Ramadan Fasting and Personal/Social Development

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RamadanFasting and Personal/Social Development
Towards Understanding Islam Muslims

• Compiled by

Ahmad Sultan
afsultan_at_yahoo.com
2003-2004
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Outline

• Terminology
• Islam a System/Way of Life
• Why do Muslims Fast?
• Submission to God
• Personal Social Development
• Spiritual
• Social/Moral/Behavioral
• Educational
• Physical
• Conclusion

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Terms for Better Understanding

• Religion (Arabic DEEN)
• Way of life (rules to follow) the meaning is not
  limited to personal conviction

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Islam a System/Way of Life
1 . Default of the universal system

• The Religion (DEEN) before Allah is submission to
  His Will (Islam) Nor did the People of the Book
  dissent therefrom except through envy of each
  other, after knowledge had come to them. But if
  any deny the Signs of Allah, Allah is swift in
  calling to account. Quran 319
• Is it then other than Allah's religion that they
  seek (to follow), and to Him submits (Aslama)
  whoever is in the heavens and the earth,
  willingly or unwillingly, and to Him shall they
  be returned. Quran 383

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Islam a System/Way of Life
2 . The same way of life of all prophets

• The same religion (DEEN) has He established for
  you as that which He enjoined on Noah - the which
  We have sent by inspiration to thee - and that
  which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus
  Namely, that ye should remain steadfast in
  religion, and make no divisions therein to those
  who worship other things than Allah, hard is the
  (way) to which thou callest them. Allah chooses
  to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to
  Himself those who turn (to Him). Quran 4213

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Islam a System/Way of Life
3 . Last link completing the Devine message to
mankind

• This day have I perfected your DEEN (religion
  way of life) for you, completed My favor upon
  you, and have chosen for you Islam (submission to
  Gods Will) as your DEEN (religion way of
  life) Quran 53

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Islam a System/Way of Life
4 . A message to all mankind

• Say (O Muhammad) "O men! I am sent unto you
  all, as the Messenger of Allah (God), to Whom
  belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the
  earth there is no god but He it is He That
  giveth both life and death. So believe in Allah
  and His Messenger, the Unlettered Prophet, who
  believeth in Allah and His words follow him that
  (so) ye may be guided. Quran 7158

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Islam a System/Way of Life
5 . Main objective of the message

• I have only been sent (as a messenger) but to
  complete the perfect of manners. Saying of
  Prophet Mohammad

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Islam a System/Way of Life
5 . Comprehensive System that provides the
following

• Beliefs that free the minds from myths, and
  encourages seeking knowledge
• Worship (AEBADA) that fulfills the spirit and
  develops character
• Manners that grows personality and cooperation
• Laws that protect individual freedom, look for
  interests and guarantee justice

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Modern-day Civilization Gaps

• High on
• Technology
• Materialism
• Low on
• Spirituality
• Social/Moral

• How would an act of worship (AEBADA) such as
  Fasting (Siyam) help?

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Why do Muslims Fast?

• Above all
• Acknowledgement of God (Allah) as the Only Master
  and Sustainer of the Universe by submitting to
  his command to Fast during Ramadan
• The main motive behind fasting is to obey Allah
  and to seek His pleasure
• Secondly
• Siyam provides a balanced system of personal
  purification, elevation to improve
  individuals/society

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Spiritual Impacts of Siyam

• Trains the believer in God consciousness
• Act of atonement for our errors and mistakes
• "Whoever fasts (the month of) Ramadan on the
  basis of Faith (Iman) and seeking (the Pleasure
  of Allah), his past errors are forgiven.
• Loved by God
• The Prophet (pbuh) said Allah said the most
  beloved of My servants to Me are those who are
  quick to break their fast.

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Spiritual Impacts of Siyam

• Supplication not turned down
• The fasting person is awarded a supplication
  when he breaks his fast that shall not be turned
  down.
• requesting good things in this life or
  hearafter
• Spiritual Revival (overhaul)
• Nightly Prayer and frequent recitation and study
  of the Qur'an

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Moral Impacts of Siyam

• Fasting is a form of Jihad (Struggling in the
  path of Allah). It teaches self-discipline and
  enhances one's ability to master his/her needs
  and desires rather than being enslaved by them
• Honesty, Sincerity and
• All the good deeds of the son of Adam multiply
  his reward from ten times to seven hundred
  times. Allah (SWT) said Except for fasting,
  for it is for Me and I reward for it.
  Transmitted by Bukhari and Muslim
• Teaches other virtues
• "If one does not abandon falsehood in words and
  deeds, Allah has no need for his abandoning of
  his food and drink." (al-Bukhari)

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Social Impacts of Siyam

• Siyam promotes the spirit of
• unity and belonging within the Muslim nation
  (Ummah)
• human equality before Allah (God.).
• charity and sympathy towards the poor and needy
• sociability in a brotherly and spiritual
  atmosphere
• Muslims are urged to invite others to break the
  fast with them
• gather for Quranic study
• prayer and visitations

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Social/Moral Impacts of Siyam

• Generosity
• The Prophet (pbuh) was the most generous of
  people, and he was the most generous during
  Ramadan. When he used to meet Angel Jibreel he
  used to be more generous than the wind is sent
  with rain. Bukhari
• Start with your relatives because it is both an
  act of generosity and a connection to your
  relatives.
• Breaking-the-Fast Alms Giving (zakatul fitr) is
  a cleanser for the fasting person and a source of
  food for the needy. Transmitted by Abu Dawoud
•  
• Reconcile disputes before the beginning of
  Ramadan
• ..Allah (swt) forgives all sinners except those
  who are in dispute or in fighting.

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Behavioral Impacts of Siyam

• Recognize the value of time
• People will still be in a good state so long as
  they hurry in breaking their fast. Transmitted
  by Bukhari and Muslim
• The first third of the month is mercy the
  second is forgiveness, and the final third
  salvation from hellfire. During this month
  Laylatul Qadr (Night of Power) occurs, a night
  greater than a thousand months
•  Strengthens the will power, ability to change
  and make clear conscious decisions
• Forsaking normal things helps abandoning
  inappropriate behavior

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Psychological Impacts of Siyam

• It enhances the feelings of inner peace,
  contentment, and optimism. These feelings result
  from the realization of Allah's pleasure.
• It teaches patience and perseverance and enhances
  the feeling of moral accomplishment.
• Voluntary abstinence of lawful appetites leads
  one to appreciate the bounties of Allah, which
  are usually taken for granted (until they are
  missed!).
• For a whole month every year, Muslims go through
  a different and exciting experience, which breaks
  the normal routine of life. Not only can this be
  refreshing, it also teaches the person to adapt
  to varying conditions and circumstances in
  his/her life.

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Educational Impacts of Siyam

• Education and Focus through contemplating on
  Devine message
• Night prayers without the Quran are like a body
  without a head, and night prayers with the Quran
  but without attentiveness and consciousness
  (khushou) are like a body without a soul.
• Sharpening Memory
•  Angel Gabriel used to review what had been
  revealed of the Quran during the previous year
  with the Prophet (pbuh) during Ramadan. In
  Ramadan of the year in which the Prophet (pbuh)
  died, Angel Gabriel reviewed it with him in its
  entirety twice (Transmitted by Al Bukhari)

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Physical Impacts of Siyam
Siyam is an annual physical overhaul of the body

• elimination of harmful fatty substances from the
  blood
• helping the cure of certain types of intestinal
  and stomach ailments
• the renewal of body tissues. Needless to say that
  some ailments may be aggravated by fasting in
  which case the person is exempted from fasting
• self-control and discipline exercised in Ramadan
  provide an excellent beginning to kick out
  undesirable habits such as overeating or smoking,
  the these bad habits.

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Physical Impacts of SiyamWhy Do Muslims Break
Their Fast with Dates?

• "The Messenger of Allah would break his fast with
  ripe dates before he would pray. If those were
  not available, he would eat dried dates. If those
  were not available, he would drink some water.
• Rapid source of needed energy
• Daily multivitamin
• Dates are high in vitamins A and B6, folic acid,
  potassium, natural sodium, iron, and magnesium
• Preventive medication
• Dates protect the stomach and intestinal tract
  from parasites and bacteria
• One should pray after eating dates and before
  eating the main meal
• break to metabolize the dates and water that have
  been consumed and to start the bodys digestive
  processes, which have been resting all day.
• avoid jumpstarting the bodys digestive processes
• unhealthy way to break the fast that could cause
  long-term damage to the body

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Conclusion

• Siyam (Fasting) is one of the pillars of Islam
• Performing Fast is an acknowledgement of God
  (Allah) as the Only Master and Sustainer of the
  Universe
• The main motive behind fasting is to obey Allah
  and to seek His pleasure
• It is one of the acts of AEBADA (Worship), that
  provides a balanced system of personal
  purification, elevation to improve
  individuals/society Spiritually, Socially,
  Morally, Behaviorally, Educationally, and
  Physically

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References

• The Nobel Quran, Translations of the meanings
  by Yousef Ali, Picthal, and Shaker.
• http//www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/
• Fiqh as-Sunna, As-Sayyed Sabiq
• Islam in Your Life Spirituality
• http//www.masnet.org/spirit.asp?id602
• Fasting Ramadan, Dr. Jamal Badawi
• Rules of Siyam, Sheikh Muhammad Al-Hanooti
• Ramadan, The Blessed Month, Sheikh Muhammad
  Al-Hanooti
• Why Do Muslims Break Their Fast with Dates?
• Seize the Ramadan Opportunity, Safa Alshiraida
• Facts of Fasting, Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND
• Ramadan, Dr. Salah Soltan