ITS IMPORTANCE, BLESSINGS

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2Muslims.comPresents
FASTING

• ITS IMPORTANCE, BLESSINGS
• GUIDELINES

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The Commandment

• O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as
  it was prescribed to those before you, that ye
  may (learn) self-restraint,-
• (Fasting) for a fixed number of days but if any
  of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed
  number (Should be made up) from days later. For
  those who can do it (With hardship), is a ransom,
  the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that
  will give more, of his own free will,- it is
  better for him. And it is better for you that ye
  fast, if ye only knew.
• Holy Qur'an 2183-184

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The Month of Ramadhan

• Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down
  the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear
  (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right
  and wrong). So every one of you who is present
  (at his home) during that month should spend it
  in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a
  journey, the prescribed period (Should be made
  up) by days later. God intends every facility for
  you He does not want to put you to difficulties.
  (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period,
  and to glorify Him in that He has guided you and
  perchance ye shall be grateful.
• Holy Qur'an 2185

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Some Pearls from the Prophet (PBUH)

• Its Importance
• Abu Hurairah narrated that the Holy Prophet
  (PBUH) said
• Whoever misses the Fast for one day of Ramadan
  without an excuse or illness, even a perpetual
  fast will not compensate for it.
• Ahamed, Tirmidhi
• (An excuse here refers to an unavoidable journey
  or to hard physical labour. It also includes a
  nursing Mother if it could hurt her baby or
  herself)

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• Its Blessings
• Abu Hurairah related that the Holy Prophet
  (PBUH) said
• Whoever fasts during Ramadhan with Iman (faith)
  and seeks his reward from Allah alone, will have
  his past sins forgiven. Whoever prays at night
  during Ramadhan with Iman and seeks his reward
  from Allah alone, will have his past sins
  forgiven. And whoever passes the Lailat-al-Qadr
  (The Blessed Night) in prayer with Iman and seeks
  his reward from Allah alone, will have his past
  sins forgiven.
• Bukhari, Muslim

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• Abdullah Ibn Amr reported that the Holy Prophet
  (PBUH) said
• Fasting and Qur'an will both intercede for a
  believer on the day of Judgement. Fasting will
  say O Lord! I denied him food and sexual
  pleasure during the day, so accept my
  intercession for him. The Qur'an will say O
  Lord! I denied him the rest and sleep at night,
  so accept my intercession for him. Allah will
  accept the intercession of both.
• Baihaqi

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• Abu Saeed Khudri reported that the Holy Prophet
  (PBUH) said
• When a servant of Allah observes Fast for a day
  for the sake of Allah, he thereby repels the fire
  (of hell) from him a distance of a journey of
  seventy years.
• Bukhari, Muslim

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• Fasting on a Doubtful Day
• Ammar Ibn Yasir reported that the Holy Prophet
  (PBUH) said
• Anyone who fasts on a day about which he is
  doubtful has disobeyed Abul Qasim
• Abu Daud, Ibn Majah, Tirmidhi
• (Abul Qasim is one of the many titles of the
  Holy Prophet (PBUH). A doubtful day is one about
  which one is not sure if Ramadan has begun or
  come to an end).

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• The Intention
• Hafsah bint Umar reported that the Holy Prophet
  (PBUH) said
• Whoever does not make an intention to fast
  before daybreak, there is no Fast for him.
• Abu Daud, Nasai, Tirmidhi

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• Sahoor (Early Morning Breakfast)
• Anas Ibn Malik related that the Holy Prophet
  (PBUH) said
• Take Sahoor (early morning breakfast), for there
  are blessings in Sahoor.
• Bukhari, Muslim

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• On hearing Adhan while eating Sahoor
• Abu Hurairah reported that the Holy Prophet
  (PBUH) said
• When one of you hears the Adhan while he (is
  eating Sahoor and) has a cup in his hand, he
  should not put it down till he satisfies his need
  from it.
• Abu Daud

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• Eating or Drinking by Accident
• Abu Hurairah reported that the Holy Prophet
  (PBUH) said
• If anyone forgets while he is fasting and eats
  or drinks by accident, he should complete his
  fast, for it is Allah who has fed him and given
  him drink.
• Bukhari, Muslim

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• Fasting on a Journey
• Aishah related that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was
  asked whether one should Fast when on a journey,
  and He replied
• Fast if you like, or postpone it if you like.
• Bukhari, Muslim

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• Personal Conduct during Fast
• Abu Hurairah related that the Holy Prophet
  (PBUH) said
• If a person does not avoid false talk and false
  conduct during Fast, Allah does not care if he
  abstains from his food and drink.
• Bukhari, Muslim

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• Abu Hurairah reported that the Holy Prophet
  (PBUH) said
• Many people who fast get nothing from their fast
  except hunger and thirst, and many people who
  pray at night get nothing from it except
  wakefulness.
• Darimi
• (The Qur'an says O ye who believe! Fasting is
  prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those
  before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint
  (2183). Thus the object of Fasting is not just
  to stay away from food and drink but to make a
  conscious effort to improve our conduct and try
  to learn self-restraint)

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• Reward for providing for one who is Fasting
• Zaid Ibn Khalid Juhani narrated that the Holy
  Prophet (PBUH) said
• He who provides for the breaking of the Fast of
  another person earns the same reward as the one
  who is fasting, and no reduction is made in the
  reward of the latter.
• Tirmidhi

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• Voluntary Fasts after Ramadhan
• Abu Ayyub related that the Holy Prophet (PBUH)
  said
• One who observes fast during Ramadhan and
  continues it through the six days of Shawwal is
  as if he observes Fast for the whole year.
• Muslim
• (Shawwal is the Arabic Month following Ramadhan.
  The six days of Shawwal does not include the
  first day, which is Eid-ul-Fitr, the day of
  rejoicing for the Muslim)

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• Other Voluntary Fasts
• Aishah related that
• The Holy Prophet (PBUH) used to fast on Mondays
  and Thursdays.
• Tirmidhi
• (Tirmidhi reported another Hadith that the Holy
  Prophet (PBUH) said "A man's deeds are reported
  to Allah on Mondays and Thursdays and I prefer
  that I should be fasting when my deeds are
  reported)
• Abu Dharr reported that the Holy Prophet (PBUH)
  said
• If you observe Fast three days in a month, then
  make them on the 13th, 14th and 15th nights of
  the (lunar) month.
• Tirmidhi

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• Fasting on Fridays
• Abu Hurairah narrated that the Holy Prophet
  (PBUH) said
• None of you should fast on Friday unless you
  observe a Fast on the preceding or following day.
  
• Bukhari, Muslim

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• Ashura
• Ibn Abbas reported that the Holy Prophet (PBUH)
  fasted on the day of Ashura and instructed that
  it should be observed as a day of Fast. he was
  told that it was a day honored by the Jews as
  well. He said
• If I live until next year, I shall Fast an extra
  day.
• Muslim
• (Ashura is the day when Allah saved Prophet
  Moses (PBUH) and his people from Pharaoh. It
  falls on the tenth day of Muharram)

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Dear Brothers Sisters
One more important thing!
DONT BE DEPRIVED OF
LAILAT AL QADR (The Night of Power)

• and none is deprived of its blessings except a
  very unfortunate person.

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The Glad Tidings

• We have indeed revealed This (Message) In the
  Night of Power
• And what will explain to thee what the Night of
  Power is?
• The Night of Power is better than a thousand
  Months.
• Therein come down The Angels and the Spirit by
  Allah's permission, On every errand.
• Peace !This until the rise of morn.
• Holy Qur'an 971-5

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• The Blessed Night
• Anas ibn Malik reported that at the beginning of
  Ramadhan the Holy Prophet (PBUH) gave a sermon
  and said
• Verily, a blessed Month has come to you, and in
  this month there is a night which is better than
  thousand months (approx 83 years and better),
  whoever is deprived of its blessings is deprived
  of all good, and none is deprived of its
  blessings except a very unfortunate person.
• Ibn Majah
• ...And whoever passes the Lailat-al-Qadr (The
  Blessed Night) in prayer with Iman and seeks his
  reward from Allah alone, will have his past sins
  forgiven.
• Bukhari, Muslim
• (O Lord! Help us to spend this Night in prayer
  and include us all in the ranks of those who
  receive the blessings of this Night)

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• In Odd Numbered Nights of Last Ten
• Aishah related that the Holy Prophet (PBUH)
  said
• Search for Lailat al Qadr among the odd numbered
  nights during the last ten days of Ramadhan.
• Bukhari

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To Conclude,
A Request
Please forward this to all the believers in your
Address Book
FOR ...
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• Ye are the best of peoples,
• evolved for mankind,
• enjoining what is right, forbidding what is
  wrong,
• and believing in God.
• Holy Qur'an 3110