• Ramadhan
  • Why this month
  • Fasting
  • Rules of fasting
  • WAJIB Fasts
  • SUNNAT Fasts
  • HARAAM Fasts
  • MAKRUH Fasts
  • Eid-ul-Fitr
  • Zakat Fitra


    • Ramadhan

    Ramadhan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Each month in Islam lunar calendar begins with the sighting of the new moon. Because the lunar calendar is about 11 days shorter than the solar calendar used elsewhere, Islamic holidays "move" each year. This year Ramadan begins on October 27; in 2003 and it will end on November 24.

    For more than a billion Muslims around the world including some 10 million in North America Ramadan is a "month of blessing" marked by prayer, fasting, and charity. while in many places holidays have become widely commercialized, Ramadan retains its focus on self-sacrifice and devotion to Allah (God).


    Why this Month?
    Muslims believe that Descent of the Holy Koran, Gospel of Prophet Essa(Jesus), Turat of prophet Moussa and Sohuf(Tablet) of prophet Ibrahim were during the month of Ramadan. The Night of Qadr is in the month of Ramadhan.

    As stated in the Holy Koran, "The Night of Qadr S-107"

    In the name of Allah the Beneficent the Merciful.
    1 - Verily We sent it (the Quran) down in the Night of Qadr.
    2 - What can make thee know what the Night of Qadr is.
    3 - The Night of Qadr is better than a thousand month.
    4 - The Angles and the Spirit descend therein by the permission of their Loard, with of all afairs.
    5 - Peace is till the breaking of the dawn.

    At many mosques during Ramadan, about one thirtieth of the Qur'an is recited each night. In this way, by the end of the month the complete scripture will have been recited.

     

    Fasting

    Fasting means that a person may, in obedience to the command of Allah, refrain from the time of Azan for dawn up to dusk, from nine things which are mentioned here:

    1. Eating and Drinking.
    2. Sexual Intercourse.
    3. Istimna (Masturbation).
    4. Ascribing false things to Allah or his Prophet.
    5. Letting dust reach one's throat.
    6. Immersing one's head in water.
    7. Remaining ceremonial unclean or in menses or in lochia.
    8. Enema.
    9. Vomitting.

    Rules of fasting

    • Islam has made fasting obligatory for all men and women who have attained the age of Bulugh.
    • To kill our low instincts and to help us acknowledge that we have a will power which enables us to abstain from certain things which if done will invalidate the fast. As a result it helps us to strengthen our will power against those things which are Haraam and cause us to commit sin if we do them.
    • Brings about Unity amongst you and those living near you, in that while you are fasting you are aware that there are others close by who are also fasting and in the same way when you have Iftar there are others doing the same. It creates a feeling of brotherhood.
    • As you feel hungry you begin to realise how the people who are poor and cannot afford food suffer daily in their lives and as a result of your fasting you may feel that you should do something for them. However, sadly we tend to forget all about our hunger at the time of Iftar when we eat a lot to make up for fasting; for this we have been advised by our Holy Prophet (S) to eat only enough to kill the hunger and not more.

    WAJIB FASTS

    1. Fast during the month of Ramadhan.
    2. Qaza fast for the month of Ramadhan.
    3. Fast becoming wajib on account of Kaffara.
    4. Qaza fasts of a dead person becoming wajib on the eldest son.
    5. Fasts becoming Qaza due to Nazar, Qasam or Ahad.
    6. Fast is broken or left out intentionally.

    SUNNAT FASTS

    1. On all days of Rajab and Shaban or on as many as is possible to fast, even if it is only one day.
    2. On 13th, 14th and 15th of every Lunar month.
    3. The day of Nawroz (21 March)
    4. From the 4th up to the 9th of Shawwal.
    5. The 25th and the 29th day of Zilqad.
    6. The first and last Thursday of every month AND the first Wednesday after the 10th of every month.
    7. From the 1st day to the 9th day of the month of Zilhajj.
    8. The 18th of Zilhajj - Eid-e-Ghadeer.
    9. The 24th of Zilhajj - Eid-e-Mubahela.œ
    10. The 1st, 3rd and 7th day of Muharram.
    11. The 17th of Rabiul Awwal - Birthday of our Holy Prophet (S).
    12. The 15th of Jamadiul Awwal.
    13. The 27th of Rajab - the appointment of the Holy Prophet (S) to the prophetic mission (Bi'that).

    Fasting is Mustahab on all the days of the year except on those days on which it is Haraam to observe fast. Some are mentioned below.

    HARAAM FASTS

    1. Eid-ul-Fitr.
    2. Eid-ul-Hajj.
    3. A fast kept despite illness.

    MAKRUH FAST
      It is Makruh to fast on the 10th of Muharram (Ashura Day).

    Eid-ul-Fitr

    First day of Shawwal the tenth month of the Islamic lunar calendar is Eid-ul-Fitr (Tuesday 25th November 2003).
    Eid is a celebration of thanks to Allah for giving us the chance and the strength to carry out His commands in the blessed month. We are happy that we were able to fast and pray in Ramadhan, and have hopefully increased in taqwa (God-consciousness), the goal of fasting.
    “You shall complete the number (of days) and you may glorify God for His guiding you, and that you may be thankful.” (2:185)

    Zakatul Fitra

    It is wajib (obligatory) at the time of Eidal Fitr night (night preceding Eid day), a person is adult and sane and is neither unconscious, nor indigent, nor the slave of another, he should give, to a deserving person, on his own account as well as on account of all those who take their meals at his house, about three killos per head of wheat or barley or palm-dates or raisins or rice or millet etc. It is also sufficient if he pays the price of one of these food-stuffs in cash.