Why do Muslims fast? Harm to health or healing from diseases? Muslims strictly observe traditions and covenants. Muslim fasting when you can eat.

During the holy month of the Muslim calendar, which is called Ramadan in Arabic, or Ramadan in Turkish, Muslims are required to observe strict fasting - limit yourself in drinking, eating and intimacy.

Following the rules of Ramadan, mature people give up their passions. This is how they cleanse themselves of negativity.

The fast ends with the great holiday of Uraza Bayram.

Features and traditions of Ramadan fasting - what are iftar and suhur?

Posting believers test the strength of the human spirit. Compliance with the rules of Ramadan makes a person reflect on his lifestyle and helps determine the main values ​​in life.

During Ramadan, a Muslim must limit yourself not only in food, but also carnal satisfaction of one’s needs, as well as other addictions - for example, smoking. He must learn control yourself and your emotions.

Observing simple fasting rules, every Muslim believer should feel poor and hungry, since the available benefits are often perceived as ordinary.

Swearing is prohibited during Ramadan. There is an opportunity to help the needy, the sick and the poor. Muslims believe that prayers and a month of abstinence will enrich everyone who follows the tenets of Islam.

There are two main requirements of fasting:

1. Follow the rules of fasting sincerely from dawn to dusk
2. Abstain completely from your passions and needs

Here are a few conditions for what a fasting person should be like:

• Over 18 years old
• Muslim
• Not mentally ill
• Physically healthy

There are also those for whom fasting is contraindicated, and they have the right not to observe it. These are minor children, the elderly and pregnant women, as well as those women who are menstruating or experiencing postpartum cleansing.

The fast of Ramadan has several traditions

Let's list the most important ones:

Suhur

Throughout Ramadan Muslims eat their meals early in the morning, before dawn. They believe that Allah will greatly reward such an action.

During traditional suhoor don't overeat, but you should eat enough food. Suhoor gives you strength for the whole day. It helps Muslims to stay sane and not be angry, as hunger often causes anger.

If a believer does not perform suhur, then his day of fasting remains valid, but he will not receive any reward.

Iftar

Iftar is evening meal, which also takes place during fasting. You need to start breaking your fast immediately after sunset, that is after the last day(or the fourth, penultimate prayer of this day). After Iftar comes Isha - Muslim night prayer(the last of the five obligatory daily prayers).

What not to eat during Ramadan - all the rules and prohibitions

What to eat during Suhoor:

• Doctors recommend eating complex carbohydrates in the morning - cereal dishes, sprouted grain bread, vegetable salad. Complex carbohydrates provide the body with energy, despite the fact that they take a long time to digest.
• Also suitable are dried fruits - dates, nuts - almonds and fruits -.

What not to eat during Suhoor

• Avoid protein foods. It takes a long time to digest, but it loads the liver, which works without interruption during fasting
• Should not be consumed
• You should not eat fried, smoked or fatty foods in the morning. They will cause extra stress on the liver and kidneys
• Avoid eating fish during Suhoor. You'll feel thirsty afterwards

What not to eat in the evening after adhan

• Fatty and fried foods. It will harm your health - cause heartburn and put on extra pounds.
• Exclude from food instant food– various cereals in bags or noodles. You won’t get full of them and literally after an hour or two you’ll want to have another meal. In addition, such products will increase your appetite even more, as they contain salt and other spices.
• Can't eat sausage and frankfurters. It is better to exclude them from your diet during Ramadan fasting. Sausages affect the kidneys and liver, satisfy hunger for only a few hours, and can also develop thirst.

Despite the prohibitions and strict rules, there are benefits from fasting:

• Refusal of carnal passions
  A person must understand that he is not a slave to his body. Fasting is a serious reason to give up intimacy. Only by abstaining from sin can a person preserve the purity of his soul.
• Self improvement
  By observing fasting, a believer is more attentive to himself. He gives birth to new character traits, such as humility, tolerance, obedience. Feeling poverty and deprivation, he becomes more resilient, gets rid of fear, begins to believe more and more and learns what was previously hidden.
• Gratitude
  Having gone through refusing food, a Muslim becomes closer to his Creator. He realizes that the innumerable benefits that Allah sends are given to man for a reason. The believer gains a sense of gratitude for the gifts sent.
• An opportunity to experience mercy
  Fasting reminds people of the poor, and also encourages them to be merciful and help those in need. Having gone through this test, the believer remembers kindness and humanity, as well as the fact that everyone is equal before God.
• Economy
  Fasting teaches people to be economical, limit themselves and curb their desires.
• Improves health
  The benefit to a person's physical health is manifested in the fact that the digestive system rests. Within a month, the intestines are completely cleansed of waste, toxins and harmful substances.

Holy Ramadan schedule until 2020 - when does Ramadan fasting begin and end?

IN 2015 Ramadan fasting begins on June 18 and ends on July 17.

Here are the following dates for holy Ramadan:

2016– from June 6 to July 5.
2017– from May 26 to June 25.
2018– from May 17 to June 16.
2019– from May 6 to June 5.
2020– from April 23 to May 22.

Violation of the Ramadan fast - actions that interrupt the Muslim fast of Ramadan, and punishments

It is worth noting that the rules of Ramadan fasting apply only during the daytime. Some actions performed during fasting are considered prohibited.

Actions that interrupt Muslim Ramadan include:

• Special or intentional meal
• Unspoken intention to fast
• Masturbation or sexual intercourse
• Smoking
• Spontaneous vomiting
• Administration of rectal or vaginal medications

However are lenient towards similar actions. Despite their similarities, they don't break the fast.

They include:

• Unintentional meal
• Administering medications using injections
• Kisses
• Caresses, if they do not lead to ejaculation
• Teeth cleaning
• Blood donation
• Period
• Involuntary vomiting
• Failure to perform prayers

Punishments for those who break the Ramadan fast:

Those who unintentionally broke the fast due to illness, must perform the missed day of fasting on any other day.

For sexual intercourse committed during daylight hours, the believer is obliged to defend another 60 days of fasting, or to feed 60 needy people.

If Skipping fast is permitted by Shariah , it is necessary to perform repentance.

One of the five pillars of Islam is fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. Muslims all over the world try to do more good deeds during these blessed days, show mercy to others, and deepen their prayers.

On the outside, Muslims follow the clear instructions of the Holy Quran: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, just as it was prescribed for your predecessors, so perhaps you will be afraid. You should fast for a few days. And if any of you is sick or on a journey, then let him fast for the same number of days at other times. And those who are able to fast with difficulty should feed the poor as atonement. And if someone voluntarily does a good deed, then so much the better for him. But you had better fast, if only you knew! In the month of Ramadan, the Qur'an was revealed - true guidance for people, clear evidence of right guidance and discernment. Whoever this month finds among you must fast. And if anyone is sick or on a journey, then let him fast for the same number of days at other times. Allah desires ease for you and does not desire difficulty for you. He wants you to complete a certain number of days and glorify Allah for guiding you to the straight path. Perhaps you will be grateful... You are allowed to have sex with your wives on the night of fasting. Your wives are a garment for you, and you are a garment for them. Allah knows that you are betraying yourselves (disobeying Allah and having sex with your wives at night while fasting in Ramadan), and therefore He accepted your repentance and forgave you. From now on, enter into intimacy with them and strive for what Allah has prescribed for you. Eat and drink until you can distinguish the white thread of dawn from the black, and then fast until night..." (2, 183-187).

Meanwhile, today Muslims often hear ridicule of their religion because of the form of fasting adopted in it. “What kind of post do you have? Why don’t you eat during the day, but indulge in passions at night? What, Allah cannot see at night? Is this abstinence?

Of course, no one obliges Muslims to respond to such blasphemous attacks. In this regard, the 109th sura of the Koran says: “You profess your religion, and I profess mine!” It is clear that this kind of dispute will not lead to anything good. But to explain, at least, why fasting in Islam is observed in this particular way, I think, would be appropriate.

Some of the key words in the above verses are the following: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, just as it was prescribed for your predecessors, so perhaps you will be afraid.” Based on these words, it can be assumed that the fast of Muslims should not differ in any way from the similar worship of Christians and Jews.

And in fact, if we carefully analyze both Jewish and Christian sources, we will see that initially fasting was a complete abstinence from food, drink (and some other things) during daylight hours until nightfall. It is complete abstinence, and not exclusion from your diet of certain types of food of animal origin.

This is how fasting is described in Judaism: “During an ordinary fast, only eating and drinking were forbidden, and during important fasts, bathing, anointing, wearing shoes and sexual intercourse, as well as various types of work were not allowed; some slept on the ground, which is reminiscent of mourning rituals... Ordinary fasts lasted from morning until dark, and especially important ones - throughout the day... Fasting was seen as an act of repentance, a ritual expression of regret, submission and supplication, through which one could gain God's forgiveness. Sometimes the purpose of this ritual was to prepare for communication with God... So, in order to be worthy of seeing the Lord, Moses fasted for 40 days...” (Jewish newspaper, July 2006, No. 7(47) “Fasting in Judaism”).

Initially, the Jews did not have fixed days of fasting; each person appointed a fast for himself, or it was appointed by the elders for his people. The only exception was fasting on the day when all the people asked God for forgiveness for their sins and released a goat into the desert (see Leviticus 16). This holiday is called Yom Kippur. And after the Babylonian captivity, days of fasting appeared, established in memory of the tragic events in the history of the Jewish people.

Fasting came to Christianity from the religion of the Old Testament. The prophet Yahya spent most of his life in fasting (for Christians, John the Baptist); Jesus, before going out into public service with a prophetic mission, also went into the desert and “there for forty days he was tempted by the devil and did not eat anything during those days...” (Gospel of Luke: 4, 2).

At the first time of the formation of Christianity, only Great Lent was known; later the Nativity, Assumption and fasts in honor of the apostles Peter and Paul appeared. One-day fasts associated with certain days of the week and important events in the history of Christianity are also known.

Christians themselves claim that Lent originates from Jesus' forty-day fast in the desert. Naturally, due to human weakness, Christians are not prescribed complete abstinence from food and food during the entire forty days of fasting, but only in the first two. The rest of the time, Christians, following their fasting regulations, must abstain from food and drink during the daytime. And only after dark are they allowed to eat.

Unfortunately, today most Christians do not know their own instructions about fasting. Initially, there were no distinctions between fasting and fasting food: “In ancient times, Christians, and even monks, ate any food at any time of the year... The word “fast” was used by the ancient Christians to describe the period of time when they did not eat anything at all and prayed especially fervently. If the ancient regulations about fasting say: “We fast until evening,” this means “we don’t eat anything until sunset and pray earnestly” (“Meeting.” Orthodox supplement to the newspaper “Karelia” No. 22 (62) December ’99, “ How to fast during the Nativity fast").

Indeed, if we open the book “Typikon”, i.e. Charter, then there, in the section on fasting, it is clearly stated that Christians during fasting do not eat or drink any food until Vespers is performed. After this, they already have the right to eat a little food necessary to maintain strength in a person.

But it was after Vespers, i.e. a service that takes place in the evening and ends after the sun has set. During Great Lent, Vespers is combined with the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, which is also celebrated in the evening.

Later, Christians moved the performance of Vespers to the morning, and the performance of Matins to the evening. Based on this, at the end of Vespers, performed in the morning (about 10 a.m.), they can already eat food.

Of course, it is an internal matter for Christians to change the most ancient institutions about fasting. But the fact remains that from ancient times people who believed in the One God and observed His regulations understood fasting as complete abstinence from food and water during daylight hours.

Why exactly does fasting end in the evening and begin in the morning? Most likely, no one will answer this question except Allah Himself. This is His will.

Of course, in all three monotheistic religions, the main meaning of fasting is not physical abstinence, but improvement in prayer and good deeds. Even the prophet Isaiah in the Torah uttered the following words from the Almighty: “This is the fast that I have chosen: loose the chains of unrighteousness, untie the bonds of the yoke, and set the oppressed free, and break every yoke; divide your bread with the hungry, and bring the wandering poor into your home; When you see a naked person, clothe him, and do not hide from your half-blood.” (Isa. 58:6-7).

It is the fulfillment of works of mercy and increased attention to spiritual life that distinguishes a truly fasting person from one who hypocritically follows food regulations, no matter whether he is a Jew, a Muslim or a Christian. And therefore, the current Ramadan for each of us who believe in Allah should serve as another opportunity to become more responsive to the problems of our neighbors and show the whole world that Islam really is the only religion of truth that brings to the world not destruction, but peace and submission to the will of the Almighty .

Pathology of Islamophobia
Answer from Vladislav Sokhin
Yuri Maksimov

Over the past month, few people have not given their assessment of the fact why I, a former Orthodox priest, of my own free will asked the Orthodox Church to no longer consider me either a clergyman or a Christian and accepted Islam. Of course, such a case is still unusual for Russia, but it is by no means the second, as many media outlets are trying to present today. In addition to Ali Vyacheslav Polosin and me, three more ministers of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as a large number of Christians, accepted Islam.

But statistics are not important for Muslims; we are not former Komsomol functionaries who today, in the name of Christianity, are trying to organize a kind of “socialist competition”: who will bring the most neophytes to which church. Islam is not some church or sect, but a true world religion, and for Islam it is not quantity that is important, but quality.

We don't need superstitions, like hypocrites. We do not show God mercy by accepting Islam, but God shows mercy by accepting us into Islam.

Therefore, the Ummah cherishes those people who seek the truth themselves and acquire knowledge themselves. We are not like those would-be Christian missionaries who for centuries forcibly converted and are now converting people to Christianity, promising them some material benefits, or quickly baptize thousands of people who do not even know the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer and have never read New Testament.

Therefore, there is a special anger towards those who voluntarily and consciously, based on their knowledge, choose Islam on the part of some functionaries of religious institutions. That’s why professional writers of lampoons don’t skimp on digging through dirty laundry, bringing unimaginable arguments about why a person, of his own free will, stopped associating himself with the “religion of the majority.” Entire “studies” are written on the topic of “underwear”.

Yuri Maksimov, a teacher at the Moscow Theological Academy, could not resist the temptation to delve into his dirty laundry. On a typical missionary site, where a call in favor of one’s religion is a drop in the sea of ​​filthy insults to the religions of one’s non-religious compatriots, he posted an article “The Anatomy of Treason.” In it, according to him, he “with God’s help” gave “exhaustive answers” ​​and refuted “all claims and questions about Christianity” that I had previously published. Somehow I remembered the words of the Gospel Jesus Christ (peace be upon him): “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11).

But did he really answer all the questions of the “former priest”, and with him many Muslims? Or did he become even more mired in his inherent hatred of Islam, Judaism and other religions in order to hear the longed-for clink of coins flying into his ark?

Maksimov reproached me for the fact that, due to family circumstances, I received part of my spiritual education in absentia. But that is why it was created and blessed by the church. It turns out that Maksimov, instead of being an “obedient and humble sheep” in the “flock of Christ,” rebels against the hierarchy and rejects its regulations. And Maksimov’s pride is by no means limited to this.

One of the first arguments against me he cites is my youth and rapid advancement up the church ladder. Maksimov, in his defense of the depravity of early ordination to the priesthood, without noticing, went too far - he even forgot that the current Patriarch Alexy II, contrary to the rules of church councils, became a priest at the age of 21!

And if we bear in mind his accusation against Ali Vyacheslav Polosin that he violated church canons by becoming a people's deputy of Russia in 1990, then I think he followed the examples of the late Patriarch Pimen and the current Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II, who became people's deputies of the USSR in 1989 (Alexy II was then a metropolitan, a year later he became a patriarch, after which he was a deputy for another year and a half).

What is Ramadan?

Every year a special time comes for a Muslim - Ramadan. Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Muslims observe fasting from dawn to dusk, which consists of complete abstinence from food, drink, intimacy and evil deeds. Acts of worship such as extra prayers, recitation of the Qur'an and charity are especially encouraged during Ramadan.

People of different cultures have different traditions during Ramadan, be it the food they prepare or the celebration of iftars. Islamic spiritual values ​​such as generosity, compassion, mercy are the basis of all these traditions such as inviting guests, distributing food, etc.

What makes Ramadan special?

The Holy Quran was revealed in Ramadan.

Ramadan contains the most sacred and significant night of the year - the Night of Predestination or Laylatul-Qadr. On this night the first verses of the Koran were revealed. The exact date of the Night of Destiny is unknown, but it is known that it falls on an odd number of the last ten days of Ramadan. It is believed that Laylatul-Qadr is the most sacred and significant night of the year.

When is Ramadan?

Every year Ramadan moves forward 11 days. This is because the Muslim calendar is based on the phases of the moon. Ramadan begins with the new moon phase. When determining the time of the month of Ramadan, visual observation is the basis, but when this is not possible, then astronomical calculations are allowed. This year, Ramadan begins on May 27th.

Why do Muslims fast during Ramadan?

Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam. The Koran says that every Muslim is required to fast. The main reason why Muslims fast is the desire to please Allah and the desire to fulfill His command. In addition, fasting is not only abstinence from food, but also from everything bad, a manifestation of humility, patience, and enslavement of one’s nafs.

Do daily fasting hours vary by country?

There are about 1.6 billion Muslims in the world, but they fast for varying numbers of hours during Ramadan. Some Muslims fast more than others, depending on where they live and the length of the day. For example, the shortest fast among Muslims in Australia is 9 hours, while Muslims in Sweden and Iceland fast for more than 20 hours.

What kind of worship is performed only in Ramadan?

In addition to the obligatory fast, which can only be observed in Ramadan, a special prayer is performed this month - tarawih. Tarawih prayer is an obligatory sunnah of the Messenger (peace be upon him) and is read after Isha prayer before the morning at 8 or 20 rak'ahs.

Why do Muslims fast?

In our struggle with excess weight, most of us have experienced some form of abstinence from food. The abundance of diets today allows you to choose the one you like: sugar-free, water, fruit... But a complete refusal to eat from dawn to dusk for the entire month can cause surprise and bewilderment. Especially when entire nations fast: young and old, poor and rich, adults and children. What else is the beauty of it, besides a shortened working day? Ramadan? Isn't this post too harsh? Maybe in Ramadan Muslims barely touch work, only fast and sleep during the day? Do they stay awake at night and feast? What is the essence of this month?

Fasting is prescribed in every religion

In Russian, fasting means voluntary abstinence from a specific type of food, or food in general, observed by believers. Fasting is practiced in almost all religions of the world. For example, in Hinduism. "Upavaasa" is a fast of pious Hindus on special occasions, as a sign of honoring personal gods and repentance. This is the tradition followed by most devout Hindus. On fasting days, they either eat nothing or make do with fruits and simple light food... Jews fast on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement, celebrated on the tenth day of the month of Tishrei, ending Ten days of repentance). On this day it is forbidden to eat, drink, wash, wear leather clothes and shoes, or have sexual intercourse. In addition, the prohibition on work, as on Shabbat, also applies to Yom Kippur. And Moses (peace be upon him), according to the Torah, also observed fasting:

“And Moses stayed there with the Lord forty days and forty nights, neither eating bread nor drinking water” (Exodus 34:28)

Catholics fast during Lent as a symbol of the forty-day fast of Jesus (peace be upon him). In the fourth century, a week of fasting preceded Easter or Holy Week. And already in the seventh century, this fast was extended to forty days. The New Testament mentions the fasting of Jesus (peace be upon him):

“...and having fasted forty days and forty nights, he was finally hungry” (Matthew 4:2; Luke 4:3)

This is what God means when He says in the Quran:

“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, just as it was prescribed for your predecessors, so perhaps you will be afraid." (Quran 2:283)

One of the best righteous deeds

While in most religions fasting is observed as a cleansing from sins, in Islam this type of worship has a different goal - getting closer to God. Recognition of God precedes righteousness, and therefore fasting is of great importance in Islam. When the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked:

“Which case is the best?” He replied: “Fasting, for nothing compares to it.”(Al-Nasai)

Fasting in Islam has many levels. Even when doing the same thing, Muslims fast in different ways. In other words, fasting is observed at different levels. Below we will discuss some of the main levels.

Different sides of the post

Ritual level

A person at this level observes all the rules of fasting: abstains from food, drink and sexual intercourse for 29-30 days annually. A person at this level does not distinguish the spiritual side of fasting. This is the lowest level that must be present for fasting to be considered correct from an Islamic point of view. Of course, there is a spiritual advantage at this level - for following the instructions of God. However, you should not be content with just this. After all, fasting is much more than simply observing traditions. And the ritual level cannot serve as a cleansing of the soul from sins.

"Physical" level

At this level, a person also strives to receive physical benefits from fasting, i.e. get rid of excess weight, improve your well-being. Naturally, he does not abuse food. The pangs of hunger and thirst make a person think about fasting, as it should be according to the Sunnah. Before dawn, the Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, took only light food and broke his fast with a moderate amount of food. He carefully avoided overeating. As it came in the hadith:

“Never has man filled a vessel worse than his own belly! A few pieces of food are enough for the son of Adam, thanks to which he can maintain his strength, and if it is inevitable for him to eat more, let a third of his stomach be for food, a third for drinking, and another third for ease of breathing” (Ibn Majah).

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to break his fast with a few fresh or dried dates and a glass of water just before starting his prayer. At this level, hunger and thirst during fasting generate a feeling of compassion for those starving and dying of thirst and hunger in other parts of the world.

The healing properties of fasting

At the physical level, fasting affects neurotransmitter- a chemical transmitter of impulses between nerve cells, and promotes the release endorphin- “hormone of happiness.” This is similar to the effect of exercise. Doctors have also confirmed the beneficial effects of fasting on health. For example, during fasting, the human body uses up accumulated cholesterol, which reduces the risk of heart attack. The difference between ritual level 1 and physical level 2 is that fasting 1 can eat a lot on suhoor(food taken before sunrise to maintain strength during the day) and iftar(breaking the fast), and not feel hunger and thirst all the time month of Ramadan. But a post at level 2 cannot be considered full either. Without the spiritual side, fasting can turn into simple exhaustion of the body. As the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

« A person may get nothing from fasting except hunger and thirst.”(Ibn Majah).

Levels of fasting: libidinal, emotional, psychological and spiritual.

Libidinal level

At this level, a person learns to cope with sexual instinct and arousal. Today, when the media uses a person’s sexual desires as an opportunity to promote and sell certain products, the ability to control oneself is especially important. Fasting contributes not only to a physical, but also a mental decrease in arousal, since the fasting person is forced to avoid everything that can cause sexual desire. Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

"The youth! Let those of you who can get married certainly do so! Because it will keep your eyes from sin and help you remain pious. Whoever is unable to do this, let him fast. Because this will help him overcome his temptation » (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

Anyone who is able to restrain himself from permitted intimacy during fasting will not find it difficult to restrain himself from forbidden sexual relations outside of fasting.

Emotional level

Here a person learns to keep locked up the negative emotions languishing in the head and heart. As you know, one of the most destructive feelings is anger. Fasting helps to cope with it too. As the hadith says:

“When one of you fasts, let him avoid inappropriate activities and useless conversations. And if someone begins to offend him or argue with him, let him say: “I am fasting.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

So, at this level, the fasting person should refrain from all kinds of negative emotions: meaningless conversations and heated arguments. Even if the fasting person is convinced that he is right, leaving the dispute will only benefit him. During fasting, it is easy to tame even jealousy and envy, since everyone follows the same instructions and no one can stand out in any way.

Psychological level

The psychological level helps to cope with stinginess and greed. The Messenger of Allah reported:

“Allah does not need either hunger or thirst for a person who does not restrain himself from lying even during fasting” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

In our age, when it would seem that everything in the world is designed to satisfy any needs and wishes of a person and, moreover, immediately, the ability to delay receiving pleasure or reward is truly a great thing. After all, patience is required here. Fasting is a great opportunity to learn patience.

According to psychologists, it is sometimes useful to abstract ourselves from the material goods of this world. Naturally, there is nothing wrong with enjoying a life of abundance, but worldly things should not become the main thing in our existence. And fasting just helps to get rid of such addictions. Food, for example, is a pleasure for many. For such people, abstaining from it, if not a feat, is a very big plus, which means a feeling of satisfaction with their own self-control.

Spiritual level

The highest and most important level. The level where a person feels connected to God. To climb it, you need to renew your intention before each day of fasting. Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said about this:

“If a person does not intend to fast before dawn, then his fast will not count.” (Abu Daoud)

We renew our intention daily, which means we re-set ourselves to fast every day. Thus, fasting is not limited to just external abstinence from food, but turns into something spiritual. It is at this level that fasting cleanses the souls of people. Hadith:

“Whoever fasts during Ramadan sincerely and strives to receive a reward from God, his previous sins will be forgiven.”

« Between one and another Ramadan - atonement for sins»

Sincere fasting brings you closer to the Lord. There is a special reward for him. The Messenger of Allah reported about a gate in Paradise called Rayan through which those who fast will pass:

“The gates of Heaven are open in Ramadan” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

Fasting initially occurs only between a person and God, because no one can know for sure that he is fasting. The Prophet Muhammad reported the words of the Lord about this:

“Every act of the sons of Adam is for themselves, except fasting. Fasting is only for Me, and only I will reward him for it.” (Sahih Muslim)

The spiritual level, connecting with the rest, changes a person from the inside: it revives his spirituality and transforms his essence. This is the great reward for sincerity of belief and carrying God in your heart.

On the first day of the new month, after the appearance of the new moon, Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr. Early in the morning they perform a complete ablution, put on their best clothes and rush to the common prayer. Then they visit relatives and friends. Also on this day, it is customary to give alms to those in need - Zakat al-Fitr (a certain amount of the most common food in the area).

Muslims fast not only on Ramadan. Six days of the month Shawal, every Monday and Thursday, the ninth and tenth or the tenth and eleventh of the month of Muharram are days on which it is also advisable to fast. Fasting on the tenth day of Muharram is shared by Muslims (Ashura) and Jews (Yom Kippur). To distinguish themselves from the People of the Book, God commanded Muslims to fast for two days in a row (not just this day).

While fasting itself is considered one of the best forms of worship in Islam, continuous fasting is as prohibited as monasticism, celibacy, or any other form of complete renunciation of the world. Fasting on the days of two holidays - Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha (festival of sacrifice) - is strictly prohibited.

Dr. Bilal Philips

Question:

Peace to you! I myself am not a Muslim, but I am interested in Islam. And I’m interested in this question: why can’t Muslims not only eat, but also drink during fasting? A person can live without food for a long time, but it is very difficult to live without water - after all, 2/3 of our body consists of water. Is there any explanation for this prohibition in your religion?

Answer:

And peace to you. Thank you for your question.

The topic of fasting is of interest not only to many non-Muslims, but also to those Muslims who have recently converted to Islam and therefore were not previously familiar with the rules of Islamic fasting.

I remember that I myself fasted in Ramadan for the first time, not yet being a Muslim. I had many Muslim students at school, and I wanted to express my solidarity with them in this way.

Then it was difficult for me to believe that next year I myself would become a Muslim and would fast as a Muslim.

Your question, therefore, is very close to my heart - when I just started fasting, I discovered that during the daytime I was not as hungry as I wanted to drink.

In the Quran we find the following verse:

“We sent down water from the sky in measure (i.e. rain) and saturated the earth with it, and, verily, it is in Our power to evaporate it.

With the help of water We have grown for you palm groves and vineyards, where many fruits grow for your needs, which you eat.” (23, 18-19).

Water is just one of the many gifts from the Creator that we take for granted in our lives. Just think how many times we use water in one day (we not only drink water, but we use it to wash our faces, wash our clothes, clean our house, cook food, wash dishes, use it in industry, etc.).

During Ramadan, we are ordered to give up for some time some of the benefits that the Almighty has endowed us with (food, drink and the love of our spouses) - precisely so that we can better feel the importance of these things.

If we are deprived of some things that are important to us for a while, we begin to appreciate them more when we finally regain them. All Muslims will confirm how tasty and valuable the first sip of water is for them at sunset, when they can finally begin fasting. This water seems to us tastier than the most exquisite dishes.

During Ramadan we also thank Allah for the rain - at other times of the year it can irritate us, but at this time, when we are deprived of water, we rejoice at the opportunity to refresh ourselves.

During difficulties, it is easier for us to sympathize with those people who are deprived of such an opportunity - to eat and drink whenever they want. How many people on Earth live in places where ordinary water is rare, and every sip of it is difficult to obtain.

All of the above, however, serves only as an introduction to the story of why Muslims fast. We do not do this to stay in good shape or to experience some unusual spiritual states. We fast because our Lord, Allah Almighty, ordered us to do so. Fasting is one of the so-called. The “five pillars” of Islam, the belief in which is required of all Muslims:

We read in the Koran:

“Whoever of you finds the month of Ramadan, in which the Quran was revealed - a true guide for people, an explanation of the straight path and a distinction [between truth and falsehood] - let him spend it by fasting. And if anyone is sick or on a journey, then let him fast for the same number of days in another month. Allah desires ease for you, not hardship, and desires that you complete the number of days [set for fasting], and that you exalt Allah for having guided you to the true path. Perhaps you will thank Him." (2, 185).

Islam is a very wise and practical religion, it takes into account all possible life situations. If a person lives in his own area, he must fast, but he is exempt from fasting if he is on the road or sick (as can be seen from the above verse).

The injunction to fast also follows from the Koran:

“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, just as it was prescribed for those who lived before you, so that perhaps you will become God-fearing.” (2, 183).

Muslims fast because it is the command of Allah and they do it to please their Lord.

In fact, fasting is complete abstinence from basic human needs - food, drink and sexual relations, during daylight hours - from dawn to dusk.

Also - and this is very important, fasting is not only physical abstinence, it is also moral abstinence from all bad habits (like smoking) and bad deeds - like quarrels, gossip, slander. At this time, it is important to give up even bad thoughts - envy, hatred, ill will. Abstinence alone will not be beneficial if a person at this time is quarreling with someone or wishes harm to another. Our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said that such a person will not gain anything from fasting except that at the end of the day he will suffer from hunger and thirst.

So, as I tried to explain to you earlier, we even refuse water during fasting. Sometimes this is easy to do (for example, in the cool season), but if there is summer heat outside, this is a very significant sacrifice. Especially towards the end of the day of fasting, when you begin to feel tired and sleepy. But if a person knows that he is doing this for the pleasure of Allah, it is easier for him to endure hardships.

Moreover, what is such a small sacrifice worth in comparison with the suffering of people in many parts of the Earth - many of whom live in constant hunger and thirst, some have lost their shelter and property - and possibly even their loved ones - as a result of military operations. If we think about all these people, it is much easier for us to sacrifice our comforts by giving up food and water for a short time.

When it is time to break the fast, Muslims gather with their families and friends to break the fast by thanking Allah for His gifts of food and water, which we do not notice during normal times of the year.

So fasting in Ramadan is an extremely useful and important thing when we learn to be grateful to Allah, try to become better people and feel unity with our brothers and sisters in faith.

I hope I was able to answer your question.