Seyaam Ramadan

(The Fasting of Ramadan)

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"Ramadan is the month during which the Quran was revealed, providing guidance for the people, clear teachings, and the statute book. Those of you who witness this month shall fast therein. Those who are ill or traveling may substitute the same number of other days. God wishes for you convenience, not hardship, that you may fulfill your obligations, and to glorify God  for guiding you, and to express your appreciation." 2:185

The fourth "pillar" or foundation of Islam is the fasting of the month of Ramadan.  As with all other aspects of the religion, all the details related to Fasting are found in the Quran.

1- What are the hours decreed for fasting?

The Quran outlines the fasting hours in the following verse:

"You may eat and drink until the white thread of light becomes distinguishable from the dark thread of night at dawn. Then, you shall fast until the 'layl' (night)." 2:187

From these words, abstaining from food and drink should start at the first thread of light at dawn (between an hour and 2 hours before sunrise, depending on the time of year), and maintained till night.

FIRST

Some have disputed regarding the exact time as to when 'night' actually starts? Does it start at sunset? or does the night start when all light has dissappeared from the sky?

As usual, and in accordance with God's promise (18:89), the Quran offers explanations to all matters that concern our religion.

As we shall see, the definition of "LAYL" (night) in the Quran is from sunset to sunrise, hence the time after sunset and when there is still light in the sky is part of the night. Also the definition of "NAHAR" (day) is from sunrise to sunset.

This is made clear in the following verse:

"He created the heavens and the earth truthfully. He rolls the LAYL (night) over the NAHAR (day) and He rolls the NAHAR over the LAYL." 39:5

From this glorious verse we are told that the night and day are rolled into one another. This statement has very important significance on the definition of night and day (Layl and Nahar). This ayat tells us that part of the night (when the day is rolled into it) is actually lit (just after sunset) and that part of the day is still dark (just after sunrise). Consequently to say that night only starts when it is totally dark is not in agreement with Quranic truth.

The relevance of this with regards to the hours of fasting, and since the night starts at sunset, is that we should break our fasting at sunset.

SECOND

But the issue of when does the night start is not the only point of dispute here.  Some have argued that we should break fasting when it is totally dark and not when the night starts (sunset). However once again, this is not in agreement with the Quranic command.

To demonstrate the correct meaning, consider the following sentence:

A father tells his son : "Drive on the left right on your journey through UK but when you get to France drive on the right."

What does this mean? does it mean that the son should start driving on the right AS SOON as he gets to France? or, when he has been in France for a while?

Obviously it means as soon as, it does NOT mean "after a while".

It is also like saying , "I started swimming when I got to the sea" .... this does not mean that I walked on the water for while then started swimming later inside the sea !!!

Thus when God says "maintain your fasting till night" then God means to the beginning of night and not a quarter or half way through.

If God wanted to say break your fasting when it is totally dark he would have said just that, God is never short of words.

2- When was Fasting first decreed and to whom?

According to the Quran, fasting is very old and was decreed to the people of Israel long before the Quran was revealed:

"O you who believe, fasting is decreed for you, as it was decreed for those before you, that you may attain salvation."  2:183

3- What is the meaning of 'Siyaam' in the Quran?

The word "Siyaam" is used in the Quran to mean abstention.  Abstention could be from a number things.  The word 'Sawm' as used in 19:26 is used to indicate an abstention from talking:

"Eat and drink, and be happy. When you (Mary) see anyone, say, `I have made a vow of 'Saum' to the Most Merciful; I am not talking today to anyone.' " 19:26

The word 'SOMM' which is another derivative of the word, and as used in 2:18, means abstention or inability to hear:

"Somm' (Deaf), dumb, and blind; they fail to return." 2:18

Then we have the word 'Siyaam' as used in 2:187, which refers to the abstention from eating and drinking:

"..You may eat and drink until the white thread of light becomes distinguishable from the dark thread of night at dawn. Then, you shall complete the  "Siyaam" until Night..." 2:187

"O you who believe, 'Siyaam' is decreed for you, as it was decreed for those before you, that you may attain salvation." 2:183

During the fasting hours (explained in 2:187), all sexual contact between married couples is also prohibited:

" .... You may eat and drink until the white thread of light becomes distinguishable from the dark thread of night at dawn. Then, you shall fast until sunset. Sexual intercourse is prohibited if you decide to retreat to the masjid (during the last ten days of Ramadan). These are God’s laws; you shall not transgress them. God thus clarifies His revelations for the people, that they may attain salvation." 2:187

Prior to revelation of the Quran, sexual intercourse was prohibited throughout the fasting period. This rule has been alleviated with the revelation of the Quran (2:187) to allow intercourse between married couples during the nights of Ramadan.

4-  Who is obliged to observe the fasting and who is reprieved?

Fasting in Ramadan is obligatory on those who can physically withstand it. Sick people and travellers on long or arduous travels are exempted from the fast but must make it up by fasting other days when they are no longer sick or travelling.

"Those who are ill or travelling may substitute the same number of other days. God wishes for you convenience, not hardship"  2:185

As for those who are not able to fast at any time, they are exempt from fasting but they have to feed one poor person for every day they are not able to fast:

"Those who can fast, but with great difficulty, may substitute feeding one poor person for each day of breaking the fast."  2:184

5- The importance and benifits of fasting

Fasting and the month of Ramadan are given great importance in the Quran.  Ramadan is a Holy month because it is the month during which the Quran was revealed.  As a result, this month is meant to be a time for inner reflection, devotion to God, and self-control. In many ways, the month of Ramadan serves as a kind of tune-up for the spiritual lives.

The benifits of fasting are numerous.  Undoubtedly the greatest of these is the fact that in fasting is a great expression of worshipping God.  Moreover the act of fasting is a great excercise in self-control and the development of will power.  Due to the lack of preoccupation with the satisfaction of bodily appetites during the daylight hours of fasting, a measure of ascendancy is given to one's spiritual nature, which becomes a means of getting closer to God. Ramadan is also a time for reflection, reading of the Qur'an, giving charity, purifying one's behavior, and doing good deeds. For Muslims, Ramadan is an opportunity to gain by giving up, to prosper by going without and to grow stronger by conquering weakness.

As a secondary goal, and through the experiencing of hunger, fasting is a means for developing sympathy for the less fortunate, and consequently learning to be more charitable and more thankful and appreciative of God's bounties. Fasting is also beneficial to the health and provides a break in the cycle of rigid habits and over indulgence.

The last ten nights of Ramadan are given great importance (89:2) and specifically the night on which the Quran was revealed (believed to be the 27th of Ramadan).  This is called (Lailat Al-Qadr) or the Night of Destiny.  The Quran states that this night is better than a thousand months.  as a result, many Muslims (Submitters) spend the entire night in prayer and meditation.

Sura 97: Destiny (Al-Qadr)

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

1. We revealed it in the Night of Destiny.

2. How awesome is the Night of Destiny!

3. The Night of Destiny is better than a thousand months.

4. The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by their Lord's leave, to carry out every command.

5. Peaceful it is until the advent of the dawn.

6- When does Ramadan begin and end?

The month of Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is a lunar calendar. A lunar month is approximately 29.5 days, which is the time it takes for the moon to orbit the earth. Because a lunar month is on average one day shorter than a solar month, a lunar year is 10-12 days shorter than a solar year. Therefore, the Month of Ramadan comes 10-12 days earlier each year. This way the month of Ramadan rotates around the seasons and thus provides equal conditions for people living in different parts of the world.  In the northern hemisphere, and when Ramadan falls in the summer months, fasting is observed when the days are very warm and long, while as when it falls in the winter fasting takes place when the days are cool and short.  This is reversed in the southern hemisphere.

The beginning of a new lunar month is the moment, during the moon’s orbit around the earth, when the moon is in conjunction with the sun, with the sun’s light hitting the side of the moon away from the earth. In this position, the moon is said to be a "new moon," with its dark side turned toward the earth. By definition, a new moon is not visible from the earth as the sun’s light is shining only on the side of the moon not facing the earth.

As the moon continues to orbit around the earth, it starts forming a crescent. This will be minutes after the new moon even though the crescent will not be visible for several hours. In some traditional Islamic countries, Muslims do not start fasting until they visually can see the crescent in the sky. However God gave us scientific knowledge to determine exactly when a lunar month will begin and end. Therefore there is no need for trying to visually sight the crescent of the moon to start fasting. Any observatory or astronomy center should have this information for the area we live in. Some almanacs, magazines or newspapers also report the times for the phases of the moon.

Beginning of Ramadan

Astronomically speaking the lunar month begins with the new moon, therefore the fasting starts on the first dawn after the new month has started.  Between the few hours between the new moon and the following dawn, Muslims can eat and drink, and then start fasting when the first thread of light is in the sky.  

Ending of Ramadan

The ending of the fasting occurs when the new moon is witnessed.  If this occurs before sunset, fasting is maintained till sunset.  If the new moon occurs after sunset, the fasting of the month is thus complete and no more days should be fasted.

7- How many different 'times' of the year are there for fasting?

Once again, some scholars who have totally shaped a new corrupt Islam which is not based on the Quran, have invented all kinds of occasions when they fast and demand others to fast .....

Among these is the day of Ashura (originally a Jewish practice!), also some fast every Thursday or every Tuesday.  None of these days are authorised in the Quran, but originate from the claimed Sunna of the prophet. Needless to say, the prophet of God was commanded to follow the Quran and nothing else (5:48) and thus it is highly dubious that he would disregard this command and go on authorising other times and days for fasting than what God has authorised in the Quran.  

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