Forum Index › Forums › ISLAMIC PRACTICES FORUMS › ISLAM AND PILLARS OF ISLAM FORUMS › Fasting › Why Do Muslims Fast Ramadan?
- This topic has 0 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 16 minutes ago by Atiyyah Abdullah.
-
AuthorPosts
-
-
Sun 7 Ramadan 1445AH 17-3-2024AD at 11:13 pm #91237
⌨⌨⌨⌨⌨⌨⌨⌨
🌹Understand Islam 9️⃣3️⃣
❓Message of Ramadan – Why Do Muslims Fast?
⌨⌨⌨⌨⌨⌨⌨⌨
✅Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar in which the revelation of the Holy Qur’an began to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Ramadan is observed by fasting from dawn to sunset every day of the lunar month of Ramadan. Muslims abstain from food, drink, and physical intimacy from dawn until dusk. Simply put, fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars, meaning it is one of the five most basic acts a Muslim has to do. It is part of Muslim’s fundamental belief system.Not everyone fasts during this month, as with anything, there are exceptions. Children, the sick, travelers, nursing mothers, people who are mentally challenged, the elderly, etc. are all exempt from fasting. Those who are temporarily unable to fast must make up the missed days after Ramadan or feed the poor.
Although we cannot eat or drink, fasting is so much more than that. Muslims are called upon to use this month to check their lives in light of Islamic guidance. We are to make peace with those who have wronged us, reinforce ties with family and friends, and change our bad practices. We are to clean up our lives, our thoughts, and our feelings during this month.
This means not only fasting from food and drink, but from evil actions, thoughts, and words. Smoking, profanity, lying and other vices also invalidate the fast. Therefore, fasting is not merely physical, but is rather the total commitment of the person’s body and soul to the spirit of the fast. We believe that fasting brings us closer to our spiritual side.
Why Do Muslims Fast?
Why fast the month of Ramadan? The simple answer is that God instructed us to fast in the Qur’an: “Oh you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that you may (learn) piety and fear of God” (2:183). The purpose is to worship God by obedience, and the result, hopefully, is to draw closer to God.Fasting is meant to bring worshippers closer to God through steady remembrance, reflection, and sacrifice. Daily fasting, combined with five daily prayers and extended evening prayers, challenges worshippers to focus on their actions, deeds, and thoughts, rather than on material desires and instant gratification.
Fasting is a requirement in Islam – a reset for the mind, body and soul. Muslims are expected to show self-control and deeper spirituality during Ramadan.
It is also a month of gratitude. By abstaining from food and water during the day, the faithful are reminded of those less fortunate and gain empathy for those. Empathy turns to action as the Muslim gives to charities throughout the month (and beyond) and culminates in the required act of giving the ‘purifying charity’ on breaking the fast for Eid celebration.
It was in the month of Ramadan that the Holy Qur’an was revealed to the prophet Muhammad. This is a big part of why Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims. Ramadan is not about eating and drinking, it is a spiritual quest. It is a time for us to focus our energy on what is really important. It is a time to better ourselves through our beliefs.
-
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.