A Very Simple Muslim’s Guide to Ramadan and Fasting

A simple, straight-forward guide to fasting in the blessed month of Ramadan. No unnecessary details, long explanations or various different.
Table of contents

It is a chance for us to draw close to Him and re-discover the purpose for our existence. Anyone who fasts the whole of the month of Ramadan sincerely and correctly will have their previous wrongs forgiven. As the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, the months are determined by the cycles of the moon and every new moon represents a new month.

And, if the crescent is sighted in one district but not another and the two districts are in the same region, the ruling holds for both.

A Very Simple Muslim's Guide to Ramadan and Fasting

With the advancement of science in the modern era, methods for sighting and calculating the birth of the new moon have become more sophisticated, leading Muslim scholars to have different opinions on the correct way to decide when the new month has arrived. This can cause confusion for new Muslims and even for not-so-new Muslims. It is however allowed for a Muslim to follow their local mosque in these matters and in that way to consider their fasts as valid and complete. Every person who has reached the age of puberty, is of sound mind, is Muslim, is capable of fasting and who knows that the month of Ramadan has started is obliged to fast.

A Non-Muslims Guide to Ramadan

There are two types of exceptions from fasting; those who are not allowed to fast and those who have permission to not fast. The following people are not allowed to fast: Abusha rated it it was amazing Jun 30, Derrick-jamie rated it really liked it Dec 10, Big Mama J rated it really liked it May 16, Nafee rated it it was amazing Jul 08, Jacqueline Overton rated it it was amazing Jun 03, Lincoln rated it it was amazing May 30, There are no discussion topics on this book yet.

The Non-Muslim Guide to Fasting During Ramadan – Barbara Castleton – Medium

Books by Abu Hayyan. In addition to the five daily prayers, during Ramadan Muslims recite a special prayer called the Taraweeh prayer Night Prayer. The length of this prayer is usually times as long as the daily prayers. Some Muslims spend the entire night in prayer. In the last ten nights of this month, Muslims search for a special night called Laylat-al-Qadr the Night of Power. It is believed that on this night Muhammad first received the revelation of the Holy Quran. And according to the Quran, this is when God determines the course of the world for the following year.

When the fast ends the first day of the month of Shawwal it is celebrated as a "holiday" called Id-al-Fitr the Feast of Fast Breaking.

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Friends and family gather to pray in congregation. Meals are prepared and family and friends have a joyous day. From time to time, Muhammad used to go out from Makkah, where he was born and where he worked as a caravan trader, to reflect and meditate in solitude. One night, while contemplating in a cave near Makkah, he heard a voice call out, telling him to "Read! Nay, but man doth transgress all bounds,In that he looketh upon himself as self-sufficient.

Verily, to thy Lord is the return of all.

Share Your Favorite Ramadan or Eid Al-Fitr Traditions

The voice was that of the angel Gabriel, and he confirmed that Muhammad was selected for an important and challenging mission—he was to call people to monotheism and righteousness. This tradition of God-chosen prophets or messengers is believed to include such figures as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset every day. This means not consuming food and drink, including water, during the daylight hours. For married adults, it also includes refraining from marital relations during the hours of fasting i.

In the Arabic language, fasting is known as sawm.


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Muslims arise early in the morning during Ramadan to have a pre-dawn breakfast meal, known as suhoor. At the end of the day, the fast is completed by taking the iftar meal, which usually includes dates, fresh fruits, appetizers, beverages and dinner. Later in the evening, Muslims attend special nightly prayers called tarawih at their local mosque. It helps one to feel compassion for those who are less fortunate and underprivileged, since each day Muslims feel greater appreciation for what they have as a result of feeling hunger and thirst.

It allows one to build a sense of self-control and will-power, which can be beneficial throughout life in dealing with temptations and peer-pressure.

Ramadan for Dummies: 16 things non-Muslims should know about the Holy Month

Through fasting, Muslims learn to control their natural urges such as hunger and thirst, and thus are able to better resist temptations for things which are not necessary, such as drugs or other unhealthy or harmful substances and behaviors. It offers a time for Muslims to "purify" their bodies as well as their souls, by developing a greater sense of humility, spirituality and community.


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A greater sense of generosity and forgiveness is also characteristic of this time. As with other duties in Islam, fasting becomes obligatory i. After the end of Ramadan, a very festive and joyous holiday is celebrated by Muslims, known as Eid al-Fitr [eed ul fit-ur], the Festival of Breaking the Fast. On the day of the Eid, Muslims attend special congregational prayers in the morning, wearing their nicest clothes and perfumes.