What if we told you that fasting is not unique to the religion of Islam?
Fasting is a universal institution practiced since ancient times in various forms and ways, however nowadays in some religions, it has become a purely symbolic practice. In Islam, the prescribed form of fasting is for the ultimate purpose of nurturing and developing righteousness.
You’ve probably heard a lot about this Holy Month and may even have witnessed people fasting around you – however, there’s always something new to be learned!
Here’s a quick rundown on a few facts about Ramadan that you may not have known.
Let’s dive in!
Fact 1: It’s not just about abstinence from food!
You wouldn’t be the only one if you believed that the month of Ramadan was just a time when Muslims abstain from food and drink. That would be because in our day to day lives, this is all we see. The withholding of physical nourishment is within itself an arduous task but it is in a sense, intensive training in the valuable lessons of steadfastness and endurance. It is a time of giving in the way of God Almighty that only helps you harness a greater degree of control over your soul.
“The purpose of fasting is not to starve. If one could enter Paradise by starvation, then in my view, disbelievers and hypocrites would be ready to do so, as it is not so difficult. In reality, the challenging thing is moral and spiritual transformation. People starve themselves for the most trivial of matters; prisoners go on hunger strikes; Brahmans famously stop eating when they are not listened to. Thus, it is nothing extraordinary to remain hungry, nor is it the purpose of Ramadan. Ramadan’s actual purpose is to abstain from everything for Allah during this month and fasting is a way of expressing that one can leave every right for Allah. Eating, drinking, conjugal relationships between a husband and wife, etc. are all rights of a person; whosoever leaves these rights, shows that they are ready to leave their rights for Allah.”1
During the month of Ramadan, the observance of fasts is mandatory for every adult Muslim man and woman who is healthy, not traveling, and able to fast. Such people can complete their fasts later in the year. Those who are suffering from a chronic illness or are physically weak are directed to offer fidya (feeding of the poor) as compensation during the rest of the year. The same applies to a woman who is pregnant or breastfeeding and exempt from fasting. This is stated in the Holy Quran by Allah the Almighty:
“And whoso among you is sick or is on a journey [shall fast] the same number of other days; and for those who are able to fast [only] with great difficulty is an expiation – the feeding of a poor man.”2
The carrying on of one’s normal life does not halt, however, the concentration and emphasis placed on spiritual values intensify, with all bodily faculties under stricter control. For example, not only vain talk but too much talk is abstained from to allow for greater time and concentration on God’s attributes and creation. This deeper reflection and commitment is at par, if not slightly above, the commandment of abstaining from food.
To support this, we need only to look to the words of the Founder of Islam, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). He has said:
“Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.).”3
Fact 2: The Holy Quran was revealed during Ramadan.
Most people know that the Holy Quran is the central religious text of Islam, revealed by God Almighty. But, did you know that it was in the blessed month of Ramadan that it was actually revealed?
“The month of Ramadan is that in which the Quran was sent down”4.
During the life of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) each year during Ramadan, the Angel Gabriel used to recite the hitherto revealed Quran with him once, with the exception of the last year of the life of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). At this time the Holy Quran had been revealed in its entirety and he had received the glad tiding of ‘…This day I have perfected your religion for you and completed My favour upon you and have chosen for you Islam as religion…’5. According to a tradition related by Hazrat ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) in the Ramadan of the year of the Holy Prophets passing, the Angel Gabriel recited the Holy Quran twice.
And, thus it is recommended that a Muslim try and complete the recitation of the Holy Book at least once during the blessed month of Ramadan.
More specifically, the link between the Holy Quran and the month of Ramadan is such that both serve the ultimate means to attain the true blessings of this month, and for those who aim to harness the benefit of this Holy Month, the rewards are very high. His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad (may Allah be his Protector) the fifth Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, explains that ‘the reward for fasting is very high…this is for those who pay the dues of the correlation between fasting and the Holy Quran, and those dues are to read the Holy Quran whilst fasting, to reflect over it, to listen to or to read its commentaries…’6 This ultimately illustrates, no fast is ‘complete’ without the recitation of the Holy Book.
The Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (on whom be peace) sums it up beautifully, ‘‘The root of worship is in the recitation of the Holy Qur’an because if the words of the Beloved are read or listened to, they certainly stir love in a true lover and exhilarate ardour.’6
Fact 3: There is a specific way to keep a fast!
Understanding the purpose of this month, the importance of prayer, and the recitation of the Holy Quran is the key to a successful Ramadan. But what about the actual fast?
Let’s break down a typical day of fasting.
The day starts before dawn, with time spent in prayer and supplication. This is followed by sehri – which literally means ‘Of the Dawn’, so sehri is the ‘Meal of the dawn’, the meal you consume before dawn in order to fast for the day. One is encouraged to “eat sehri because there are blessings in eating sehri”7. The Holy Quran provides parameters for Sehri in the following verse, “And eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread of the dawn,”8 meaning, food can be consumed until the night becomes distinct from the light of the sun on the horizon. With the end of sehri, a fast begins, after which the individual refrains from all food and drink until the end of the fast.
As mentioned before, the normal daily routine does not stop, however, emphasis is placed on spiritual and moral rejuvenation. Greater attention is paid to prayers being read at their appointed times, and time is spent in recitation and understanding of the Holy Quran.
A fast ends with the aftaar, the evening meal with which Muslims end their fast. This takes place at the time of sunset. According to the sayings of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) it is essential that one should break their fast immediately after sunset. Prolonging it beyond this point is not acceptable. The Holy Prophet said: “My people will adhere to good as long as they hasten to break their fast [at the fixed time].”9
Fact 4: Why is the month of Ramadan considered the holiest in the Islamic calendar?
Ramadan is a month of blessings, provided that the reality of fasting is understood and one fully benefits from it.
A narration of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him is, that, “Whoever fasted the month of Ramadan out of sincere Faith (i.e. belief) and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his past sins will be forgiven.”10
Similarly, the Prophet also famously said, “Fasting is a shield; when one of you is fasting, he should neither behave in an obscene manner nor foolishly. If a man fights or abuses him, he should say ‘I am fasting, I am fasting.’”11
The fast is a shield against all forms of evil when observed properly. The emphasis on moral and spiritual values and concentration on them are intensified, and everything is subordinated to the main purpose of fasting. The purpose of fasting is to refrain oneself from all physical gratification, even those normally permissible, to achieve a greater spiritual enlightenment. This can only be achieved when one is able to completely devote himself or herself to attaining the pleasure of Allah. The hearing, the sight, the tongue, the mind are all under stricter control.
A narration of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is that: “Allah The Almighty says that all the deeds of a man are for his own sake except the fast. ‘The fast is kept for My sake alone, and I am the reward for it.”12.
What this means is that Ramadan is aimed at enabling an individual to focus on his or her relationship and connection with Allah, everything is done for Allah!
Explaining this, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (may Allah be his Protector) stated, “…turning your attention purely towards Allah Almighty, abstaining from even the lawful things purely for His sake, tolerating hunger and thirst for His sake, paying greater attention towards the worship of Allah Almighty than before and paying particular attention towards fulfilling the rights of His servants – when one fulfills these injunctions, this, in essence, is true Taqwa [righteousness] and this is the very purpose of Ramadan and fasting. When a person observes the fast and passes through the month of Ramadan with this objective and for this purpose and does so with pure intentions then this will not bring about a temporary transformation. Rather, it will be a permanent change.”
Fact 5: The Holy Month of Ramadan culminates in the celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr
Eid-ul-Fitr is literally the ‘feast of breaking the fast.” It marks the end of the Holy Month and serves as a celebration for the achievements of those who make the spiritual journey that is Ramadan.
The day of Eid should begin with morning prayer and recitation of the Holy Quran. However, it is forbidden to fast on this day. Eid prayer is then observed in congregation in a mosque or at home.
When celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr one should keep in mind the lessons learned from the month of Ramadan.
It is narrated that the Messenger of Allah, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), never proceeded [for the prayer] on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr unless he had eaten some dates13 and interestingly he used to eat an odd number of dates.
And, did you know that when returning home after the Eid-ul-Fitr prayer, the Holy Prophet would take different routes home?
It is narrated by a companion of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), On the day of Eid, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to return [after offering the Eid prayer] using a different route from that which he went by14.
His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the 5th Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, addressing his community, touches on the importance of Eid in light of a Muslim’s wider obligations to society. He says: “if Ahmadi Muslims wish to celebrate Eid in the true sense, then where they seek to attain the blessings of true Eid by bringing about a moral reformation, they should also make every effort to free the world from injustices and should engage fervently in prayer to free the Muslim world from the disorder and troubles it is engulfed in.”15
