Ahlan Ramadhan

It is my pleasure to congratulate all Muslims on the month of Ramadhan. Allah’s blessings will always be on us. Celebrate and enjoy as once again, we will be given a chance to repent and ask for forgiveness for our sins and be forgiven. May the Spirit of Ramadhan stay in our heart and illuminate our soul from within.

Dear brothers and sisters, Allah Almighty says (what means): {And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers.} [51:55] 

Therefore, I would advise you to read the following short article entitled “Fasting (Your way to Heaven)”.

Written by: Asia ALHadrami

Fasting

(Your way to Heaven)

Fasting means not to eat, drink, do sexual intercourse, gossip and not to do any harm to yourself or others from sunrise to sunset to obtain Allah’s satisfaction.

# It is the fifth pillar of Islam.

It is an obligation for every Muslim who can fast.

How to Welcome Ramadan:

Muslim ancestors were praying throughout the half of the year to fast Ramadan and the other half to accept their fasting. So Ramadan is considered to be the time of obedience, making hard efforts to get rid of all sins and doing good.

Moreover it is a valuable opportunity for all to begin a new start and repent from their faults.

Also it is as a competition to all Muslims in praying faithfully and doing good.

Before Fasting, you must have:

1. Real intent of repentance of all misdeeds.

2. Done a useful programme during Ramadan full of worship.

3. A strong intent to read the Holy Quran with realization and consideration of each verse.

4. An ambitious effort to spread Islam.

The Superiority of Ramadan:

There are many values of being Ramadan, the best month.

1. It is the beginning of revealing the Holy Quran to the Prophet Mohammed, so it is the Quran month.

2. It has ALKadar night which is better than thousands of months.

3. Muslims Who fast Well will enter the Heaven from a door called ALRayan.

4. Your praying and wishes will be answered immediately.

5. The doors of Heaven will be opened and the doors of Hell will be closed during Ramadan.

6. The rewards of good work will be doubled.

Manners of Ramadan:

There are some manners which you should do during Ramadan.

1. Delaying of the last light meal before daybreak during Ramadan and hurrying the fast breaking.

2. Praying more especially at the time of fast breaking.

3. Giving charity to poor and people in need.

4. Reading the Holy Quran with submission.

5. Fast breaking with water or milk and dates.

The School of Ramadan:

Fasting teaches people to worship Allah more, to bear difficulties and to be patient.

Furthermore, we lean to be on time, self controlled and accounting ourselves. In addition it teaches us to be merciful toward poor people and feel the union and equality of Islam.

To go beyond, fasting has many healthy benefits as dissolving fats and getting rid of poison in the body.

Some Regulations of Fasting:

1. Fasting is a must to every adult, abled, rational and resident Muslim.

2. It isn’t obligatory to sick people till they are well and they will be able to perform fasting of the days in another time.

3. Travellers have the choice to fast or to postpone the fasting till they go back to their country if they can’t fast wherever they stay.

4. Women mustn’t fast when they have their circulation or confinement.

5. Pregnants and the women who breast feed their babies shouldn’t fast unless they are able to do so.

Cosequently the people who can’t fast during Ramadan for some circumstances, they have to perform fasting in other days .If they can’t do it, they have to ask about what they should do rather than keeping silent because this is our religion and we have to know everything about it.

Real Fasting:

Real fasting is not only by stopping eating and drinking but it is fasting of heart to be away of pride, dissimulation and jealousy.

It is also fasting of tongue to be away of lying, gossip and slander.

Fasting of eyes will be by stop looking at forbidding things.

Fasting of ears is by not spying on others and not listening to forbidding things which keep you away of worshipping Allah.

Conclusion:

Overall, Ramadan is a great chance for everyone to renew your faith, to be away of your daily routine and clean your inner self from the sins which have been accumulated throughout the year.

Indeed, Ramadan purifies our hearts and souls. It makes ourselves ascend toward gratification of Allah in every single minute in our lives, so your thoughts, beliefs and beats of your heart will think mostly what I can do to satisfy Allah whenever you fast truly as the Prophet Mohammed did.

Reference:

Tarawih Magazine (Ramadan 1431/August 2010), by Ministry of Endowment and Islamic Affairs, page: 12-13.