These people should either make up missed fasting days when they are able to, or if this is not possible, they are expected to give money equivalent to 2 meals to the poor for each day of fasting they miss.
The elderly do not have to fast, but they are expected to donate money.
Children may start to fast gradually as they get older, but they are expected to fast as an adult would from the age of about 12.
Finally, mentally disabled people who would not understand the purpose of the fast do not have to fast, because they would gain nothing from it and it would just amount to unnecessary suffering.
As Ramadan is a very special month to Muslims, there is always an opportunity to do extra for their faith throughout it, and there are many ways in which they do this.
Firstly, many Muslims perform a sixth prayer each day in addition to their usual five. This extra prayer has either eight or twenty ra’kahs, or prayer cycles. This isn’t compulsory, but many Muslims perform it.
Also, many Muslims try to attend prayers at the Mosque every day during Ramadan, instead of just on Fridays. Mosques also arrange programmes for Muslims to learn more about their religion throughout the holy month.
Towards the end of Ramadan, Laylat-ul-Qadr is celebrated. This is the Arabic name for the Night of Power, when the prophet Muhammad received the first revelation. Some Muslims celebrate the Night by spending the last 10 days of Ramadan (during which the Night occurred) staying in the Mosque, where they study Islam, pray, and meditate.
At the end of each day during Ramadan, the meal that breaks the fast is called iftar. Usually Muslims will start with a small meal, and then have larger meals later on in the evening. Iftar is seen as a reward for the day’s fasting, and Muslims will be proud of their achievement that day, so they often celebrate with their friends or family. A meal eaten in the early hours of the morning before sunrise is called suhur.
At the end of Ramadan, the feast of Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated. For Muslims, this is the most exciting celebration of the year because it marks the end of a month of suffering, and they rejoice in their new allowance to eat and drink as they wish. Many Muslims and Muslim shops work for the whole night beforehand to prepare for the festivities.
The start of Eid-ul-Fitr is marked by the call to prayer from the Mosque, which is signalled usually by the sight of the new moon. When this signal comes, Muslims rejoice, greeting and congratulating one another and their successful fast. Friends and family meet and have meals, as the entire Ummah celebrates the end of the fast.
B) Explain the importance of Ramadan to Muslims and the ways in which it may affect their lives.
There are many ways in which Ramadan is important to Muslims. The month itself is very special to Muslims, as it commemorates the first revelation of the Qur’an given to Muhammad from Allah through the Angel Jibril. Therefore, the celebration of Ramadan is important because it reminds Muslims of their religion’s history and origins and of the prophet Muhammad.
Another way in which Ramadan is important is that Sawm is one of the five pillars of Islam, which are the most important tenets of the faith. This makes it very important to Muslims, as it is a central part of their religion.
The fasting itself affects the lives of Muslims in many ways. During the fast, everyone is equal. Everyone undertakes the fast on the same level, regardless of status, wealth, race or gender. This reminds Muslims of the equality of everybody in the Ummah before Allah, and that he will judge them all equally both during and at the end of life.
It also allows Muslims to empathetise with the poorer members of the Ummah through this equality. The fast gives better-off Muslims the chance to experience the lack of food endured by people who live in poorer countries, and through this empathy allows them that they have an obligation to help the needy people in the world.
Ramadan helps form a sense of togetherness and community between Muslims. As everyone within the Ummah is undertaking the same hardship, friendships are strengthened as people help each other through the fast and the lack of self-indulgence gives time for families and friends to become closer.
In countries where the majority of the population is not Muslim, this could have both positive and negative effects. As Muslims are in the minority, the bonds between Muslims will be stronger than ever as they support each other during Sawm. However, Muslims may feel isolated from non-Muslims who are not enduring the same hardship and may be ignorant of the Muslim practices, and as a result there could be greater separation between Muslims and non-Muslims during the month of Ramadan. This would not be the case in predominantly Muslim countries or communities, where everyone is part of the Ummah and is undertaking the fast together.
On a more personal level, Muslims can benefit greatly from fasting. It helps them with self-discipline and with controlling their temptations. Muslims are guided away from falling victim to vices and temptations, and sawm is a good way for them to practice and experience this. By controlling the temptations of something simple such as food and drink, they can extend this self-control to other areas that are considered makruh (frowned upon) or haraam (forbidden) by Muslims, such as covetousness, sexual immorality or greed.
Also, Ramadan is also an opportunity for a change for the better which may not be linked to Islam. For example, they may use the fast as an opportunity to lose weight and keep a healthy figure, or even give up smoking.
Ramadan gives Muslims the chance to appreciate the fact that it is Allah who sustains and is responsible for all life on Earth. This reminds them that their life is totally dependant on Him, and they should be thankful for this.
Through fasting, without questioning why it is necessary, Muslims are directly submitting to the will of Allah and following His command. This is showing their loyalty to the way Allah wants them to live. As in the religion of Islam it is essential to show one’s complete submission to Allah, fasting is a great act of worship because they are fulfilling His commands.
Furthermore, Ramadan is an analogy to life itself. Ramadan is a time of hardship and suffering, which is rewarded at the end with Eid-ul-Fitr; life also entails hardships and suffering, and it is rewarded with paradise when it reaches its end. This reminds Muslims that although life may be hard at times, it will be rewarded when they die by eternal happiness in the afterlife.
C) “The advantages of fasting during Ramadan outweigh the disadvantages.”
Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer.
For a Muslim, there are many advantages to fasting during the month of Ramadan. Firstly, it helps to teach Muslims self-discipline. By abstaining from comforts such as food which are usually taken for granted, they can also learn to abstain also from other things which are considered haraam or makruh, and ultimately become better Muslims as a result
Sawm also benefits Muslims in the fact that they can put themselves in the shoes of needy Muslims who live in underprivileged countries. Richer Muslims who fast experience and understand the daily suffering and toil of poorer people in the ummah who cannot afford to eat properly all the time. As a result, the entire ummah benefits because after empathizing with disadvantaged people, the richer may be more inclined to give sadaqah (voluntary charity) to help them. Poorer people will also benefit from zakat-ul-fitr, the compulsory money donated to the poor as part of Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr.
Ramadan is also a time for Muslims to focus on their religion. The month is a very holy time, and followers of Islam will strive to focus on their spiritual side and their beliefs rather than their material comforts, so they can become better Muslims and better people.
Furthermore, Ramadan is a time for thanksgiving for Muslims. It reminds them that Allah is completely responsible for creating and sustaining life, and allows them a chance to thank Him.
Muslims believe that sawm is part of a test by Allah, to see how good a person a Muslim is and as part of the decision as whether they should go to Paradise or Hell when they are resurrected on the Day of Judgment.
Through fasting together, both immediate family and friends and the whole ummah can become closer, strengthening the entire Muslim community as people help each other through the fast.
There are also physical advantages to the fast. It could help Muslims to lose weight by restricting their food consumption, or could help them quite smoking by following their religion.
Finally, by fasting, Muslims are submitting to the will of Allah, which shows the complete devotion to their faith. They are living their lives and doing things according exactly to how they believe Allah wishes them to, and this is the ultimate act of worship.
Although there are many advantages to the fast of Ramadan, there are also disadvantages. The most obvious of these is the physical problems associated with a lack of food and water. Muslims may feel weak or faint during the day, not be able to concentrate, or suffer from illnesses such as migraines.
Depending on where they live, a Muslim may experience different problems. In most Muslim countries, especially in the Middle East and northern Africa, the climate is extremely hot, so the lack of food and water may take more of a physical toll on the fasters. However, in a non-Muslim country, where the majority of people are not fasting, Muslims may not enjoy the compensations that are made for people fasting in predominantly Muslim countries, such as shorter working/school days etc. and they will have to work just as hard as they normal have to.
Muslims undertaking sawm will also have many problems in everyday life. For example: they will not be able to concentrate on their work or schooling as well; if they have exams during Ramadan they may not be as successful; if they have a position of responsibility, the fasting may lead to harm of people under their care; and if they are driving, they will not be able to concentrate as well due to the hunger and this could present a risk.
This could also harm the economy of a country: if the vast majority of people are fasting and are not able to work as efficiently, this will harm the country as a whole and people could become poorer as a result.
Finally, through fasting a Muslim may become too self-focussed. They may just be fasting to ensure that they go to Paradise on the Day of Judgment, and they may forget about the needs of others as a result, achieving the opposite of what they had the intention (niyyah) to do in the first place.
To conclude, I agree with the statement in the question, as the advantages and disadvantages of fasting are many and diverse, as I have listed. However I believe that for a Muslim, the advantages greatly outweigh the disadvantages, as being a better Muslims spiritually and mentally is more important than their physical hardships and possessions. Islam teaches that people are to be judged on for their good deeds and their submission to Allah’s will rather than any material or physical attributes, therefore fasting is much more advantageous than disadvantageous.
