Fasting is the act of the third pillar of Islam, Saum. As fasting is one of the five pillars, its importance in the religion is obvious. As it is one of the five pillars, Muslims carry it out. Muslims carry out Saum for several different reasons. The meaning of the word Muslim, is to submit to God totally and completely. Muslims believe that the Qur’an was revealed unto the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by the Angel Jibril, and is the word of Allah, and the word of Allah tells us:
"O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you..."(2:183)
“One may eat and drink at any time during the night until you can plainly distinguish a white thread from a black thread by the daylight; then keep the fast until night.”
Therefore, primarily, Muslims fast, as they believe that Allah has asked them to do so. To give themselves more incentive to fast, Muslims often stress its benefits. It develops self-control, curbs the passions and selfishness, helps one feel for the poor and hungry, and so on. But the primary reason Muslims fast is that they believe God has commanded them to do so. Closely associated with this is the idea that fasting "pleases God"--and will weigh in their favour on the Day of Judgement. Fasting teaches self-control, encourages a focus on prayer and the life of the spirit, and allows practitioners to devote their attention to worship, and draw closer to God. Muslims also fast to practice the tradition, and way of the pious people, to learn how to attain piety, to reap the full reward of the Night of Power (Lailat-ut Qadr) and to show to Muslims how to get their past sins forgiven.
Muslims have a very positive attitude towards Saum:
“Fasting makes you patient, self – controlled and it helps you”
“It is the most spiritual month, where you receive the highest satisfaction from being a human being, to achieve a higher spiritual and physical point, where you feel nothing but the presence of Allah, is truly the best feeling one can imagine.”
“Ramadan is a celebration of Islam and the Muslim community, when you realise just what Ummah means.”
- Eight year Old Muslim Boy
“I like my religion, and I love my God. I fast during Ramadan as a sign of respect and love towards Allah.”
During Ramadan, between sunrise and sunset, Muslims may not eat or drink. Smoking, chewing gum and sexual intercourse are also forbidden during this time. If Muslims forget that they are fasting, and may not eat or drink, then they must resume their fast, and they shall be forgiven. However, if a fast is broken intentionally, the penalty is sixty days of fasting outside of Ramadan. Iftari is the time (sunset) where Muslims may eat and drink once again. The fast is broken with a date and a small drink, and then the family/Ummah will pray the Iftari (Maghrib) prayer. Then the family will celebrate with a light meal, and read as much of the Qur’an as possible.
Not all Muslims are to fast. There are certain exceptions of the elderly, disabled, sick, children (who are not of age of maturity), the mentally disable, pregnant/breastfeeding mothers, menstruating women and travellers. Travellers, menstruating women and the ill (if possible) should make up for their fast. Pregnant women and breastfeeding women do not fast, as there are children dependant on them. Menstruating women can never keep wudu, so they do not need to keep Ramadan, and they also need water to restore bodily fluids whilst they are menstruating. However, they must also make up for their fast after their periods are over:
“But if anyone is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period should be made up by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put you to difficulties.”
During Ramadan, many Muslims go to the Mosque to pray five times a day. A lot of Muslims read the Qur’an, and recite it by heart. Taraweeh is the Sunnah (non obligatory) prayer that is 2/3 times the length of regular prayers. Some Muslims spend the entire night in prayer, however, this is only Sunnah, and not mandatory. At Taraweeh prayers, the Hafiz recite the Qur’an and lead prayers.
The last ten days of Ramadan are a time of special spiritual power as everyone tries to come closer to God through devotions and good deeds. The night on which the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Prophet, known as the Night of Power (Lailat ul-Qadr), is generally taken to be the 27th night of the month. The Qur'an states that this night is better than a thousand months. Therefore many Muslims spend the entire night in prayer.
The Night of Power or Destiny is an extremely important night for Muslims. It is the night in which our code of guidance, the Holy Quran, was revealed from the Lord of the Universe to Prophet Muhammad. The Quran was revealed in Ramadan, and traditionally Muslims celebrated the Night of Power on the 27th night of Ramadan.
God describes this night as better than a thousand months. During that night, the angels and the Spirit descend therein, by God’s leave, to carry out every command.
Because the Night of Power is such a special night, those Muslims who want to gain extra credit of righteousness spend the night by commemorating God the Almighty either in their privacy or in a mosque with other Muslims. There are also some Muslims who retreat to a mosque in the last ten days of Ramadan to take advantage of God’s blessings further and increase their faith of submission.
Fasting during the Islamic month of Ramadan can be good for one's health and personal development. Ramadan fasting is not just about disciplining the body to restrain from eating food and drinking water from predawn until sunset. The eyes, the ears, the tongue, and even the private parts are equally obligated to be restrained if a Muslim wants to gain the total rewards of fasting. Ramadan is also about restraining anger, doing good deeds, exercising personal discipline, and preparing oneself to serve as a good Muslim and a good person during and after Ramadan.
"He who does not desist from obscene language and acting obscenely (during the period of fasting), Allah has no need that he didn't eat or drink."
"Fasting is not only from food and drink, fasting is to refrain from obscene (acts). If someone verbally abuses you or acts ignorantly toward you, say (to them) 'I am fasting; I am fasting."
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims give money to charity. They also volunteer as much as possible.
Muslims use many phrases in various languages to congratulate one another for the completion of the obligation of fasting and the 'Eid-ul-Fitr festival. Here is a sampling of them:
"Kullu am wa antum bi-khair" (May you be well throughout the year) - Arabic
"Atyab at-tihani bi-munasabat hulul shahru Ramadan al-Mubarak" (The most precious congratulations on the occasion of the coming of Ramadan) - Arabic
"Elveda, ey Ramazan" (Farewell, O Ramadan) - Turkish
"Kullu am wa antum bi-khair" (May you be well throughout the year) - Arabic
"'Eid mubarak (A Blessed 'Eid)" - universal
“Khush amadeed Ramadaan” - Urdu
