A Brief Guide to Ramadan and Fasting

Book Author: E-Da`wah Committee (EDC)

Number of Pages: 14

Publisher: E-Da`wah Committee

Year of Publication: 2015

Book Description: Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, throughout which Muslims around the world spend the daylight hours (from dawn to sunset) in complete fast.

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Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, throughout which Muslims around the world spend the daylight hours (from dawn to sunset) in complete fast.

During the daylight hours throughout the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims all over the world abstain from food, drink, sexual enjoyment and physical or verbal abuse. In fact, fasting is much more than just refraining from eating and drinking. It is a time for the purification of the soul and the development of God-awareness and self-control.

Abu Hurairah narrated: God’s Messenger said, “Fasting is a shield. So, the person observing fast should avoid sexual relation with his wife and  should not behave foolishly and impudently, and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should tell him twice, ‘I am fasting.’” The Prophet
added, “By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of God than the smell of musk. (God says about the fasting person), ‘He has left his food, drink and desires for My sake. Fast is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person)
for it, and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times.’” (Al-Bukhari)

Fasting throughout Ramadan is the fourth of the five pillars of Islam. Therefore, it is obligatory for each adult, sane, responsible Muslim to observe fasting throughout Ramadan.

Talhah bin `Ubaidullah narrated: A Bedouin with unkempt hair came to God’s Messenger and said, “O God’s Messenger! Inform me what God has made compulsory for me as regards prayers.” He replied: “You have to perfectly offer the five compulsory prayers in a day and night (24 hours),
unless you want to pray nawafil (voluntary prayers).” The Bedouin further asked, “Inform me what God has made compulsory for me as regards fasting.” He replied, “You have to fast during the whole month of Ramadan, unless you want to fast more as nawafil (voluntary fasting).”
The Bedouin further asked, “Tell me how much Zakat God has enjoined on me.” Thus, God’s Messenger informed him about all the rules (i.e. fundamentals) of Islam. The Bedouin then said, “By Him Who has honored you, I will neither perform any nawafil nor will I decrease what
God has enjoined on me. God’s Messenger said, “If he is saying the truth, he will succeed (or he will be granted Paradise).” (Al-Bukhari)