ISLAMIC FASTING: Ramadan

islamicposter.org.co.uk

Found this saying image on the web, pretty much sum up the rule on one of the five pillars of faith for muslim, Ramadan fasting.

Yep, 11 months have passed and muslims around the world are now counting down for the holiest period of the Islamic year.

I personally enjoy fasting and for some reasons, I always miss the month of Ramadan.

As I myself  on my learning process, I did a little research a.k.a browsing hehehe, to gain more knowledge about Ramadan fasting and happy to share what I learned with y'all here.

so what is Ramadan fasting? 

Ramadan is ninth month of the Islamic lunar Calender. Every day during this month, all Muslim around the world will spend the daylight hours in a complete fast ; abstain from food, drink and other physical needs.
Ramadan is more than just not eating and drink. Muslim use this month to re-evaluate their lives in light of Islamic guidance.essentially to clean up our lives, our thoughts, and our feelings.

For muslims, fasting is not merely physical but it is rather the total commitment of the person's body and soul to the spirit of fast. This time of the year is time for contemplation, devotion to God and self control. Ramadan is time to think about their who are less fortunate. Another goal of fasting for Ramadan is to experience hunger in sympathy for those without food: it is a way that many Muslims learn thankfulness and appreciation for what they have. Muslims are called upon to use this month to re-evaluate their lives in light of Islamic guidance.

The Arabic word for "fasting" (sawn) literally means "to refrain" and it means not only refraining food and drink but from evil action, thoughts and words. During Ramadan, every part of the body must be restrained. The tongue must be restrained from backbiting and gossip. The eyes must restrain themselves from looking at unlawful things. The hands must not touch or take anything that they does not belong to it. The ears must refrain from listening to idle talk or obsense words. The feet must refrain from going to sinful places. In such a way every part of the body observes the fast.

Most muslims do not fast because of medical benefits. Muslim are ordained to Fast during the month of Ramadan. Even so there are also physiological and psychological effects as a result of Ramadan fasting such as  lower of blood sugar, lowering of cholesterol, and lowering of the systolic blood pressure besides peace and tranquility for those who fast during the month of Ramadan. 

Many adverse effects of total fasting but Islamic fasting is different from such diet plans because in Ramadan fasting, there is no malnutrition or inadequate calorie intake. During Ramadan, everything that is permissible is taken in moderate quantities. Type of food taken during Ramadan does not any selective criteria of crash diet such those which are protein only or fruits only type diets.

In 1994 the first International Congress on "Health and Ramadan," held in Casablanca, entered 50 research papers from all over the world, from Muslim and non-Muslim researchers who have done extensive studies on the medical ethics of fasting. While improvement in many medical conditions was noted; however, in no way did fasting worsen any patients’ health or baseline medical condition.-submission.info

The Benefits of fasting during month of Ramadan are sure numerous. Many lessons Muslims can learn during Ramadan and beneficial for one's entire life if the lessons from this month of self-regulation and self-training are carried on after Ramadan. But although its has been ordained to Muslims in the Quran, Non Muslims might saw some Muslim prefer to skip it.

Well, no one else knows for sure if the person actually fasting as fasting is a special act of worship which only between humans and God.

Ramadan fast lasts 29 or 30 days. When the fast ends (the first day of the month of Shawwal) it's celebrated by a huge festival called 'Id al-Fitr (the Feast of Fast-Breaking). 'Id al-Fitr is celebrate one to three days. On this days Muslims are also encouraged on this day to forgive and forget any differences with others or animosities that may have occurred during the year.

Anyway, I heard kids play fireworks outside my house while typing this. Playing fireworks is one of tradition during Ramadan in Indo. Fun! Fun! Fun!:)

I can type more and more but I need to go now, my first nephew was born today at 1.30pm! Yippeee
He has no name yet tho. O.o His parents apparently are too confuse to choose a name. Haha.
So temporary we decide to call him Suju - you know, Super Junior  hihihi :P
I cant wait to see how he looks like so I will just leave you all with this funny story, ehehehe. 

David and Michael got lost in the desert, the were so hungry and thirsty. Suddenly, David sighted a minerat from far. "Thank God, that is a Muslim community, " he said, " But we have to pretend we are Muslims otherwise they will not give us food. When we reach there I will tell them that my name is Muhammad. You have to choose a suitable Muslim name too, " he told Michael. But Michael  insisted that no matter what, he wont change his name. So when they reach Muslim community, David told them his name is Muhammad. But Michael, true to his words, said his name is Michael. The leader of the Muslim community therefore directed his men to get food and water to Michael. He turned to David and said, " Muhammad, you know we are in Ramadan. "

Happy Ramadan. :)

source:
wikipedia
time.com
islam.about.com
islamicposter.org.co.uk
noi.org
submission.info
buzfairy.com