Every night before fasting, you need to make an intention (niyyat). According to a reliable word, the intention pronounced at the beginning of the night is also sufficient. There are ulama who say that the intention pronounced in the first half of the night is not sufficient, and it is necessary to pronounce it in the second half, explaining this by the fact that the second part of the night is closer directly to fasting. If, after pronouncing the intention at night, before dawn, you perform actions that violate the fast (eating, intimacy with your wife), this will not harm the fast.
If someone falls asleep after pronouncing the intention, then the intention is not necessary to update, but it is advisable. Falling into disbelief(kufr), (murtadry) spoils the intention. If a person who has fallen into kufr repents before dawn, he needs the intention to renew. Intention, pronounced at night, during intimacy with your wife, is also sufficient for fasting.
1. If the intention is pronounced after dawn, the fast does not count.. The hadith says: “ The fast of someone who has not completed the intention at night, before dawn, will not be accepted. ».
2. The fast of a person who made an intention, doubting whether dawn has come or not, is not counted, since there was doubt in his intention . And if, after the intention, he doubts whether it was dawn or not, then his fast will be considered, since the basis of his doubt is the onset of dawn.
3. If after dawn a person doubts that he pronounced the intention before dawn, then this person’s fast does not count, since the basis of the doubt is not pronouncing the intention on time . But if he remembers that he made the intention at night or before dawn, his fast will be considered observed.
4. If after breaking the fast (i.e. in the evening) a person doubts reading the intention for fasting for the past day, then this will not harm the fast, even if he does not remember whether he said the intention.
5. If on the thirtieth night of Shaban a person expressed the intention to fast tomorrow in case that day turns out to be the first day of Ramadan, then this fast will not be considered . If he is told by those whom he trusts, be it a woman, a wicked man or a child, that the month of Ramadan begins tomorrow and he will fast, then his fast will count if it really turns out to be the first day of the month of Ramadan, and if it turns out that it is The last day of the month of Shaban does not count.
6. The fast of a person who read the intention, if the month of Ramadan begins tomorrow, to observe an obligatory fast, and if it turns out to be the last day of Shaban, then to observe a desirable fast, is accepted only as desirable (Sunnat) on the last day of Shaban (if he had the habit of fasting on the last day every month), because the basis of the intention is the remainder of Shaban . If this day happens to be the first day of the month of Ramadan, its fast will not be considered.
7. If a person on the thirtieth night of Ramadan read the intention to fast tomorrow and it really turned out to be the last day of Ramadan, his fast will be considered, since the basis of the intention is the rest of Ramadan.
Procedure, conditions and place of fulfillment of the intention
The place of intention is the heart. Saying the intention in words is not a condition, it is a desirable action (sunnah). Saying it together helps strengthen the intention in the heart. You need to remind yourself of the essence of the intention - the desire to give up actions that break the fast for the whole day. Pronouncing words of intention without understanding the meaning is not considered intention.
If you intend to observe an obligatory fast, you must indicate what kind of fast you are observing - the fast of the month of Ramadan, kaffarat or promised.
There is disagreement about whether the word "obligatory" (fard) should be used. According to reliable sources, it need not be pronounced. It will be enough if we say , without emphasizing that this is a mandatory post. But it is not enough to say “...fast tomorrow” without specifying that this is the fast of the month of Ramadan.
Saying Intention
It is advisable to pronounce the intention verbally and confirm it with your heart: « I intend to fast tomorrow for the month of Ramadan for the sake of Allah " All the ulama agreed with this version of the text of the intention.
If someone intends to make up for the missed fast of two months of Ramadan and in his intention he says “... compensatory fast of Ramadan ", it would be enough. There is no need to indicate which particular Ramadan you are fasting.
Also, one who observes the fast of various kaffarats can say “... observe the fast of kaffarat ”, without specifically indicating which kaffarat.
If you forgot to read the intention at night
If someone forgot to pronounce the intention before dawn, then fasting on that day will not be considered. But out of respect for Ramadan, he should not do anything on this day that breaks the fast. For the desired fast, it is enough to pronounce the intention before lunch on the day of fasting, since for it it is not a condition to pronounce the intention at night.
Also, if you intend, you can not name the month and day for sunnat fasting (white days, etc.). It is enough to say “fast tomorrow,” but it is better to name these days. At the same time, if on these days you pronounce the intention to observe a fast (compensatory or other sunnat fasts), then you can receive reward for both fasts.
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During the holy month of Ramadan for all Muslims, every believer observes Uraza - a fast lasting 30 days according to the lunar calendar. Unlike Christian fasting, Muslim fasting does not impose restrictions on the quantity and composition of food. The ban applies to the time of eating, namely, eating is not allowed from sunrise to sunset. Like any fast, Uraza is not a diet; first of all, it is an opportunity to cleanse and heal the soul by giving up bad thoughts and actions. But in the culture of Islam, great attention is also paid to cleansing the body. How can a woman hold the Uraza correctly and not cause harm to the body through forced fasting?
Why keep Uraza during the month of Ramadan?
Ramadan is celebrated primarily for the remission of sins; it is an opportunity for a devout Muslim to atone for the sins he has committed since the end of the previous fast. Twenty-nine or thirty days of the ninth month according to the lunar calendar is Ramadan, a month of strict fasting. A believer is not allowed to take not only food, but even water during the daytime; it is also obligatory to perform good deeds, these can be:
- Repentance.
- Reading the Koran.
- Showing generosity and mercy.
- Diligence in Worship.
This month, special attention is paid to prayers, their number increases. If a Muslim has found reasons not to perform namaz (prayer), then he can easily return to this practice with the beginning of the month of Ramadan. A couple of hours before dawn, the believer pronounces an intention in which he undertakes to observe Uraza today, after which the obligatory prayer is performed, and only after that can one begin to eat. If a Muslim is in a region where the day is much longer than the night, then he or his community can independently adopt the standard of average time, so as not to complicate fasting.
Don't forget to do good deeds
How to hold Uraz for a woman?
On Eid, Muslims, both men and women, are prohibited from having sex during daylight hours. Even kissing is prohibited if it leads to swallowing saliva. True believing couples completely renounce intimate life throughout the thirty-day fast. The punishment for sexual intercourse is extending the fast for another 60 days, or providing assistance to 60 needy people.
Traditionally, after sunset, the faithful, their neighbors and their families gather together to pray and eat food prepared by women during the daytime. Only women are allowed to participate in the cooking process, and they are allowed to taste the food while cooking; the stronger sex is deprived of this opportunity.
A woman on Urazu should help those in need
How to eat properly?
The length of day and night during the month of Ramadan varies from day to day. Therefore, the first days of fasting, when there is much more daylight than night, are especially difficult to observe. Answering the question “How can a woman keep the Uraza correctly without harm to her health?”, imams and nutritionists advise focusing the morning diet on foods rich in fiber, and this is:
- Whole grains.
- Fish.
- Rice bran.
- Buckwheat.
- Legumes.
- Nuts.
- Fruits.
- Seeds.
- Vegetables are mostly green.
Meals during Ramadan should be as simple as possible without any frills; you should not overload your diet with complex dishes. Fasting is, first of all, a restriction in external pleasures and entertainment, a refusal of excesses, all this is true for food. A diet that does not contain complex fried foods, a lot of spices and hot sauces is easier to digest by the body, and this is very important in conditions of daily fasting for many hours. You should especially avoid overusing onions, garlic, hot peppers, cumin and mustard; these products contribute to an increase in the level of hydrochloric acid, which is harmful to a starving body. For dinner, you should try to eat low-calorie dishes and not overdo it with meat.
The rules of Muslim fasting prohibit the consumption of water during the day, so the need for fluid must be met at night. To do this, you will need to drink at least two liters of liquid. The water should not be carbonated, preferably herbal tea or mineral water.
Fasting involves restriction in external pleasures and renunciation of excesses
Prayer
In the culture of Islam, a special place is given to prayer; in Ramadan, the number of daily prayers increases. After the traditional night Isha, the time comes, obligatory for all believers holding Uraza, Tarawih prayer, which lasts until the first rays of the sun. You can pray alone only if the believer is far from the mosque or surrounded by people of another religion. It is customary to praise Allah and the Prophet Muhammad through collective prayer.
What is prohibited?
Muslims holding Uraza have strict and not very strict prohibitions. Having violated a strict prohibition, the faithful will have to be punished by replacing the day on which the prohibition was violated with 60 days of strict fasting, without the right to interrupt it. Such severe punishment will be imposed on those who deliberately eat, have sexual intercourse or induce vomiting during Ramadan. This rule also applies to the use of medications, mixtures, and injections.
For violation of non-strict prohibitions, punishment is also provided, but less serious. One violation will cost a Muslim one extra day of fasting. This burden will need to be borne for the following offenses:
- Eating food out of forgetfulness.
- Unintentional vomiting.
- Ingestion of something that cannot be classified as either food or medicine.
- Touching your spouse, kissing during daylight hours or at night, if they did not lead to intercourse.
Any day before the onset of the new Ramadan is suitable for reimbursement of fees for violating the prohibition.
Devote your time to prayer
At what age do girls fast?
A girl may not fast until her fifteenth birthday. There are several reasons why a Muslim believer has the right to start keeping Uraza before this age. The first is, of course, the desire of the girl herself. Second, early menstruation, sexually mature girls under 15 years old can keep the Uraz.
Many scientists and doctors are divided in their opinions, arguing about the benefits and harms of fasting, but most still take the position of the positive effects of this process.
Since during a gradual refusal of food, the body gets rid of all the excesses that have accumulated. These include salts, harmful bile acids, excess fats and other substances that negatively affect the normal functioning of the body.
By observing the laws of Uraz, people from time immemorial have been cured of many chronic and acute diseases, strengthened their immunity and defense mechanisms.
A beginner, first of all, should remember that Ramadan is not a month of diet, but thirty days of giving up excesses by pacifying one’s carnal desires, as well as an opportunity to devote oneself to Allah and glorify the name of the Prophet Muhammad. There are several obvious and simple rules that give an idea of how to properly hold Uraza for a woman and a man if they are devout Muslims. Refusal to take food and liquids, and from intimacy during daylight hours. Help and mercy to those in need. These are examples of godly behavior leading to the remission of sins.
It is customary to invite a Muslim to the evening meal who knows the Koran very well and can interestingly tell sacred stories and stories about the deeds of saints. During meals, conversations on everyday topics are also acceptable.
By observing the laws of the Uraz, you will regain peace and spiritual balance.
Is it possible for pregnant and lactating women to keep Uraza?
A Muslim woman carrying her child under her heart or a mother feeding a newborn has the right to decide for herself whether to adhere to the Uraza or not. This decision must be made taking into account the health status of the mother and child, as well as the likelihood of potential harm for each of them.
A believer does not observe Uraza during menstruation, this is the law. Menstruation in Islam, as in Christianity, is considered an unclean thing, and therefore violates the observance of Uraz.
A woman herself has the right to decide whether she should make up for missed days of fasting after the reasons that prevented this cease to exist.
Eid without complete ablution
Ritual purity is necessary for a woman only for prayer. If, due to circumstances, complete ablution was not performed before the start of Uraza, this cannot prevent a woman from observing fasting. Even in cases where on the eve of the first day of Ramadan there was an intimate relationship between the spouses, or menstruation ended on the night before Eid.
When do you get your period?
Following the canons of Islam, during the menstrual period a woman must refuse to observe Uraz. There is no need to fast and perform Namaz. These features are by no means indulgences, but, on the contrary, punishment to a woman for her bodily uncleanness. A devout Muslim woman should perform the sacred ritual of Namaz only if she observes ritual purity. You cannot glorify Allah while being unclean. Missed days of Ramadan must be restored at the end of the female cycle. Missed prayers will not be made up.
Ritual and bodily purity is the key to correct observance of the Uraza
How to fast in the heat?
It often happens that the month of Ramadan falls during hot weather, when refusing water can negatively affect people's well-being. After all, on Uraza, Muslims are prohibited not only from drinking, but also from simply taking water into their mouths to rinse it. It is believed that not a single drop should enter the human stomach.
According to Islamic law, there are concessions for those whose health may be at risk on hot days.
How to fast for sick people?
If a Muslim woman is sick, and her illness may worsen during a hunger strike (for example, diabetes), then in such cases the woman has the right to eat every other day. The goal of Uraza is not a hunger strike, but the improvement of one’s spirit and body.
You should not overeat, especially on the day of the great Eid al-Fitr. The diet of Muslim women may include fresh fruits, nuts, and some vegetables.
Video: How to hold Uraza for the first time
The very first time it is most difficult for a woman to hold Uraza, because she needs to prepare herself in advance, before Ramadan comes, and most importantly, think that the greatest holiday awaits her.
For observing all the rules of fasting, a person will be rewarded with an increase in the good deeds done. When going beyond the law of Uraz, without extreme necessity, a woman is obliged to give a certain amount of money to the poor and go hungry.
The Prophet Muhammad, according to legend, had an unfavorable attitude towards asceticism, and in hadiths (stories about the life and actions of the prophet) his words are conveyed: “There is no asceticism in Islam.” Nevertheless, the Muslim fast of Ramadan was introduced by Muhammad himself. The meaning of fasting among Muslims is a test of will for the sake of triumph of the spirit over the desires of the flesh, focusing on your inner world in order to identify and destroy sinful tendencies and repentance for sins committed, fighting your pride for the sake of humility with the will of the Creator. During the period of fasting, Muslims daily from sunrise to sunset refuse to eat, drink, have sexual intercourse, etc. It is interesting that over time, prohibitions were added on things that the prophet could not have foreseen at the time: smoking and chewing gum. Specifics of the post in Islam lies precisely in the fact that it is not the composition of food that is limited, but time of its adoption(as in early Christianity). Note, however, that according to Islamic norms, alcohol Anytime prohibited not only for consumption, but also for production and distribution. The ban also applies to the consumption of pork and blood.
There are two types of fasting in Islam: required in a month Ramadan(established according to Sharia in 624, included in the mandatory canons) and recommended. Ramadan or Ramadan (Turkish) – comes in 9th month Muslim lunar calendar. The lunar calendar is 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, so each year Ramadan begins earlier than the previous year. In accordance with one of the five pillars of Islam, during the month of Ramadan, devout Muslims must fast from the beginning of the morning prayer (Fajr, which occurs at dawn) until the evening prayer (Maghrib, which occurs at sunset). The fast is also called Ramadan, like the name of the month. In Turkic languages the name is more common Uraza.
Why are Muslims required to fast in the ninth month? Because the prophet Muhammad on one of the days of Ramadan (more precisely, on the night of the twenty-seventh) I received the first revelation from the Lord through the angel Jebrail. Divine revelations eventually formed the Muslim scriptures – the uncreated book of the Koran. The night when Jebrail first ordered Muhammad to read the fiery tablets on the rock began to be called "night of predestination"; On this night, Allah is especially favorable to the prayers and requests of believers.
According to the book by A. M. Tahmaz “Hanafi fiqh in a new guise”, “ moment of dawn or sunset the fasting person must determine, based on the calculation of time, the place where he is. In areas near the North or South Pole, where dawn may appear at sunset or so soon after that the fasting person does not have time to consume enough food to maintain his strength, people should determine the duration of the fast themselves.
Recommendation posts are: every Monday and Thursday; 13th, 14th and 15th of each lunar month (full moon days); the first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah; 9, 10, 11 of the month of Muharram; 6 days of the month of Shawwal.
Ramadan is considered, unlike the Great Lent among Christians, not a time of sorrow, but great holiday. Muslims around the world prepare for Ramadan long before its onset: women stock up on food and groceries, men are busy buying clothes and gifts to celebrate the holiday. Muslims believe that Allah can forgive a person's sins if he spends time saying prayers and doing godly deeds, for example, helps those in need, donates funds to charity. It is the duty of every Muslim to make a small contribution, called Zakat-ul-Fitr, before the end of Ramadan. The money collected goes to the most poor and needy so that they too could take part in the festivities on an equal basis with everyone else.
In the month of Ramadan, according to hadiths and the Koran, performing good deeds is considered especially important. According to the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, Allah increases the importance of each of them 700 times, and the shaitan is chained this month, so doing good for Muslims becomes much easier than in other months. In addition, a number of hadiths also say that a devout Muslim must be pious during fasting, for example: “If (a person) does not stop lying and acting in lies, Allah will not need him to give up his food and drinking."
During Ramadan, Muslims also devote most of their time to reading the Quran and remembering Allah, and try to perform prayers, sometimes at night – before or after the pre-dawn meal. During Ramadan, many believers undertake pilgrimage to Mecca.
Before the start of the day's fast, Muslims take a pre-dawn breakfast called Suhoor. When the sun sets, believers immediately break their fast. As a rule, the dish during iftar (breaking the fast at sunset) is completely small portion of food – According to the Sunnah, this is an odd number of dates. Then the evening Maghrib prayer is performed, after which it is the turn for a full meal. Stalik Khankishiev, a famous cook and author of the book “Cauldron, barbecue and other men’s pleasures,” said that during Ramadan, every day (or rather, night) is considered a holiday, and therefore the whole month with the onset of darkness begins not just to satisfy hunger, but real feast. In every home they cook and serve all the most delicious things, always pilaf, and many different sweets. During the month of Ramadan, any devout Muslim must throw a big dinner party at least once. The treats are so plentiful that the guest, as a rule, is not only unable to get up, but even to move. But you have to - before dawn you need to have a snack and drink the last sip of water, after which the time for abstinence comes again.
At breaking the fast During Ramadan the believer must repent and fast later. Swimming is not recommended at this time, as you may accidentally swallow water, which is prohibited. However, accidentally swallowing water during ablution and other unintentional actions do not break the fast. Muslims believe that if a believer fasts throughout Ramadan, then Allah will grant him mercy in heaven.
Muslims follow the clear instructions of the holy book of the Koran: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, just as it was prescribed for your predecessors, so perhaps you will be afraid. One should fast a few days. And if any of you is sick or on a journey, then let him fast for the same number of days at other times. And those who are able to fast with difficulty should, as an atonement, feed the poor. And if someone voluntarily does a good deed, then so much the better for him. But it is better for you to fast, if only you knew!.. You are allowed to have intimacy with your wives on the night of fasting. Your wives are a garment for you, and you are a garment for them. Allah knows that you are betraying yourselves (disobeying Allah and having sex with your wives at night while fasting in Ramadan), and therefore He accepted your repentance and forgave you. From now on, enter into intimacy with them and strive for what Allah has prescribed for you. Eat and drink until you can distinguish the white thread of dawn from the black one and then fast until night..." (2:183-187).
There are many things considered unclean and therefore violative of the fasts, including menstruation, postpartum bleeding, vomiting and bloodletting. Taking medications, pills, injections (except those necessary for replacement therapy, such as insulin) and even blood transfusions are considered formally as food. From the post completely are released women during menstruation, the mentally ill and children (before the onset of puberty). Sick people, travelers, pregnant and lactating women may also not fast, but they replenish him after the disappearance of the reason temporarily releasing them from the obligation of fasting. Old people, as well as incurable patients who cannot withstand fasting, must feed the poor. Islam prohibits conviction those who were unable to fast for appropriate reasons.
Celebrating the end of Ramadan which occurs on the first day of the month of Shawwal is called Eid al-Fitr or Eid al Adha. Eid celebrations include congregational prayers and preaching, often followed by various celebrations where children take part in various games, are distributed to everyone who wants them sweets, performs on the streets theater and songs and joyful cries are heard everywhere.
AdvertisingIslam is one of the youngest religions on earth, and at the same time one of the strictest in terms of observance of the canons. It contains so-called pillars of religion, i.e. Sharia regulations that must be fulfilled in order to be considered true adherents of faith in Allah.
One of the pillars is the strict observance of a whole series of rites, rituals and abstinences from the beginning to the end of the month of Ramadan.
Islamic calendar and Ramadan in it
In the Islamic lunar calendar, Ramadan is what month of the year? Every Muslim knows that he is the ninth. Its name comes from the Arabic “to burn the earth”, “burning”, since it is in this month that solar activity reaches its maximum and literally burns and dries out the vegetation on the hot earth. If we compare the Islamic and Christian calendars, then the month of Ramadan usually begins somewhere at the end of our May and ends at the end of June, in total it lasts 29-30 days. It is believed that it was during these days that the great prophet Muhammad was given his mission in “revealed words” - and thus the Holy Quran was born. The month of Ramadan in 2017 began on May 27 and ended on June 25.
Where does the observance of Ramadan begin?
The most important ritual at the beginning of the month of Ramadan is the intention to observe this holy period (Arabic. It sounds something like this: “I intend from today to fast in Ramadan in the name of Allah.”
Fasting in the month of Ramadan
The most important action in Ramadan is fasting (Arabic: “saum”). Those. abstaining from the main temptations: eating, smoking, drinking and intimate relationships during the daytime until sunset. By his abstinence, a Muslim shows Allah his devotion, fidelity and willingness to make personal sacrifices for the sake of faith.
What conditions are necessary to observe Ramadan?
Not every person, and not even every Muslim, can observe the sacred ritual. In order for a person to be allowed to observe Ramadan, the following conditions must be met:
- Of course, the observant must be a Muslim. And not only because of his faith, he must undergo the procedure of converting to Islam in the mosque.
- The observant must be an adult according to Shariah. Children are not allowed to fast because they need adequate nutrition.
- The observant should not have mental or severe physical illnesses, because with mental illness the observant does not know what he is doing, and with physical illnesses, good food and plenty of drink are often required.
- Pregnant and lactating women are exempt from fasting, as they have an urgent need for regular nutrition.
- Wanderers and travelers who are on the road or more than 90 km from home may not fast if this entails serious consequences for them.
- Women during the period of monthly or postpartum bleeding may also not fast due to large blood loss and the need to replace it.
However, those released should remember that it is extremely undesirable to do forbidden actions in public (drinking, smoking), so as not to add unnecessary temptations to them. Chewing gum, playing loud music and frivolous dancing in public places are also unacceptable during the fasting period.
When can you eat and drink during fasting?
Is it possible to eat and drink during the month of Ramadan? After sunset, a Muslim who observes fasting (Arabic: “Uraza”) performs the sacred night prayer (Arabic: “Isha”), then he can read a voluntary and desirable prayer with his companions (Arabic: “Tarawih”). It includes 8-20 rak'ahs. Next, you can begin breaking the fast - the evening meal (Arabic: “iftar”). Eating at night is prescribed not only with a close circle of relatives, but also with friends and acquaintances. Sometimes beggars from the street are invited to break the fast as a sign of helping the poor. Food for breaking the fast should also not be rich and plentiful. Shariah prescribes the consumption of milk, dates, and water during the night breaking of the fast. Too heavy, spicy or fatty foods are undesirable during this period, as they can cause thirst or stomach complications in the future.
During the breaking of the fast, you should try to finish your morning meal (Arabic “suhoor”) at least half an hour before dawn. And then again keep the daily fast.
What not to do during Ramadan:
- do not pronounce intentions: this negates all observance of Ramadan;
- eat food intentionally;
- drinking intentionally;
- smoking and inhaling smoke intentionally;
- engage in intimate intimacy, indulge in handjobs, perform caresses leading to ejaculation, even if it was not direct sexual intercourse;
- allow yourself idle entertainment (frivolous dancing, listening to loud music, except prayer speeches);
- use of medications that require rectal or vaginal application;
- cause spontaneous vomiting;
- swallow separated mucus that has entered the throat.
What you are allowed to do during Ramadan:
- non-special intake of food and water (for example, if a person drowns in the sea);
- drug injections;
- blood donation (donation, tests), bleeding;
- bathing, if you do not swallow a drop of water;
- kisses without penetration into the oral cavity (as we say “not passionately”);
- bodily caresses that do not lead to ejaculation;
- swallowing your own saliva without sputum or vomiting;
- you should brush your teeth with care so that the paste is not swallowed (in general, some Muslims believe that there is no need to brush your teeth after midday, because “the smell from the mouth of a Muslim who observes fasting has a special hue and is a kind of incense for Allah”);
- vomiting, if it occurs involuntarily;
- It is permissible not to perform prayers.
Rituals in Ramadan, in addition to fasting
Holy Ramadan is not only about fasting, but also about numerous prayers to Allah.
The most important prayer - namaz - is performed five times a day.
In addition to prayers, evening prayers, morning prayers and praises to Allah before each meal are desirable.
The most common ones during this period are: iftar, suhoor, dua “Iftiah”, dua “Mujir”, dua “Makaremu Ahlak”, dua “Baha”, dua Abu Hamza Sumali, dua “Jaushan Kabir”.
In the last 10 days of fasting, it is advisable for a Muslim to go into solitude, since the Prophet Muhammad once went into solitude for the last 20 days of his life. It is better to do solitude in a Muslim mosque, before pronouncing another special intention - for solitude.
Of course, it is advisable to read the Qur'an throughout the holy month.
How Ramadan ends
After the ritual solitude comes the so-called. Night of Predestination (Arabic: al-Qadra). This night comes after the end of the 27th day of Ramadan - it was then, according to legend, that the first sura of the Koran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (610). Then the Archangel Gabriel, descending from heaven, gave the prophet a scroll with orders to read it. On this night, it is customary to ask Allah for forgiveness for sins committed and read the Koran a lot.
On the last day of the holy month of Ramadan, the fasting person should pay alms: obligatory (Arabic “zakat”) and voluntary (Arabic “saadaka”). A solemn prayer is read, and those fasting prepare for the holiday in honor of Ramadan - Eid al-Fitr (Arabic).
The first day of the new month, on which this holy holiday is held, begins with the sacred prayer Eid prayer, which marks the end of Ramadan.
By this time, the houses should already be clean (Muslims must take care of cleaning). On the holiday itself, believers must wash themselves and put on clean, beautiful clothes. The day of celebration is considered a day off.
For Uraza Bayram, a lot of festive food is prepared (prepared mainly by women): fried lamb, rich soup with beans, meat and vegetables, salads with meat, pancakes, pies, pilaf, numerous sweets, dates, fruits.
Believers go to each other's houses, give gifts, and distribute sweets to children. Everyone congratulates each other with the phrase “Eid Mubarak!” Children play active outdoor games. Adults can dance and sing. On this same day, it is customary to go to the cemetery to visit relatives in order to honor their memory and offer prayers to Allah for them.
Main tasks in Ramadan
Ramadan is not only a cleansing of the flesh (in any religion it is known that fasting itself is useful for cleansing the body), but also a cleansing of the soul. The soul is cleansed through the flesh. Through good deeds (helping the poor, for example), the soul is cured of filth. Through renunciation of pleasures (dancing, singing, games, watching entertainment programs, etc.) humility and abstinence are trained. The ability to endure, refuse, make sacrifices, be restrained, merciful, and generous allows believers to gain the true mercy of Allah during Ramadan.
If Ramadan is performed with evil thoughts or for show or for selfish purposes, Allah rejects such a sacrifice and does not grant His mercy to a liar.
Punishments and fines for failure to comply with Ramadan
It is believed that any true Muslim is obliged to perform Ramadan, unless he is exempt from this ritual. However, there are violators everywhere, and if one is caught, he must be punished.
Anyone who violates the instructions must suffer atonement (Arabic: “kaffarah”). This could be additional alms for the poor or additional fasting.
In case of unintentional violation of the instructions, the believer must make up for the days of broken fasting after the end of Ramadan or help a certain number of people in need with money or food.
I held my very first post in 2005. This is where I usually try to stop the enthusiastic responses of “Oooh, you started fasting in 2005!” and I don’t allow you to continue the phrase with the words “What a great fellow you are!”, explaining in time - all subsequent years I was either pregnant or breastfeeding. Actually, this state of affairs remained until 2013 (today I am a mother of three children). So I developed a more or less stable attitude towards one of the five pillars of Islam exactly five years ago. Hopefully forever. Why? Because fasting for me is not just fasting from dawn to dusk. Everything is much more serious. However, like any Muslim.
What is Muslim fasting? Why is so much attention focused on him?
After all, fasting is only part of the rules that are important to observe during the holy month of Ramadan. And this is what you really need to pay attention to. It is not the fast itself that is sacred, but the month of Ramadan - the month in which the Koran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
Every devout Muslim is waiting for this special month. Because this is a chance to atone for your sins, cleanse yourself and become even closer to Allah. During the month of Ramadan you need to do good deeds. As much as possible. It is believed that they all increase in size by 700 times. If possible, you need to distance yourself from everything bad: don’t swear, don’t swear, don’t quarrel with people, don’t sin, don’t do evil. After all, not only good deeds increase.
Of course, all this requires some effort from a person. You can’t swear like a shoemaker for a whole year and stop doing it at once. It won’t work like this - gossip all year round and get rid of this habit in a day.
It is even more difficult to habitually eat five times a day and start fasting on the first day of the holy month. You need to approach fasting wisely, and most importantly, with understanding in your heart. There is no need to fast if a person continues to otherwise lead his usual lifestyle: swearing or doing bad things. Fasting should be a kind of shield from everything bad.
In general, I believe that everyone who is going to fast should ask themselves the question: why am I doing this? And answer it as honestly as possible. You cannot fast in order to lose weight, reduce the size of your stomach, or, even worse, just for company. It’s better to be honest - get ready and finally go to the gym. The same applies to people who do not want to fast and justify their reluctance with a sore stomach, headaches without a cup of tea and other reasons. It’s better to honestly admit that there is simply no desire. No self-confidence. Because all these reasons contradict simple facts. For example, that the human body can survive without water for three days and without food for seven days. If the body’s resources are enough for a week, then it will definitely cope with 20 hours. As for a sick stomach, fasting will only benefit it. Of course, provided that each meal starts correctly. You shouldn’t immediately stuff everything that your eyes see on the table into yourself. It's better to start with 500 ml of water. Water will help awaken the internal organs and prepare the body for food intake. And after 30 minutes you can eat something light. For example, salad. And only then can you move on to everything else.
You know, there are many special centers all over the world in which all treatment is based on fasting. People purposefully go there and pay a lot of money in order to starve. In this way you can cure all diseases, honestly: from gastritis to oncology. And you say that without tea your head hurts...
By the way, I noticed that, among other things, many fasters (especially beginners) have a certain difficulty, which I call “psychological hunger.”
Surely you have noticed that sometimes you are so busy during the day that you don’t have time not only to eat, but even just to take a sip of water. Only at the end of the day do you realize that you are hungry. And when you fast, everything happens exactly the opposite - the consciousness constantly remembers the prohibition, and a person involuntarily thinks about food, even if he doesn’t really want to eat. And by the end of the day, this “psychological hunger” is so strong that a breakdown is quite likely - literally everything that catches your eye goes into your mouth. And this definitely does not have the best (if not detrimental) effect on the body.
I have gone through this more than once, and this year I was determined to correct this situation. For myself, I realized one simple thing: you need to eat for Suhoor in such a way that you don’t go hungry all day and at the same time get enough nutrients so that your body doesn’t suffer. To do this, I can, for example, eat fruits, vegetables and porridge, but I know that even this will fill my stomach and then it will be difficult to sleep.
This year I decided to experiment - I include Herbalife protein shakes in my diet. Last November I was able to visit a health club where, after taking measurements and speaking with an independent nutrition consultant, I received a jar of the shake. Honestly, I didn’t immediately or often use this form of nutrition. However, the couple of times that the Herbalife protein shake replaced my lunch, I felt full until the night, without that terrible feeling of heaviness in my stomach. I've seen recipes somewhere using regular products with the addition of Herbalife protein shake: I think it will serve me well now, in Ramadan. In general, I will experiment and share my experience.
To be continued...
