Saturday, August 22, 2009

Fasting

It's not easy to fast from sunrise to sunset, but it is possible and millions of people will choose to fast during daylight hours for the entire month of Ramadan.

According to friends who fast [sigh-yim] there are two aspects to fasting: the first is the physical, or dealing with your thirst and hunger and the second is the mental aspect, or your intention [knee-yaH] and dealing with the reasons behind why you are fasting.

Some Muslims of the Shi’ite/Shia faith {see wgaw blogspot: Creeds of Islam} choose to fast for an additional two months preceding the Holy Month of Ramadan. I’ve only ever come across men choosing to do this.  When asked why they would spend so much time choosing not to eat, they've all answered they believe they'll gain extra points when it comes to entering heaven.

In addition to the Ramadan fast, some Muslims will fast every Monday and Thursday, throughout their adult lives, but I’ve only ever come across women doing this. When asked why they fast during the week, their answer is the same as in the previous example, to get extra points when entering heaven.


Who Should not fast During Ramadan?
Everyone is expected to fast in Ramadan, but there are some people who are not allowed to fast: the old, the young and the sick. The Qur'an states for those people who are sick, or can not endure it, “There is a ransom: the feeding of a poor man.”

People who should not fast include:
1. Non-Muslims
2. Children below the age of puberty
3. The old and infirm. However they must pay compensation in the form of Fidyah [fee-dee-yah]. That is, they must give a sum of money equal to the cost of feeding one poor person, for each day they are unable to fast.
4. The sick, if fasting will cause harm. Those who are sick and able to fast must do so.
5. The mentally ill

There are three additional reasons for missing a day's fasting during Ramadan:

1. women who are menstruating or have postpartum bleeding are forbidden to fast. However they must make up the missed days later
2. Pregnant, or nursing women may stop fasting and make up the missed days later
3. Travellers who are intending to travel should not fast on that day. Again they should make up the missed day/s at a later time. The Qur'an states, “He who is ill or on a journey shall fast a similar number of days later on”



1 comment:

  1. Hello I am Sha!
    Assalam-o-Alaikum!
    I really like & love the arabic as a "Language".
    The impression I got immediately after I
    completed MA English was that I should have
    studied "Arabic".
    I have grown a strong passion and attachment
    for Arabic and the Arabs. How much it can last?
    This is what i don't know nor am much sure about
    but if your gals and guys out there help me, my
    love might become fruitful for me.
    Why do i like and love arabic and the Arabs?
    This is sort of expansive questions.
    I only know that Arabic is soft, smooth
    and melodius.
    The Arabs are loving, sincere and sobre.
    Well, what I don't know is if they are
    lovers of their language too or not.
    I aspire to someday talk fluently in arabic.
    Talk to my friends. But can i attract Arabic
    -speakers to my self by speaking their lang-
    uage is yet another thing to be experienced
    still.
    Arabic is the language of the Muslims but i do
    believe ALLAH will hear and help me even when
    i speak my mother tongue to ask him. I am
    sensitive to the degree that if i like something
    just for the sake of some good and great point
    in it and I am not answered positively.... I
    really begin to hate that thing. Well i don't
    know why should i do it but still here i am to
    do it. I like to chat, sing, speak, think, write
    and argue in Arabic. I have no intention to
    visit an Arabic speaking country as yet but
    can it be helpful enough in learning a language to
    personally visit the country where it is spoken?
    Because we have been in this country of ours for
    since our birth but still we haven't got command
    and control over the national language spoken
    here. Does it go to say that it doesn't matter
    a lot to visit a country for the solitary purpose
    of learning a language spoken there? I like the
    h sound of Arabic and also I like it for not
    having the clattering sounds of t,d etc. I
    want to have good really good arabic language
    friends. I can teach you English "only and only
    if you think you need it". I should thank you
    in advance if you think my love for Arabic and
    the Arab is something valuable.
    With best regards it is farhad (underscore)
    alishah (at) yahoo (dot) com
    my cell number is zerozeroninetwothreeonetwo
    fivezerotwozeroeighteighteight
    Wassalam-o-Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah!
    ( I shall be really anxiously waiting for
    the language friend of my dreams.
    How can i say in Arabic
    "The lover and Admirer of Arabic as a Language"
    Bubye thanks

    ReplyDelete