A typical fast day will begin very early in the morning. My Muslim friends experience this and find it really hard to wake up in the morning everyday, but at the end of Ramadan it gets easier. Muslims will need to get up and have something to eat and drink before the fast begins. In the winter the early meal is quite important, but in the summer it might be eaten a few hours later after the night meal. High energy foods will need to be eaten such as yogurt, cheese and honey. Spicy foods are avoided because they make people extra thirsty. In Muslim countries people are woken up by drum beaters, in non Muslim countries there are time tables. The intention Muslims have to say is, “O God, I intend to fast today in obedience to your command and only to seek your pleasure.” It is hard for Muslims to do day to day tasks. Some Muslims are occupied with things such as going to school or work, so that the day goes by. Muslims will go to the Mosque to pray or they will pray at home. In Ramadan all five prayers will need to be read. If they can’t read a particular prayer then they read it after the next one. The day ends by Muslims breaking their fast with an intention, “O God, for your sake we have fasted and now we break the fast with food you have given us.” Muslims will normally open the fasts with water and dates. This is because Muslims follow the tradition when Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to break the fast each day with a few dates or a drink. Dates are highly nutritious and are symbolic of ancient times. Muslims will then read the fourth prayer which is called Maghrib and then they will have their main meal, this time is called Iftar. They will read the night prayer later on, and then they will read the Terawih prayer which is after the night prayer.
Muslims will remember the Night of Power. This is one of the most important nights and Muslims get a lot of rewards on this day. The Night of Power is when the revelation of the Qur’an (holy book) was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the Cave Hira. The Prophet saw the angel Jibril (the archangel Gabriel) in a vision.
The angel told Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to read and recite. The Prophet could not but he realised that he must recite what the angel told him. Muhammad (PBUH) protested when the angel commanded him to read and recite because, it was unexpected, he was illiterate and he was scared. When the Prophet had this experience, Muslims call this the Night of Power or Laylat-ul-Qadr. Muslims commemorate this day by reading the Qur’an all night or going to the Mosque, some Muslims would stay there all night.
In the last ten days of Ramadan, Muslims will go to the Mosque. Food is provided to break fast for those who stay at the Mosque. This is when Laylat-ul-Qadr (Night of Power) is celebrated. The Night of Power is normally accepted to have been on the 27th of the month, but tradition says that it was at least during the last ten days. Muslims who do this religious retreat spend time in religious study, prayer and mediation. Some Muslims would stay up all night reading the Qur’an.
B)Explain the Importance of Ramadan to Muslims and ways in which it may affect their lives.
Fasting in the month of Ramadan is important because it is one of the five pillars of Islam. All Muslims have to fast. Almighty God has promised great reward for those that fast whilst severe punishment is in store for those who do not fast in the month of Ramadan. God has made fasting compulsory so that we become religious, God fearing and God conscious. Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet(PBUH) said: "whoever did not fast one day of Ramadan without a genuine excuse or a disease then even if he fasted for a complete year, it would not compensate for that (missed Ramadan) day" (Sahih al-Bukhari, vol 3,p.88) Muslims get a lot of rewards if they fast during the month of Ramadan. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “The fragrance of the mouth of a fasting person is more pleasant to Allah (God) than the smell of musk.” The devils are changed during Ramadan and the doors of heaven are opened. Hazrat Aboo Hurairah(may Allah be blessed with him) reported that the disciple of God said: “When Ramadan comes, the doors of Heaven are opened and the doors of hell are closed, and the devils are put in chains and the doors of Mercy are opened.” Fasting is a method where the pangs of hunger and the ever present companion of the poor, are experienced by the rich. Thus this experience gives Muslims a feeling of kindness to the poor and distressed. It also gives Muslims the thought of how people will live on the day of Resurrection, when the greatest pang of hunger and thirst will be felt.
Fasting has many physical, moral and social benefits. The benefits of fasting is that it gives Muslims self –control, it reminds Muslims of worship, Muslims are grateful for all God gives. They will learn how to endure hardships and sense of achievement. They will show commitment to Allah (God) and this results in reward when they die. Muslims will become more considerate about other peoples situations, problems and circumstances. Muslims all around the world will feel equal and they will get a feeling of togetherness. Some Muslims would feel that they have lost weight.
Ramadan is a time when Muslims connect with the Qur’an, it is a time of fast, prayer and charity. Muslims will give charity to the poor because they will know how the poor feel during this month. It gives Muslims the opportunity to practice self-control and cleanse the body and mind. Many cultures and religions use fasting for this purpose. It develops spiritual devotion as well as in developing a feeling of kinship with other Muslims.
Keeping fasts in Ramadan might affect a Muslim living in a non-Muslim country by the people that tempt you with food. In a non-Muslim country most of the shops are opened. Also Muslims students will find it hard if they have examinations or work experience. Muslims will be woken up by the radio in their homes which is connected to a Mosque. This is because they live in a non-muslim country and if some one plays a drum on their road they will find it disturbing. Whereas in a Muslim country most of the shops are closed, they may only be open in the night time after Muslims have broken their fasts. They have national holidays where all the shops are closed and Muslims are with their families. In countries like Shiite Iran, Muslims ban restaurants from opening during the day. In Egypt, Lebanon and Kuwait, children sing to whoever opens the door and the streets are decorated. Some countries drum or use a microphone for the wake up call. Most Muslims will be seen outside with their families after they have broken their fasts.
When Muslims are in the minority it is harder to fast during the month of Ramadan. This is because not everyone in the country will be Muslims and they may not understand how Muslims feel. Like Muslims students at a school where there may only be a few Muslims. Other students may not understand how they may feel. Muslims will also get tempted easily.
When Muslims are in the majority, fasting in Ramadan is easier. This is because in a Muslim country all the Muslims will fast. There will be a less chance of temptation. Muslims will get support if they have a hard time fasting, this is because other Muslims will know what that person feels like.
C) ‘For Muslims, fasting has both disadvantages and advantages.’
Dou you agree? Give reasons to support your answer and show that you have thought about different points of view.
Some Muslims would argue that fasting has both disadvantages and advantages. This is because fasting may make them feel hungry and thirsty. They will find it hard not to commit bad deeds. If they do commit bad deeds, then they will get punished. They will find it hard not to think evil thoughts. Thus Muslims will get a feeling of togetherness, as all Muslims rich and poor fulfill the same demands of the fast. Fasting will help them learn about self-control and how to endure hardships. They will pray more and they will feel how the poor feel when they have no food or water.
Other Muslims would argue that fasting does not have both disadvantages and advantages. This is because fasting is either a good thing or it is a bad thing, it can’t be both. Muslims will know that fasting in Ramadan is a good thing not a bad thing because it is one of the five pillars of Islam. Ramadan will help them think about the poor, give donations and pray. They will get rewards because they are thinking about other people and how poor people feel when they have no food or water. Fasting helps them give self-control and it helps them to think about God and remember how lucky they are to have a good life whereas people around the world can’t.
My opinion is that I think fasting does not have both disadvantages and advantages. I think this because fasting has advantages not disadvantages. Fasting helps Muslims not to think about evil thoughts and not to commit bad deeds. It helps give Muslims self-control and how to endure hardships especially when they can’t have food or water. Fasting will help them think about God and give donations to the charity. Donations can be made at any time during the year but most Muslims choose to give donations during Ramadan. It also helps Muslims pray a lot more and recite the Qur’an.