The Feast of Ramadan
(a) (i) What is meant by fasting?
According to Webster's Dictionary, a fast is defined as:
"To abstain from all food."
"To eat only sparingly or of certain kinds of food, especially as a
religious observance."
"An abstinence from food, or a limiting of one's food, especially as a
religious observance."
"A day of period of fasting."
- Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
From the dictionary, we can understand that fasting has something to
do with abstaining from something during a certain period of time.
Religious fasting is the deliberate control of the body by an act of
will.
(ii) Describe what happens at the Fast of Ramadan:
Ramadan is the ninth month of the year in the Islamic calendar, which
is decided according to the moon. The much-anticipated start of the
month is based on a combination of physical sightings of the moon and
astronomical calculations. The practice varies from place to place,
some places relying heavily on sighting reports and others totally on
calculations. The end of the month, marked by the celebration of
'Eid-ul-Fitr, is similarly determined. During Ramadan, for the entire
month, Muslims do not let anything pass their lips from sunrise until
sunset. They fast during daylight hours and eat small meals in the
evening in order to break their fast. They spend as much time as
possible, during Ramadan, with their family, friends and the Ummah.
Although the fast is most beneficial to the health, it is regarded
principally as a method of self-purification. By cutting oneself off
from worldly comforts, even for a short time, a fasting person gains
true sympathy w...
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toward you, say (to them) 'I am fasting; I am fasting."
- Prophet Muhammad PBUH
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims give money to charity. They also
volunteer as much as possible.
Muslims use many phrases in various languages to congratulate one
another for the completion of the obligation of fasting and the
'Eid-ul-Fitr festival. Here is a sampling of them:
"Kullu am wa antum bi-khair" (May you be well throughout the year) -
Arabic
"Atyab at-tihani bi-munasabat hulul shahru Ramadan al-Mubarak" (The
most precious congratulations on the occasion of the coming of
Ramadan) - Arabic
"Elveda, ey Ramazan" (Farewell, O Ramadan) - Turkish
"Kullu am wa antum bi-khair" (May you be well throughout the year) -
Arabic
"'Eid mubarak (A Blessed 'Eid)" - universal
"Khush amadeed Ramadaan" - Urdu
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