In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Allah! There is no god but He the Living, the Self-Subsisting Eternal. It is He Who sent down to thee (step by step) in truth the Book confirming what went before it; and He sent down Law (of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus) before this as a guide to mankind and He sent down the Criterion (of judgment between right and wrong). Then those who reject faith in the signs of God will suffer the severest penalty and God is exalted in might, Lord of retribution (Qur’an 3: 2-4).
One of the five pillars of Islam is the observance of full-month fast in the ninth lunar month of Ramadan annually by all Muslim faithful. Almighty Allah declares, “O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that ye may (learn) self-restraint. (Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill or on a journey the prescribed number (should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (with hardship) is a ransom: the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more of his own free will it is better for him and it is better for you that ye fast if ye only knew. Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’an as a guide to mankind also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So, every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting but if anyone is ill or on a journey the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. God intends every facility for you He does not want to put you to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful” (Qur’an 2: 183-185).
Ramadan is the month when fasting from dawn to dusk for the Muslim faithful is prescribed, except for those on a journey, the sick, the elderly, the weakly, the mentally deranged, women in their monthly courses, nursing mothers suckling their babies and others.
The fasting is never a burden but blessing from God spiritually, physically, medically, psychologically and communally. The Holy Prophet Muhammad says, “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of hell are closed and the devils are chained…. During the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims fast every day from dawn to sunset” (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim).
Thus, any healthy Muslim adult that refuses to observe fast during Ramadan deliberately without being on a strenuous journey or other acceptable reasons will repay with 60 days fast for one day fast missed in Ramadan, which can never repay for the actual one deliberately missed. Abu Huraira related that Rasulullah said: If anyone omits his fast even for one day in Ramadan without a concession or without being ill, then if he were to fast for the rest of his life, he could not make up for it (Bukhari).
And for the rewards for observing fast in Ramadan, Abu Huraira related that the Prophet said: Allah the Majestic and Exalted said: “Every deed of man will receive 10 to 700 times reward except Siyam (fasting), for it is for Me and I shall reward it (as I like). There are two occasions of joy for one who fasts: one when he breaks the fast and the other when he will meet his Lord (Muslim).
Ramadan fast actually instills spiritual discipline and increased worship, for the faithful, as fasting places a strong focus on improving behaviour, as Prophet Muhammad stated: “If a person does not avoid false talk and false conduct during the fast, then God does not care if he abstains from food and drink.”
Besides, Abu Huraira related that Rasulullah said: “Many people who fast get nothing from their fast except hunger and thirst, and many people who pray at night get nothing from it except wakefulness.”
Such people are those who engage in vain talks, backbiting, abuses, curses, fighting, shouting, barking, among others while fasting. The Holy Qur’an 49: 11-12 says: “O ye who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others: It may be that the (latter) are better than the (former). Nor let some women laugh at others: It may be that the (latter) are better than the (former). Nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames. Ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness, (to be used of one) after he has believed. And those who do not desist are (indeed) doing wrong. O ye who believe! Avoid suspicion as much (as possible): for suspicion in some cases is a sin. And spy not on each other nor speak ill of each other behind their backs. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, ye would abhor it… But fear God for God is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful”.
Thus, fasting Muslims must engage in the glorification of God (dhikr), seeking forgiveness (astaghfirllah), seeking blessings for Prophet Muhammad (salawat), attending tafsir (recitation and explanation of verses of the Holy Qur’an), recitation of the Qur’an, charity to the poor and the needy, assisting the community, among others.
The month of Ramadan has come to remind us about the revelation of the seal of all Holy Books, the Holy Qur’an, which cannot be editioned, reviewed or revised till eternity. God Almighty declares in Qur’an 10: 37-38: “This Qur’an is not such as can be produced by other than God; on the contrary it is a confirmation of (revelations) that went before it and a fuller explanation of the Book wherein there is no doubt from the Lord of the worlds. Or do they say ‘He forged it’? Say: ‘Bring then a Surah like unto it and call (to your aid) anyone you can besides God if it be ye speak the truth!’ In fact, God Almighty challenged humanity and the jinn to review Qur’an, declaring that they will never be able to do it. Say: ‘If the whole of mankind and jinns were to gather together to produce the like of this Qur’an, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they backed up each other with help and support” (Qur’an 17:89).
Besides abstinence from food and drinks from dawn to dusk while fasting, we are denied sex with our legitimate partners, too. But we are allowed to go into them after breaking fast (iftar) till sahur (dawn). The Merciful God says in Qur’an 2:187: “Permitted to you on the night of the fasts is the approach to your wives. They are your garments. And ye are their garments. God knoweth what ye used to do secretly among yourselves; but He turned to you and forgave you; so now associate with them and seek what God hath ordained for you and eat and drink until the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread; then complete your fast till the night appears; but do not associate with your wives while ye are in retreat in the mosques. Those are limits (set by) God; approach not nigh thereto. Thus doth God make clear His signs to men that they may learn self-restraint”
But during seclusion in mosque for i’tikaf in the last 10 days of Ramadan, we are asked to abstain from our wives.
May Almighty Allah accept our acts of worship (‘ibadah) in Ramadan. Ameen.
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