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Fasting has a fundamental importance in the basis of Islam. The word 'Sawm' or 'Sayam' is used in the Quran and Hadith for fasting, and its literal meaning is 'to stop or to refrain'. According to Shariah, such a worship in which a Muslim abstains from food and drink and from his legitimate sensual desires from dawn to sunset is called "Sawm" (fasting). It became obligatory in 2 Hijri. Allah says:
يَأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِيْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُوْنَ
Translation:
"O you who believe, the fasts have been enjoined upon you as they were enjoined upon those before you, so that you may be God-fearing." (Surah Al-Baqarah: 183)
Along with mentioning of the obligation of fasting in the above-mentioned holy verse, the main purpose of fasting i.c. piety and abstinence is also mentioned. Apart from travel and illness, fasting is obligatory on every sane, mature Muslim man and woman. As the purpose of fasting is to attain piety, therefore, not only stopping from eating and drinking is a requirement of fasting, but it is also fasting to prevent all the organs of the body from disobeying Allah.
i. The Messenger of Allah as saying:
"If a person does not stop lying and speaking nonsense and acting on lies, then Allah has no need that he should abandon his food and drink."
(Sunan Abi Daud: 2362)
The time of Suhoor ends with dawn and the time of Iftar begins with the prayer of Maghrib.
It is a great virtue to do Suhoor and Iftar or to arrange the same for any of your Muslim brethren. The Holy Prophet said:
"Do Suhoor because in it there is a Blessing." (Sahih Muslim)
A promise of rewards and blessings is made for anyone who offers dates, water, or according to budget, a simple meal for a Muslim to break his fast. The Holy Prophet said:
"Whoever breaks the fast of a fasting person, he will also get a reward equal to it, without reducing the reward of the fasting person in the slightest." (Jami at-Tirmidhi: 847)
As the revelation of the Holy Quran took place in Lailatul-Qadr, therefore, in this month, blessings increase in every action. Allah has declared Lailatul-Qadr to be better than a thousand months. The Holy Prophet (s) has ordered to seek this night in the odd nights of the last decade of Ramadan. Muslims do recitation of the Holy Quran in Ramadan and seek blessings of Allah. During the entire month, they listen to the recitation of the Holy Quran under the leadership of expert reciters and hufaaz. In the last decade of Ramadan, women and men perform the Sunnah of Itikaf. In the blessed month of Ramadan,the companions of the Prophet would also bow down to worship when they used to see the Holy Prophet (su) doing so. The wives of the Holy Prophet used to fast and perform Itikaf along with the Holy Prophet.It is narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurairah that the Holy Prophet Used to perform Itikaf in Ramadan for ten days. (Sahih Bukhari : 2044)
ii. Benefits and Advantages of Fasting
On one side, fasting gives spiritual benefits like satisfaction of heart and contentment and on the other hand, our stomach gets rest for the whole month due to eating limited food. Due to this, a person is protected from different types of diseases.
People pay Zakat and Sadaqat to receive blessings, which fulfill the needs of the poor and needy.
Sehri and Iftar at the appointed time teach a person to observe discipline.
Fasting develops the qualities of piety, physical and spiritual purity and kindness. In the condition of fasting, the hunger and thirst of others is assessed and feelings of sympathy arise for them.
Due to fasting, an atmosphere of goodness and piety is created, due to which the passion for worship increases in Muslims and spiritual satisfaction is attained. We should organize a lot of alms and charity in Ramadan so that the needy and poor people of the society can be helped and they can also participate in the joy of Eid-ul-Fitr. We should pray a lot in Ramadan so that we can please Allah and seek forgiveness for ourselves and achieve success in this world and the hereafter. We should continue the routine of Ramadan throughout the year.
