Ramadan: Fasting During the Month of Blessings

Ramadan is the ninth month of Islamic lunar calendar and during this month, believers are obliged to fast throughout the month in order to lead a calm life. On this page you will get to know how fasting in Ramadan is done and what are the basic facts of fasting in Ramadan:

According to the Shariah, Saum or fasting means abstinence from food, drink and other evil practices with the niyat or intention of worship from dawn till sunset. If a person does not eat or drink during the prescribed time, but he has not made the niyat for a fast, then in the terminology of Shariat or Islamic law, it will not be a fast.

Fasting during the month of Ramadan is obligatory on all Muslim adults, male and female. However, females who are in a state of menstruation or period of child-birth are not to keep the fast as long as such condition lasts; but they have to fast for an equal number of days after the purification bath has been taken.

A person who is ill may postpone the fast of Ramadan; if his physician fears that, the illness would increase or be prolonged. Likewise, a woman who is pregnant or suckling her baby may also postpone it. Postponement of fast during a journey is also allowed. These fasts should be kept as soon as possible, after the end of Ramadan and in any case, before the next Ramadan. A person who is so old and weak that he is unable to fast is not obliged to fast. But such a person must feed a needy person twice a day for each missed fast, or give grain and cash equal to Sadaqeah-e-Fitr.  Before keeping a fast, it is desirable to take Sehri which can be eaten till dawn.

The person who fast is subject to all restrictions and prohibitions associated with a fast till the setting of the sun. Eating, drinking, smoking, taking of medicine by mouth are forbidden during fast. Swallowing something which is not used as food or drink or as a medicine, injecting liquid medicine, voluntary vomiting, smoking, the entering of water in the throat while gargling are things for which only a Qaza fast is necessary i.e., the person shall have to keep a fast after Ramadan instead of the one that was broken. But if the breaking of the fast through eating or drinking was intentional, then in addition to Qaza fast, the person shall have to pay the Kaffara that is, for every fast thus broken, he shall have to fast for continuous sixty days. Even if a single day’s fast is missed, he shall have to start all over again to complete the number of sixty days at a stretch. If the person cannot fast for continuous sixty days, he may, for each broken fast, feed sixty poor people twice a day; or he may give grain or cash equal to Sadaqah-e-Fitr to sixty people.

Ramadan is actually one of the special holy months of the Islamic calendar. It is also a very special time of the year for the Muslim community worldwide. People host Ramadan dinners, which are also known as Iftari in which they open their fasts and eat the traditionally prepared dishes. People also wish their loved ones the arrival of this holy month by sending Ramadan text messages and greeting cards. Many individuals customize their own Ramadan SMS and send them to their relatives. On this Ramadan, make sure that you pray Allah for the safety of your and the families living all around the world.