Understanding Islam: Ramadan

FASTING
The Month of
&
THE QURAN

“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 witnesses this month should spend it in fasting”
The Quran 002.185

Ramadan is the month in which the

Quran was sent down.
Ramadan, the month of fasting, is a special
and blessed period for Muslims

Ramadan is the month in which the Quran

was revealed from God to Prophet
Muhammad (S) through angel Jibrail

Ramadan marked the beginning of

Prophet Muhammad’s (S) Prophethood.
It should also be a renewal of our
dedication to the message of the Quran

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 Understanding Islam: Ramadan

“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to

you as it was prescribed to those before you,
that ye may (learn) self-restraint”
The Quran 002.183  

Sawm develops self-control

FASTING
helps to overcome selfishness, greed and
laziness
Provides annual training to renew our
commitment to please God, the Creator
and Sustainer
Allows us to experience hunger and thirst
so we can feel for the poor and unfortunate
Reminds us that there is more to life than
worldly comforts
Helps us to remain truly obedient to God’s
and follow His commands

In Arabic Sawm means to abstain.

This means abstaining from food, drinks and
conjugal relations during the hours of fasting.
The Prophet Muhammad (S) said: “Fasting is
not abstaining from eating and drinking only,
but also from vain speech and foul language. If
one of you is being cursed or annoyed, he or
she should say, I am fasting, I am fasting.”
Sawm is not something new, it is found in
other religions. All pious people throughout
history used to fast as an act of worship to get
closer to God, the Lord and the Creator.
Sawm in Islam is unique in its number of
days, manner, duration and nature.

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 Understanding Islam: Ramadan

So that you may attain

God-consciousness
The Quran 002.183 

Taqwa GOD-CONSCIOUSNESS
God not only sees our action but also
knows what is in our minds. This
awareness of God protects us from
committing wrong. It keeps us safe from
the whispers and temptations of Satan.

Taqwa is linked to the heart

Prophet Muhammad (S) pointed to his
chest and said, ”Here lies Taqwa.”

Takwa is guarding oneself

against wrong things
Umar(R), the second Caliph once asked
Ubayy ibn Kab (R) about Taqwa.
Ubayy(R) replied: Have you ever
walked along a thorny path?
Umar (R) replied: Yes.
Ubayy (R)then asked: What did you do?
Umar (R) replied: I was on my guard.
Ubayy (R) said: That is Taqwa (living life
in such a away that no wrong deed
touches your life)

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 Understanding Islam: Ramadan

SHUKR
GRATEFULNESS

“To glorify God for the Guidance He has

shown to you and to be grateful to Him. ”
The Quran 002.185

FASTING IS AN ACT OF GRATEFULNESS

TO GOD.
One of God’s great bounties towards mankind is the Quran.

The best way of expressing gratitude for God’s bounty is to

prepare oneself, to the best of one's ability, to achieve the
purpose for which the Quran has been revealed.

The Quran has been revealed so that we may know the way that
leads to God's good pleasure, follow that way ourselves and
invite others towards it. Fasting is an excellent means by which
to prepare ourselves for shouldering this task. Fasting is also an
expression of our gratefulness to God for the bounty of the
Quran.

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 Understanding Islam: Ramadan

Iftar A TIME TO REJOICE

THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD (S) SAID

“The people will always be with good as
long as they hasten in breaking fast.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)

“Whosoever provides iftar to a fasting

person, for him there shall be forgiveness
of his sin and emancipation from hell-fire,
and for him shall be the same reward as of
him whom he fed, without the person’s
reward being diminished in the least.”
(Bukhari)

WHEN BREAKING THE FAST

“Gone is the thirst,
moist are the veins,
and assured is the reward,
if it be the will of God.”

“O God, for you I have fasted,

and with what you have provided,
do I break my fast.”
(Abu Dawud)

SUPPLICATIONS ARE SURE TO

BE ANSWERED
“ Three person will not have their
supplicatios rejected: A fasting
person until he breaks his fast, a
just ruler and an oppressed
person.”
(Tirmidhi)

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 Understanding Islam: Ramadan

THE NIGHT OF POWER

LailatulQadr
In the name of Allah the Most Gracious, Most Merciful
We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power
And what will explain what the Night of Power is?
The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.
Therein come down the angels and the Spirit
by Allah's permission, on every errand
Peace! - This until the rise of Morning
The Quran 097

Prophet Muhammad (S) said:

“Seek the Night of Power in the
last ten days of Ramadan”
(Muslim)
“Seek the Night of Power in an
odd (night)”
(Bukhari)

“One who spends the Night of

Power in worship with Faith
and hoping for its reward will
have all of one’s previous
wrong actions forgiven.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)

THE BEST SUPPLICATION

“O God, you are Pardoning
FOR THE GREAT NIGHT.
and love Pardon,
So Pardon me.”
(Ahmad, Ibn Majah and At-Tirmidhi)

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 Understanding Islam: Ramadan

After Ramadan, What Next?

Reflect
&Change
Allah does not change a people's lot unless they
themselves change their own characteristics.
The Quran 013.11

Reflecting on the events of each day helps

us to recognize our weakness and strength;
makes our lives more meaningful and
focused; and most importantly helps us
realize whether we are aware of God in
our life.

Ramadan is all about change and it

brings about a psychological,
spiritual and physical change in our
lives. The decision to change is
ours. As Ramadan leaves us
behind we can either change for
the better or return to the state
we were before. Those who
strive to change will continue
to change for better even
though Ramadan is over.

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 Understanding Islam: Ramadan

God is
Near You

And if My servants ask you, O Prophet, Concerning Me,

tell them that
I am quite near to them.
I hear and answer the prayer of the supplicant when he
calls to Me. So let them respond to My call and believe in
Me. Convey this to them, O Prophet;
perhaps they may be guided aright. 
The Quran 002.186
Following the verses related to Fasting

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