The most important reason behind fasting is to increase our piety.
Our Nabi (sall Allahu alihi wasallam) said:
‘Observe fast to experience good health’
Medical magazine states: In the same way as a tired body needs rest and sleep to regain strength, the organs of the body also needs rest from continuous intake of food.
So, fasting is a boost to our spiritual as well as our physical wellbeing.
6 codes of conduct to observe during the fast
- The one observing fast should take care of his eyes; he should not see that which is haraam.
We should stop watching serials and movies during Ramadhaan as this is clearly a waste of time.
2. He should not speak that which is forbidden.
During fast most people get together for a nice chat. Then let us talk about Allah and Islam. We should not backbite, slander, lie, scold someone, fight or indulge in useless talks during Ramadhan.
3. He should not listen to that which is prohibited.
Listening to music is totally forbidden in Islam. Let us practice this in Ramadhaan. It is so much easier to practice any good deed during Ramadhaan, as shaitaan is chained during this month.
If we are in a gathering where people are backbiting or involved in useless talks, let us be the ones who change the subject or we should try to excuse us from some gathering.
4. He should be occupied in doing righteous deeds.
Ramadhaan is the month of Quran. Recite as much Quran as you like. Allah loves his slaves to compete in doing good deeds.
5. He should not consume a full stomach. (for sahr and iftar)
During the month of Ramadhaan, we make so many nice dishes and savories and our time is taken up in preparing for iftar and sahr. We should ponder over what exactly this Ramadhan is. Is it a month to enjoy our time or sacrifice our time in ibada and good deeds!
Today, cooking has been made so easy with instant dishes and pre-cooked meals. Let’s make use of these things in the month of Ramadhaan. Let’s eat only to gain strength to perform our deeds. On the other hand we eat so much we can even stand properly for 2 rakats of salah. This is a sad situation we are in.
6. He should be anxious about the fast being accepted, motivating him to do more good.
We should read books on hadith and try to practice the sunnah of Nabi (sall Allahu alihiwasallam). How many of us know that before sleeping that we should dust our beds saying ‘aooozu billahi minashshaitaanirrajeen’? Llet’s practice these small sunnahs at least during the month of Ramdhaan and by the mercy of Allah we might continue practicing these throughout our life.
When we follow the above guidelines, we gain strength to control our desires and it will be easier to fight shaitaan.
Prophet (sall Allahu alihi wasallam) said: ‘If the people knew of all the benefits of fasting, they will wish for the whole year to be Ramadhan’
Sahar and Ifthar
Sahr should be taken before the azan of Subah. The best time is the last part of the night closer to the time of subah.
Sahr is an important sunnah of our Nabi (sall Allahu alihiwasallam). How many of us eat late at night so that we can skip sahr? This is a bad habit and we are depriving ourselves from the mercy of Allah ta’ala that descends on the people who consume sahr.
Nabi (sall Allahu alihi wasallam says): ‘Do sahr, there is barakah (blessings) in it’
Ifthar is the time to break the fast. The fast should be broken at the exact time of Magrib. We should not delay breaking our fast.
Eat an odd number of dates when breaking the fast, as this is sunnah.
Nabi (sall Allahu alaihiwasallam) said that the one who helps another break his fast by offering him a glass of water, milk or even a single date will get the same reward as the fasting person. So let us try to invite our relatives who are not well off, to break their fast with us.
We should not try to fill our stomach at this time because right after ifthar we have to pray magrib and join the jamaat for our tharaweeh. If you eat too much you will not be able to pray tharaweeh properly.
Things that will break ones fast
- Voluntary vomiting.
- Eating or drinking even a little, knowingly.
- Eating even after the time of subah has approached.
- Breaking ones fast before the time of Magrib.
- Being unconscious for the whole day.
- Menstruation or post-natal bleeding.
- Using nose/ear drops.
- Indulging in foreplay or sexual intercourse.
If ones fast has broken through one of the above reasons, the he has to compensate by fasting after ramadhan. The exact amount of missed days has to be fasted. If one fails to do even this, then he has to give in charity 600 g of staple food for each day and make up for the fast.
How to complete ones fast in another country
Any person should follow the people of the country in fasting and festival. If a person travels to Makkah during his last day of fast but it is eid in Makkah, then he too has to celebrate eid. If a person travels to a country where the people are fasting then he too has to complete his fast.
I like to mention that Allah subhana Wathala gives us our reward on the last night of fast. Sometimes, people are busy in shopping or preparing for the Eid, that they miss the salah of the last day or even miss Subah and thahajjud on the day of Eid. We should keep in mind that the day of Eid is also a great day for performing our ibada. We should not miss our Eid prayer or any other salah on this joyous day.
It is always better, if one has the means, to do the Eid shopping or Ramdhaan shopping before the month of Ramadhaan. Let us try to do the most amount of amal and ibada we can, during the month of Ramadhaan because only Allah ta’ala knows if we will survive to fast the next year.