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A quick and easy explanationof the meaning, purpose and benefits of

fasting in Islam

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious Ever Merciful

The Annual Habit of Highly Successful and Satisfied People

SecondEdition

Follows the globally popular firstedition titled

“Ramadan- Time to purifyand train body and soul”

“I passed the presentation on to our World Religion teachers and they really liked it”- Anna from Canada“A very beneficial presentation for all Muslims/Non-Muslims alike”- Saraj from UK

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2The Proven Habit of Successful PeopleRamadan is a great opportunity each year for those who are seeking God-consciousness, personality development, success, happiness and the most important of all, Almighty’s blessings and rewards. For more than 1400 years now, millions of Muslims have derived and experienced numerous benefits from Ramadan such as:

Bliss Selfimprovement

Peace &Contentment

Character building

Success

Fasting in Ramadan has been and remains an annual practice of highly successful and satisfied people.2

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3Fasting: A Pillar of Islam

FAITH

PRAYER

FASTING

ZAKAT

HAJJ

FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

Declaring and believing “There is no god worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad (pbuh) is His messenger.”

1st

Performing the obligatory prayers five times a day

2nd

Observing dawn-to-dusk abstinence in the month of Ramadan

3rd

Giving charity

4th

Undertaking Pilgrimage to Makkah

5th

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4Ramadan – Most Sacred Month in the Islamic Calendar

Islamic Calendar or the Hijri Calendar is based on the lunar year.

Ramadan

SafarMuharram Rabi Al Awwal

JumadiAl Awwal

Rabi At Thani

JumadiAt Thani

ShabanRajab

DhulQaidahShawwal Dhul

Hijjah

It is obligatory on Muslims to fast all days in

this month.

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5“A Great, Blessed Month…”

People, a great blessed month has come upon you

Allah has made fasting during it an obligation, and steadfastly observing its nights in worship a voluntary act

Whoever undertakes an act of obedience to Allah during this month with a righteous deed, it is as if he has performed an obligatory act at other times

And whoever performs an obligatory act during it is as one who performed seventy obligations at other times

It is the month of patience, and the reward for patience is Paradise

It is the month of goodwill, during which provisions are multiplied

Prophet Muhammad’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) address on the eve of Ramadan:

“

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“… Indeed it is We Who have revealed it and it is indeed We Who are its

guardians” [Qur’an 15:9]

Ramadan: Month of Revelation of the Qur'an

[Buy]“A Book which We have revealed unto you in order that

you may lead mankind out of the depths of darkness into light- by the leave of their Lord- to the way of (Him) the exalted in Power, Worthy of all praise!” [Qur’an 14:1]

source of transformation

“The month of Ramadan is that in which the Qur'an was revealed, a guidance for people and clear proofs of the guidance and the Criterion (between right and wrong)” [Qur’an 2:185]

“ It is He Who sent down to you in truth, the book, confirming what went before it; and He sent down the Torah (of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus)…” [Qur’an

3:3]

culmination of guidancesafe & original

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7Qur'an: The Ultimate Guidance

“O mankind! there has come to you a

direction from your Lord and a healing

for the (diseases) in your hearts,- and for those who believe, a

guidance and a Mercy.” [Qur’an

10:57]

“Verily this Qur'an does guide to that which is most right ” [

Qur’an 17:9]

Shows ways

of successful

living

Provides answers & solutions

Presents Almighty’s

signs

Cures bad conduct

Explains right

& wrong

Brings peace & security

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8Fasting means Abstinence

To stop eating, drinking and sex from dawn until dusk

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9The Ramadan Time-table

Eating before dawn

Breaking the fast

DayNight

Eating, drinking

and sex is permitted

Eating, drinking and sex

forbidden

Special Prayers

Special Prayers

“Eat Suhur (pre-dawn meal), for there are blessings in it.” – Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) [Sahih Bukhari, Book 31, Hadith 146]

First ten days God’s Mercy

Middle ten days God’s Forgiveness

Salvation from Hell-fireLast ten days

Days of Ramadan

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Minors Aged * Sick ** Menstruating Women **

Pregnant Women ** Suckling Women Traveller **

People Exempt from Fasting

* Should donate a meal to the needy** Should fast an equivalent number of days afterwards

“… but whoever is sick or upon a journey, then (he shall fast) a (like) number of other days; Allah desires ease for you, and He does not desire for you difficulty, and (He desires) that you should complete the number and that you should exalt the greatness of Allah for His having guided you and that you may give thanks.” – [Qur'an 2:185]

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By Him in Whose Hands my soul is' The unpleasant smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk.

There are two pleasures for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast,

and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord; then he will be pleased because of his fasting.”

Reward of FastingProphet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) proclaimed the reward of fasting:

[Sahih Muslim, Book 6, Hadith Number 2567]

“ Allah said, 'All the deeds of Adam's sons (people) are for them, except fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.' Fasting is a shield or protection from the

fire and from committing sins.

If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual relation with his wife and quarrelling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, 'I am fasting.'

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12Why Fasting?

The Goal of Fasting is to develop Self-Restraint.

Holy Qur'an states: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, so that you may develop Taqwa (self-restraint) ” [Qur’an 2:183]

Fear of GodLove of God +

AboutTaqwa

Taqwa is an Arabic word. Taqwa is the consciousness of Almighty. It is the state of heart that motivates virtuous conduct and prevents evil action. Taqwa is the ability ‘to guard against, preserve, shield and prevent’.

Taqwa

Example: God says about Mary in the Qur’an that she said: “Verily!, I have vowed a fast to the Most Beneficent…” [Qur’an Chapter Maryam – 19:26].

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13The Need for Taqwa*

Holy Qur'an states: “O you who believe! Be steadfast witnesses for Allah in equity, and do not let the hatred of any people make you to depart from justice. Act justly, that is nearer to Taqwa. And fear Allah. Surely Allah is well aware of what you do.” [Qur’an 5:8]

Spiritual shield against evil

Holy Qur'an states: “On the day (The day of judgement) when every soul will be confronted with all the good it has done, and all the evil it has done” [Qur’an 3:30]

To prepare for accountability before the Creator

Holy Qur'an states: “…for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction.” [Qur’an 13:28]

To experience happiness and satisfaction

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Piety and Righteousness is being of good character.” [Sahih Muslim]

To build good character

He (Lord of the worlds) is worthy to be feared [Qur’an 74:56)

To be fair and just>

>

>

>

13* This slide does not provide an exhaustive, but only an illustrative list to highlight the need for Taqwa

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14Caliph Ali’s description of the people of Taqwa

“The world tempts them, but they do not succumb. It imprisons them, but they ransomed themselves in exchange.”

“They combine knowledge with tolerance and speech with action.”

“They do not call anyone names nor do they hurt their neighbors. They do not curse at the time of difficulties nor do they venture into falsehood.”

“The people of Taqwa on earth are those of virtue: their speech is correct (true); their garments are of moderate nature and their walk is one of humility. They lower their gaze when they see something that Allah has forbidden them to see, and they give ear to beneficial knowledge.”

“They are not prejudiced against those they dislike nor do they favor those they love.”

“They maintain their integrity in both adversity and prosperity”

(May Allah be pleased with him)

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15Annual Training for Character-building

Ramadan provides a training opportunity that is meant to facilitate good behaviour throughout the year

Ramadan

Rest of the year

Ramadan

Prophet Muhammad said, “Whoever can guarantee the chastity of what is between his two jaws-bones (tongue) and what is between his two legs (private parts), I guarantee Paradise for him.” [Sahih Bukhari, Book 76, Hadith 481]

(pbuh)

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16How Character-building is Achieved

Taqwa (God consciousness & Self-restraint)

Fasting

Good speech & control of the tongue

develops inculcates

Avoidance of evil & useless talk

Controlling of sight & lowering of gaze

Gratitude, humility & caring

Purity of thought, self-control, and patience

Responsibility towards poor & after-life accountability

Fairness, justice and honesty

“…And give, (O Prophet), glad tidings to those that humble themselves (before Allah)” [Qur’an 22:34]

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17Fasting and Sins Don’t Go TogetherProphet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink” (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.) [Sahih Bukhari Volume 003, Book

031, Hadith Number 127]

“When any one of you gets up in the morning in the state of fasting, he

should neither use obscene language nor do any act of ignorance. And if

anyone slanders him or quarrels with him, he should say: ‘I am fasting, I am fasting.’” [Sahih Muslim Book 006,

Hadith Number 2563]17

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18Cultivating concern for the Poor and Hungry

The state of hunger makes each fasting person feel what it means to be without food and drink and inculcates in him or her:

Care and concern for the poor and hungry Helping attitude towards have-nots Sense of giving and charity Avoiding wastage of food and drinks Social responsibility

18Photo courtesy: Reliefonline.org ,refugeecamp.org, indonesiaurbanstudies.blogspot, asiaportal.info, al jazeerah.net, corbridge.journallive.co.uk, theasiannews.co.uk, , muslimhands.org, muslimaid.org

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19Health Benefits of Fasting

It promotes elimination of metabolic wastes

It allows the body to adjust and normalize its biochemistry and also its secretions

It lets the body break down and absorb swellings, deposits, diseased tissues, and abnormal growths;

It restores a youthful condition to the cells and tissues

It increases the powers of digestion and assimilation (absorption and utilization of food into the system)

It permits the conservation and re-routing of energy; It clears and strengthens the mind;

It gives vital organs a complete rest

Fasting is good for the human

body

* From the Book Triumph Over Disease By Fasting and Natural Diet, Chapter 10, by Dr Jack Goldstein19

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20Learn More…Please get to know more and change your life

Recommended Readings

The Holy Qur'an: Text, Translation & Commentary – by Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Holy Qur’an (Online) The Nature of Fasting – by Ibn Taymiyyah The Life and Work of Muhammad (Critical Lives) – by Yahiya Emerick

Towards Understanding Islam – by A.A.Maududi

Islam Tomorrow – Yusuf Estes

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