magrib (dusk) prayers. In fact, Muslims are encouraged to share theri food and drinks when breaking their fast. They do this by exchanging food with their neighbours. Such a practice helps encourage neighbourliness. Muslims also send food and drinks
to mosques where many Muslims congregate for breaking fast together and prayers.
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