Fasting the month of Ramadhan…

Ramadhan is the 9^th month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar.

The months are: Muharram, Safar, Rabee’ Al-Awwal, Rabee Al-Thaani, Jumaada Al-Awwal, Jumaada Al-Akhir, Rajab, Sha’baan, Ramadhan (our topic here), Shawwaal, Dhul-Qa’dah, and Dhul-Hijjah (the month of Hajj). The lunar calendar has been used among the Arabs since before the advent of Islam.

{إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِندَ اللَّـهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّـهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ ۚ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ وَقَاتِلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ كَافَّةً كَمَا يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ كَافَّةً ۚ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّـهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ} ﴿٣٦﴾ سورة التوبة

“Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred” [9:36]

The “sacred ones” in which war is forbidden during them were emboldened above. As for the year marking (e.g. 1436 ah or after hijrah) this was instituted during the time of Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattaab and marks the number of lunar years since the migration (hijrah) of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from Mecca to Medina. Each lunar year is approximately 354 days. Thus, every one hundred solar years contains approximately 103 lunar years. And if Ramadhan corresponds with, for example, August, one year, it will not do so again for another 33 years, as it moves up about 11 days year after year.

If you haven’t already fasted a Ramadhan before, then you may be afraid that you will nearly starve to death when it comes. To prevent starvation or severe hunger, the fast is only until sunset of each day. Furthermore, Muslims are encouraged to have small meal in the early morning before the fast begins, even if just a sip of water. This early morning meal, called suhoor, is actually recommended in Islam and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ described it as being a source of barakah (blessings) for the day’s fast. Once sunset finally arrives and the call to prayer is heard, break your fast with something light, like dates or water, and then pray the sunset prayer followed by a small healthy balanced meal.

{… يُرِيدُ اللَّـهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ …} ﴿١٨٥﴾ سورة البقرة

“Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you.” [2:185]

Remember, the purpose of fasting is not dieting, just as the purpose of wudoo’ is not cleanliness nor is the purpose of prayer to stretch.

{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ} ﴿١٨٣﴾ سورة البقرة

“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become pious.” [2:183]

The purpose of the Ramadhan fast is to strengthen your personal taqwaa. Taqwaa is that consciousness that keeps you steady, due to a degree of wariness and fear, performing what Allah enjoined upon you and staying away from what Allah prohibited—especially when no one else is around to remind you. The greater a person’s taqwaa, the more careful they are of letting their eyes wander at what they shouldn’t be looking at; letting their tongue speak what it shouldn’t be saying; and wasting one’s time with what has no benefit. It may be that during Ramadhan you may not feel any hunger at all, which is not uncommon, but when you’re fasting, you certainly won’t be thinking of lunch! You have more time for worship than when you would normally be eating and drinking. Ramadhan also fosters unity between you and the Muslims of your community and the Muslims of the entire world. There is no moment when all the Muslims may be praying or performing hajj, but during Ramadhan, there is not a Muslim except that he is observing Ramadhan, aware of it in their heart if nothing else.

The best acts of worship in Ramadhan are night prayer (known as taraawih, a long prayer set that begins after the normal ‘ishaa’ prayer), sadaqah (charity for Islamic causes) and recitation of the Qur’an. Make every Ramadhan an opportunity for you to read and learn as much as you can of the Qur’an. The more you can devote of yourself to worship and spend time with the Muslim community during Ramadhan, the more you’ll feel the holiday season, which is especially important for the new Muslim without a Muslim family that can create the holiday vibe. Many Muslims save up their vacation days for the last days of Ramadhan, sleeping during the day, but spending the night in prayer, as those nights are especially bountiful with rewards from Allah.

Unfortunately, Ramadhan and the succeeding holiday—Eid al-Fitr (annual festival in celebration of ending fasts) can be a lonely time for reverts. Folks from different ethnic cliques invite one another to meals during the month and especially on Eid day, but new Muslims are often forgotten. If you come from a community with many converts, talk with them to organize meals among yourselves to enjoy the Eid more. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was known to specifically approve of the Muslims indulging in a more-than-normal amount of games, sports and entertainment on this occasion.

Zakat and Ramadhan are both annual acts of worship. Another seasonally limited act of worship is the Hajj, but you need not perform it but once in your life. Read more to understand better…