'O believers, you must fast so that you may learn self-restraint. Fasting is prescribed for you during a fixed number of days.

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

Ikhlas Raja 10s5 Candidate No: 9297

RE coursework

Dr. Gunn

RAMADAN

‘O believers, you must fast so that you may learn self-restraint. Fasting is prescribed for you during a fixed number of days.

(Surah 2:183-4)

Sawm, or fasting, one of the five pillars of Islam. Sawm is the deliberate control of the body by an act of will. During the 29 or 30 days of the Muslim month of Ramadan healthy adult Muslims will go without all the pleasures of the body during all the hours of daylight. The fast begins as the first light of dawn touches the horizon and ends with sunset. Hunger, comfort and sex are the three things, which have to be brought under control.

Nothing must pass the lips (not even chewing-gum, a cigarette, or the smoke of someone else’s cigarette!), and a real conscious effort must be made to make sure no evil deed or thought is committed. If the emotions of the heart or mind, or the behavior of the Muslim are wrong, then the fast will lose its real significance.

Along with salat, another important form of worship is fasting. It is obligatory for each Muslim, apart from some exemptions, to fast in the month of Ramadan. During the hours of fasting, food and drink and sexual relations between husband and wife are forbidden. It is enjoined that during fasting one should pay attention to remembrance of God and study the Holy Quran in abundance. One should try to curtail one's worldly pastimes as much as possible during Ramadan, and to be particularly inclined towards charity and alms giving.

Human life is dependent on food and drink and the continuation of the human race depends on the marital relationship. While fasting one refrains from them both, as if bearing witness to God that for His pleasure man gives up the factors (temporarily) upon which his very existence depends. The various other benefits of fasting are that man gets to exercise sacrificing physical comfort and to endure hunger and thirst. Fasting creates a sense of equality between the rich and the poor. By developing an appreciation of hunger and thirst, it makes the well-off think of the needs of the poor and impresses a feeling of compassion in their hearts. It makes them appreciate, through the practicality of it, the state a human being endures when hungry and thirsty. Ramadan is a most effective and excellent means of spiritual development for mankind.

‘If you do not give up telling lies God will have no need of your giving up food and drink’

‘There are many who fast during the day and pray all night, but they gain nothing but hunger and sleeplessness.’

(Hadith)

AIMS OF SAWM

To develop self-control and overcome selfishness, greed and laziness
To restrain passion and appetite
To prepare for any real sufferings that may be faced later
To experience hunger, and thus develop sympathy for the poor
To gain spiritual strength
To experience companionship through shared ‘ordeals’.

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‘If you do not give up telling lies God will have no need of your giving up food and drink’

‘There are many who fast during the day and pray all night, but they gain nothing but hunger and sleeplessness.’

(Hadith)

AIMS OF SAWM

To develop self-control and overcome selfishness, greed and laziness
To restrain passion and appetite
To prepare for any real sufferings that may be faced later
To experience hunger, and thus develop sympathy for the poor
To gain spiritual strength
To experience companionship through shared ‘ordeals’.

After a couple of hours the body is sure to feel uncomfortable, and starts complaining like a spoilt child for its usual supplies of food and drink. But Muslims allow the mind to take control. The body will not get its way. The path of obedience gradually becomes easier, and so does resisting temptation.

It is possible to cheat, but Muslims believe that God sees everything. Human beings might be deceived, but you can never deceive God. Therefore there is no point in order to show off – the fast is a matter between the individual and God alone.

THOSE EXCUSED FASTING

Muslims are excused if they would suffer hardship. The following do not have to fast:

Children under twelve
Pregnant and nursing mothers
The aged
Those sick or on a journey, if it would cause real pain and suffering. It is obvious that a ten-mile journey on foot carrying baggage would be much harder than 1000 miles by airplane.

Whenever possible, the days of fasting missed should be made up later. Those excused fasting should provide food for needy people.

RAMADAN

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar, and it is regarded as a very special month, because it was during this time that the Prophet received his first message from God.

Since Muslim months are based on the moon, Ramadan falls eleven days earlier each year. When it falls in the blistering summer heat it is a real challenge to faith and devotion.

There is enormous excitement at the start of the fast, as Muslims await the announcement on the radio, and some go on 2 sites and other places to find out if the moon has been sighted anywhere. Some times cannons can be fired for the signal of the beginning of the holy month.

WHAT HAPPENS?

In the morning before the sun had risen, Muslims are to wake up to open their fast. They are to eat or drink something before the Fajr prayer and there is a Dua which also has to be read. Then after eating something they pray there prayer of Fajr, then they might decide to go back to sleep. Some Muslims then go on 2 reading some of the Quran. If you are able to read the whole of the Quran in the month of Ramadan there is lots of sawab (good deeds). Then when all of the day light hours are over this is when Muslims are able to eat their Iftar (the foods that breaks the fast after sunset). Muslims around the world open their fast with a date and a glass of water and then later on go on to eat the meal. There are many nice kinds of foods during the month of Ramadan. After you have opened your fast you then have to pray your Magrib prayer. This is read at sunset. Then you could read some more Quran. Many families call cousins around so the fast can be opened together. This makes the atmosphere even better. Now there is only one prayer left in the day Isha which is to be read with and extra 20 rakats this is called Travi. You are able to read the either at home or at mosque but it is recommended to be read at mosque. This starts at around seven o’clock and takes usually one in a half hour. This is the last thing which is carried out in a day of fasting, then it is to bed and the same routine to be carried out on the next day.

THE NIGHT MEALS

Even more exciting is at the end of the fast each night. There is a wonderful feeling of joy and achievement after each day’s successful discipline.

The foods that breaks the fast after sunset is called Iftar. It is sensible not to eat too much (Muhammad himself had only a couple of dates or a drink) otherwise you can feel sick. More sustainable meals follow, for at night wholesome meals are allowed. The meal eaten in the mornings is called suhur which is squeezed in before first light.

THE IMPORTANCE OF RAMADAN.

Ramadan is important for Muslims is because it is believed to be the month in which the first verses of the Holy Quran were revealed by Allah (God) to Prophet Muhammad (570-632 C.E.). From time to time, Muhammad used to go out from Makkah, where he was born and where he worked as a caravan trader. Like Abraham before him, he had never accepted his people’s worship of many gods, and felt a need to withdraw to a quiet place to reflect on the One God. One night, while contemplating in a cave near Makkah, he heard a voice call out, telling him to “Read!” Muhammad protested that he was unable to read. The voice insisted again, and then the third time and Muhammad found himself reciting the first verses of the Quran.

Ramadan is also a month in which Muslims get a feeling of what life is like for people who are less fortunate people across the world. Muslims might also decide to give money to the poor during this month. It gives you a little idea of the hardships other people are going through. This is how if can make affects to the way some Muslims might think, now they know how other people feel and will give more to the poor. It helps people to feel compassion for people who unfortunate on this earth. It also allows Muslims to build up their self-control and there will-power.

EID-UL-FITR

After the end of Ramadan, a very festive and joyous holiday is celebrated by Muslims, known as Eid-ul-Fitr, the Festival of Breaking the Fast. On the day of Eid, Muslims attend special congregational prayers in the morning, wearing their nicest clothes and perfumes. After the completion of prayers and a special sermon, Muslims rise to greet and hug one another, saying “Eid Mubarak,” which means “Holiday Blessings.” Muslim families also visit each other’s homes, and have special meals together. Children are often rewarded with gifts, money and lots of other things. This is the reward for all of the month of the fasting, this is what Muslims look forward to specially the children!

‘For Muslims, Fasting has both advantages and disadvantages.’

I think that this statement is not correct because there are no disadvantages in fasting as far as I know, it is not like it would kill or is that risky to keep a fast. It builds up your self control and will power, it gives you an idea of what life could be like for you, and so you should thank Allah (God) that you were born in good circumstances, healthy and well. Fasting brings the whole of a Muslim community together, like when people come around to open fast together, or you invite people to come and open their fasts together in your house. When you go to read Travi everyone is together as a community whilst they are praying. Increases your will power and makes you closer to Allah. The only disadvantage I can think of fasting is if a child is too young and tries to keep a fast when he can not, but children do not have to fast compulsory until they are thirteen years old. So on the whole I think that fasting has too many advantages and not many disadvantages. So I think that fasting is good thing for Muslims not a bad thing. Looking at it from a Muslims perspective there are no disadvantages about fasting.

If you look at it from another religions perspective, because they would not be used to keeping fasts they could say that it could affect the way you work during the day. It can make you tire quickly at you would not be able to carry out your daily tasks properly. Every one would have their own different view on it, me being a Muslim, I do not believe that there are any sort of disadvantages in fasting.