Are You Ready To Welcome Ramadan?
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh): "Whoever fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven.Whoever prays during the nights in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven.And he who passes Lailat al-Qadr in prayer with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven" (Bukhari, Muslim).
Fasting is the third pillar of Islam.It is a duty that every Muslim have to perform during the month of Ramadan.Fasting is the abstinence from food, drink and sex from dawn until sunset and abstain from doing any act that may revoke or damage the fast.
Fasting of Ramadan is commanded by Allah to his servants who is at the legal age (reach puberty) and those who left voluntarily fasting duty will have upon him to qada (perform after Ramadan) and expiation.But the sick is only compulsory for qada without expiation.
Fasting should be initiated with the Niyyat (intention).
“Nawaitu sauma ghadin ‘an ada’i fardi hazihis-sanati Ramadhana LILLAHI.” translation in English: “I Intend to fast for this day in order to perform my duty Towards God in the month of Ramadan of the present year.”
There are rules that every Muslim must complied with and if it is not complied the fast becomes invalid.First, must make Niyyat at night to fast the next day.Secondly, during the day Muslim must refrain from eating, drinking, sex and vomiting, and avoid all things that invalidate the fast.
There Conditions must be complied for fasting to be valid:
1) Islam
2) Mukalaf (puberty), not obligatory to the insane, children who are not legally responsible.
3) Purification from childbirth or clean from menstruation.
4) Must not be a Musafir.(A person who on a long journey is considered as Musafir too)
5) Healthy (the weak and the sick are not required to fast)
To ensure that fasting shall not fail, Muslim are encouraged to take pre-dawn meal at night in order to avoid weakening.Allah also liked his servants to immediately breaking fast when dusk come.
During breaking fast it is encouraged to pray to Allah: prayer as follows:
“Allahumma inni laka sumtu wa bika aamantu [wa 'alayka tawakkaltu] wa ‘ala rizq-ika aftarthu.” English translation: “Allah! I fasted for You and I Believe in You [and I put my trust in You] and I break my fast with Your sustenance”
The person who fast must be patience and must always avoid getting angry.Every Muslim must increase his righteous to Allah of all benevolence For those who are able in terms of property and financially, it is encouraged to make generous donation but it must be with a sincere heart and not for the purposed of showing off.
Muslims also encouraged to make the month of Ramadan to improve their religious knowledge and to perform Terawih prayer.
Muslims must also ensure that the food for breaking come from clean and legal sources.Ward off passions of envy , preserving the body from doing evil, and always calm.
Fasting in Islam is different from the fasts of the followers of other religions.The fast commanded by Allah as well as for Him, it’s also to create a society that help each other.Fasting will also develop a sense of love between the rich and poor and not to mention, the fast will create a society that loves orphans and make people aware of the difficulties and disadvantages of the less fortunate
Too many benefits can derived from Ramadan fasting and if continued then this article would not has an ending.Therefore, as Muslims the most important reason why we fast is sincerely only for Allah alone.
InsyaAllah this article will be continued again to give other information related to the fasting of Ramadan.