Ramadhan Quotes

Rule of muslim fasting

Fasting is simple. There are only a few rules and regulations to practice: 

First Rule 

The person must intend to fast before the start time for the Morning Prayer. Intention is in the heart and so one should not say anything in particular. The Messenger said, "He who does not resolve to fast before it is Fajr (Morning Prayer), then there is no fast for him." 

Second Rule 

If a person eats or drinks out of mistake and did not know it is Ramadan, then he should stop eating or drinking anymore and complete his fast for the rest of the day. Some scholars disagree with this and say that fasting later after Ramadan should make up this particular day. It seems the best opinion is that there is no need to make it up, but we must not argue about this. 

Another point is that many people think brushing one's teeth, washing the nose or mouth, giving blood or taking an injection, which does not provide nourishment, using the inhaler for those who suffer from asthma, pouring water on the head or taking a bath may break or affect the fast. This is not true. As long as food or water does not enter the throat then it is OK. A person who is a traveller, ill, very old, pregnant or breast-feeding does not have to fast but can make up the days later. A woman in her menstruation must not fast but make up the days later. 

Third Rule 

All eating and drinking must stop immediately at start of Morning Prayer time. The Quran and the Sunnah clearly teaches how to tell when to stop eating. As soon as the reddish whiteness spread sideways in the horizon then it is the true start of Fajr time. It is not when you can see the very first sign of whiteness in the horizon that rises upwards. 
But remember though, if you are in the process of drinking and the call to prayer is given, then finish drinking before putting it down! 

In this age a lot of people rely upon timetables and astronomy. These can be used to help make things easier but not to replace the way taught in the revelation. The method in the revelation is natural and easier because it directs us to use our eyes and look. If we are mistaken then there is no problem. Also, this method frees us from becoming strict with precise timings leading to quarrelling with one another. If you cannot get a time table or it is difficult to find out by looking at the sky for any reason, then a suitable way is to find out from a newspaper the Greenwich sunrise time and then work out something suitable. The start time for fasting could be an hour to an hour and a half earlier than the sunrise time for the day. 

Fourth Rule 

The person must break his fast directly after sunset. He should not delay it as some people do just to make sure the sun has really gone down. As soon as the disc of the sun disappears then fasting should be broken. It is possible that at that time it is still quite bright outside, but this does not matter at all. 

What is the best way to break the fast? 
Well, it is reported that the Messenger used to break the fast with fresh dates before praying, if not with fresh dates then with older dates, and if not with older dates then with some mouthfuls of water. 

What do we say when we break the fast? 
The best supplication (du'a) that is reported from the Messenger that he used to say when breaking the fast is: Thirst has gone, the veins are moistened and the reward is certain, if Allah wills. (Dhahabadh dhama'u wabtaallatil 'urooqu wa thabatal ajru inshaa Allah) It is very good to feed others so that they break the fast with your food. The Messenger said that for every person whom we help in breaking the fast by feeding them, it would be like as if we did their fasts too. 

Fifth Rule 

The person should try his best to take a meal before starting to fast. This meal is called suhoor. The Messenger spoke of its blessings and how it is a true characteristic of fasting in Islam. In one of the sayings of the Messenger he said,"The suhoor is a meal of blessings, so do not leave it, even if one of you just take a (gulp) of water, since Allah sends mercy and His Angels seek forgiveness for those who take the suhoor." 
It is better to delay the suhoor until just before the Fajr prayer according to the way of the Messenger. The ideal way is to finish eating before the Fajr prayer so that there is time to read up to 50 verses from the Quran. 

Sixth Rule 

It is very important to behave well when fasting. One should try his utmost not to lie, argue, or use bad language. Here are two sayings of the Messenger: 

1. Whoever does not give up falsehood in word and action then Allah the Mighty the Majestic has no need that he should leave his food and his drink. 
2. Fasting is not (merely giving up) from eating and drinking, rather it is (keeping away) from ignorant and indecent talk. So if anyone abuses or behaves ignorantly with you, then say, "I am fasting, I am fasting." 

Seventh Rule 

The following things definitely cancels the fast: 
1. Eating and drinking deliberately 
2. Vomiting intentionally 
3. Menstruation 
4. Injections containing nourishment 
5. Sexual intercourse or deliberate ejaculation 


Wallahualam.

Ramadhan the blessing month

The benefits of the Ramadhan month of fasting are too many to be counted. If one does recognize them and realize their importance, he wishes to have the month of Ramadhan to be throughout the whole year.

These blessings are given by Allah to the fasting Muslims, who are to fast with full faith and expectation.

These blessings and benefits of the month of fasting during Ramadhan have been grouped and summarized into different categories. They are summarized here without commentary. It should be remembered that all of these blessings were taken directly from Holy Quran and Hadith.

The following is a partial list for the blessings and benefits of the month of fasting during Ramadhan:

01. Taqwa:

1. Fearing Allah (SWT)
2. Practicing the Revelations of Allah (SWT)
3. Accepting the little things that one has achieved
4. Preparing for departure from this world to the Hereafter
5. Self-discipline
6. Self-control
7. Self-restraint
8. Self-education
9. Self-evaluation

By accepting these criteria and by practicing them, the Muslim will achieve the concept of Taqwa in his private and public life.

02. Protection:

1. Avoiding Immorality
2. Avoiding anger/outcry/uproar
3. Avoiding stupidity
4. Avoiding all makrooh/mashbooh/haram

By achieving these good manners, a Muslim will come out of fasting a better human being in the society.

03. Revelation of Holy Quran: The Holy Quran was revealed during the month of Ramadhan. The Holy Quran is meant to be:

1. A Guidance to mankind
2. A Manifestation of right from wrong
3. A Summation and culmination of all previous revelations
4. A Glad-tiding to the believers
5. A Healer
6. A Mercy

04. Doors of heaven are open

05. Doors of hell are closed

06. Devils are chained down

07. Fasting with Iman (faith) and expectation: Such type of intention leads to forgiveness by Allah (SWT) to the individual’s sins.

08. Door of Rayyan: There is in Paradise a door called Al-Rayyan. It is for the fasting Muslims. Only those who fasted the month of Ramadhan are the ones to enjoy the bliss of Paradise inside that area.

09. Rejoices: There are two types of rejoices for the Muslims who fast. These are:

1. When breaking fast
2. When meeting Allah (SWT) on the day of Judgment

10. Mouth Smell: The smell of the mouth of the fasting Muslim will be better than the smell of musk during the day of Judgement. (Bad Breath)

11. Glad-Tidings: These glad-tidings are given to the well-wishers while the ill-wishers are to be stopped during fasting.

12. Ramadhan -to- Ramadhan: Whoever fasts two consecutive months of Ramadhan with good intention will receive forgiveness for the mistakes committed throughout the year.

13. Multiplication of Rewards: Doing good = 10x, 70x, 700x or more during the month of Ramadhan.

14. Feeding Others: Whoever invites others to break the fast, and whoever takes care of the hungry, needy, during the last ten days of Ramadhan will receive equal rewards to the fasting person(s).

15. Blessing of Iftar: Dua is accepted by ALLAH (SWT) at Iftar time.

16. Blessings of Sahoor (The late night meal): This meal time gives the opportunity for:

1. Night Prayers
2. Zikr, Remembrance, Contemplation
3. Recitation of Holy Quran
4. Fajr Salat in Jamaat
5. Dua of Fajr

17. Night Prayers: Whoever performs the Night prayers with sincerity and good intention will receive forgiveness of his past mistakes.

18. Shafa’at (Pleading One’s Case for Forgiveness): Whoever fasts Ramadhan will receive on the day of Judgement the Shafa’at of:

1. Ramadhan
2. Holy Quran

19. Ihya (Passing Nights Awake): Last ten days of Ramadhan. When a Muslim makes this type of effort, he will get rewards, forgiveness, and multiples of blessings.

20. Itikaf (Retreat): A Muslim who performs Itikaf during the last ten days of Ramadhan will get:

1. Blessings and rewards
2. Peace of mind
3. Contemplation and evaluation
4. Better citizen

21. Lailatul Qadr (The Night of Power): Whoever observes it with sincerity and good intention will get the following benefits:

1. Forgiveness of mistakes
2. Better than 1,000 months
3. Dua
4. Zikr
5. Prayers
6. Reading Holy Quran
7. Rewards
8. Blessings
9. Better human being

22. Generosity: Kindness, hospitality, visitation, etc. All of these and many more are among the benefits of Ramadhan.

23. Zakat al-Fitrah (Charity on Eid Day): The benefits of paying such as charity to the needy are tremendous, among which are the following:

1. Purity
2. Feeding the needy
3. Sharing happiness
4. Improving human relations
5. Improving society

24. Sadaqah (Charity): The benefits of paying sadaqah are many. These are summarized as follows:

1. Purity
2. Flourishing of wealth
3. Improving economy
4. Circulation of wealth
5. Elimination of inflation
6. Elimination of poverty

25. Fasting and Health: By fasting, one gets the following benefits:

1. Purification of body from toxins
2. Reducing of weight
3. Purity of brain
4. Rejuvenation of body
5. Living of life with happiness
6. Looking younger

26. Change of Lifestyle: By living a different life style, one gets rid of the monotony of life and hence enjoys his life span.

27. Sharing: Of hunger, thirst and rituals with others in the society.

28. Eid-ul-Fitr (Feast): Sharing of happiness and visitation of one another as members of the society.

29. Graveyards Visitation: One will get the following benefits by visiting graveyards.

1. Dua for the deceased
2. Preparing oneself for departure from this world
3. Feeling respect for the deceased
4. Making the person to be humble in his life

30. Every breath is Tasbiih. Every breath and even sleep is Ibadah and awarded.

31. Umrah in Ramadhan: Visiting Makkah during the fasting month of Ramadhan is:

1. Equal to one Hajj (pilgrimage)
2. Equal to one Hajj with Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

32. Historical Successes and Victories in Ramadhan: Muslims throughout their history received many benefits during Ramadhan the month of fasting, among which are the following:

1. Battle of Badr
2. Battle of Khandaq
3. Opening of Makkah
4. Battle of Tabuk
5. Tariq Ibn Ziyad opened Europe
6. Salahuddin liberated Jerusalem from the crusaders
7. Egypt and Israel, 1973 – Egyptians kicked the Israelis out of Egypt during Ramadhan the month of fasting, etc.

33. Learning lessons from historical incidents that happened during Holy Ramadhan the month of fasting, e.g.

1. Wafaat Hazrat Khadijeh (as).
2. Wiladat Imam Hassan bin Ali (as).
3. Shahadat Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (as).
4. Youm-al-Quds

Dua’ Recited (optional) after Wajib Salaat in fasting month, or in the Qunoot.

Allahum’maj’al siyaami fihi siyamas’ saaimeen, wa qiyami fihi

qiyamal qaai-meen wa nab’bih’ni fihi an-naomatil ghaafileen, wa

hab-li jurmi fihi yaa ilaahal Aalameen, wa’fu anni yaa aafiyan

anil’mujrimeen.

O Allah, make my Fast (in this month) like those who fast (sincerely), and

make my nightly prayers like those who pray (sincerely.) Awaken me from

the sleep of the heedlessness. Overlook my wrongdoings, O’ God of the

universe; and Grant me forgiveness, O’ He, who forgives the wrongdoers.

(Al’laahum’ma Salli Alaa Muhammadin wa Aali Muhammad)

Rabbi Aziq-ni Fihi Halaawata Dikrik

My Lord, let me taste the sweetness of Your Dikr (remembrance)

The Qur’an

Alaa bi-Dikril-laahi tat-ma-in-nul Quloob. 13:28

Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction (rest)

Benefits of fasting in Ramadhan

One may enumerate many reasons, based upon the Qur’anic verses and hadith.

1. In obedience to the command of Allah swt.
2.  As an obligatory act (one of the pillars of Islam)
3.  To earn rewards and blessings (multiplied many times) from Allah
4.  To earn a special reward, yet unknown, from Allah (Hadith Qudsi)
5.  To seek and receive forgiveness from Allah for our sins and shortcomings
6.  To receive increased sustenance from Allah, by observing the “Night of Qadr.”
7.  To guard against evil (practice taqwa)
8.  To practice self-restraint

Some of the benefits that we know from observation and experience include:

1. An opportunity to get rid of undesirable habits
2. To inculcate and increase fortitude and patience
3. To empathize with less fortunate members of humanity who suffer from hunger due to poverty.
4. To keep Satan and his prompting away
5. To improve physical health

Spiritual benefits of fasting:

1. Satan is far removed and, “his face is darkened.” (Hadith)
2. increased concentration in acts of worship, including Salaat
3. Dikr and supplications are more enjoyable
4. Acts of worship are more accepted and better rewarded.
5. Peace of mind and tranquility occur during the entire month of fasting

Health benefits of fasting

1. Weight reduction
2.  Improved gastrointestinal function
3. Improved eating habits. (Escape from unhealthy “munching” habits).
4.  Overall feeling of physical well being