The Glorious Month of Ramadan
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The holy month of Ramadan enjoys a special importance in the Islamic calendar. As the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said: "It is Allah's Own month." It is the chief of all months and the most glorious one. As we already know, 'Fasting' is one of the important pillars of Islam and it is the very month of Ramadan during which fasting has been made obligatory for all adults and sane Muslims. By fasting during Ramadan, a Muslim besides discharging an obligation imposed upon him by Allah, becomes entitled to great reward in the Hereafter. On the other hand, any lapse in the matter amounts to a great sin. Fasting is an article of worship, the knowledge about the performance or otherwise whereof rests only with Allah and the person concerned. Hence, it is Allah alone who will reward that person for it, on the Day of Judgment.
The blessings of Ramadan are not limited to fasting alone, because the performance of all sorts of worship and good deeds during this month is also a source of great Divine favor. The revelation of the Holy Qur'an commenced during this very month and it is therefore the duty of every Muslim to read and try to understand the meaning of the Holy Qur'an and thereby gain an insight into the Divine secrets enshrined therein. It brings peace and illumination to the mind and imparts purity to the soul.
Ramadan is the month of fasting, intensive prayer, sacrifice and Divine worship. Throughout this month a devout Muslim fasts during the day in the true sense of the word, that is, he had merely denies himself food and water, but as explained by the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.), exercises strict control over his tongue, eyes, ears, thoughts and deeds and does everything possible to seek the pleasure of Allah.
Devout supplications to Allah and repentance of one's sins during Ramadan are the sources of Divine blessings and mercy. Some nights, among the last ten nights of Ramadan, are called the 'Nights of Glory' (Laylatul Qadr). These are the 19th, 21st, and 23rd nights. Muslims keep awake during these nights and offer special prayers. Even among these nights, the 23rd enjoys excellence over all the others. It is accompanied by great blessings, and he usually grants the supplications made to Allah during this night.
The holy month of Ramadan, besides being the month of worship and Divine blessings, carries a historical importance as well. As already mentioned above, the revelations of the Holy Qur'an commenced in this month. The epoch-making 'Battle of Badr' and the 'Conquest of Mecca' also took place during the holy month of Ramadan.
"Ramadan", according to some traditions is one of Allah's names. This is why we can not say Ramadan without making it clear that we are talking about the month, and therefore we should always say the month of Ramadan. The Commander of the faithful Ali ibn Abi Taleb (A.S.) said: Do not say Ramadan, but say the month of Ramadan. For you do not know what Ramadan is. This same meaning was referred to by the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) in his speech during Shaaban: The month of Allah coming ....
Let us:
1. Learn Islam with ambition,
2. Observe Islam with sincerity,
3. Practice Islam with discipline (Sunnah),
4. Spread Islam with truth and kindness
People! The month of Allah (Ramadhan) has approached you with His mercy and blessings. This is the month that is the best of all months in the estimation of Allah. Its days are the best among the days; its nights are the best among the nights. Its hours are the best among the hours.
This is a month in which he has invited you. You have been, in this month, selected as the recipients of the honors of Allah, the Merciful. In this holy month, when you breathe, it has the Sawab/thawab (heavenly reward) of 'Tasbeeh' (the praise of Allah on rosary beads), and your sleep has the thawab of worship.
Your good deeds are accepted in this month. So are your invocations. Therefore, you must invoke your Lord, in right earnest, with hearts that are free from sins and evils, that Allah may bless you, observe fast, in this month, and recite the Holy Quran.
Verily! The person who may not receive the mercy and benevolence of Allah in this month must be very unfortunate having an end as bad (in the Hereafter). While fasting, remember the hunger and thirst of tomorrow in Qiyamat. Give alms to the poor and the needy. Pay respects to your elders.
Have pity on those younger than you and be kind towards your relatives and kinsmen. Guard your tongues against unworthy words, and your eyes from such scenes that are not worth seeing (forbidden) and your ears from such sounds that should not be heard by you.
Be kind to orphans so that when your children become orphans they also may be treated with kindness. Do invoke that Allah may forgive your sins. Do raise your hands at the time of Salat (Prayers), as it is the best time for asking His mercy. When we invoke at such times, we are answered by Him, when we call Him, He responds, and when we ask for anything, it is accepted by Him.
O People! You have made your conscience the slave of your desires; make it free by invoking Him for Istighfar (repentance/forgiveness). Your back is breaking under the heavy load of your sins, so prostrate before Him for long intervals and make it lighter.
Do understand fully well that Allah has promised in the name of His Majesty and Honor that He will not take to task such people who fast and offer Salat in this month and perform 'sajda' (prostration), and will guard their bodies against the Fire of Hell on the Day of Judgment.
O People! If anybody amongst you arranges for the Iftar (food for the ending of the fast) of any believer, then Allah will give him a reward as if he has set free a slave. He will forgive his minor sins.
Then the companions of Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: "But everybody amongst us does not have the means to do so?"
Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) told them: - Keep yourself away from the Fire of Hell, by inviting for 'Iftar', though it may consist of only half a date or simply with water if you have nothing else. O People! Anybody who may cultivate good manners in this month will walk over the 'Siraat' (Bridge) in 'Qiyamat', though his feet may be shaking.
Anybody who in this month may take light work from his servants (male or female), Allah will make easy his accounting on the Day of Judgment.
Anybody who does not tease others in this month, Allah will keep him safe from His wrath in Qiyamat. Anybody, who respects and treats an orphan with kindness in this month, Allah shall look at him with dignity in Qiyamat. Anybody who treats well his kinsmen, in this month, Allah will bestow His mercy on him in Qiyamat, while anybody who maltreats his kinsmen in this month, Allah will keep him away from His mercy, in Qiyamat.
Whoever offers 'Sunnat' (Recommended) prayers in this month, Allah will give him a certificate of freedom from Hell. Whosoever offers one 'Wajib' Salat in this month, for him the Angels will write the rewards of 70 such prayers, which were offered by him in any other months.
Whosoever recites repeatedly 'Salat and salam (Salawat)' on me, Allah will keep the scales of his deeds heavy, when in Qiyamat the scales of others will be tending towards lightness.
Whosoever recites in this month only one 'Ayat' (verse of the Holy Quran), he will be rewarded in a manner as if he had recited the full Holy Quran in the other months.
O People! The Gates of Paradise remain opened in this month. Do invoke that the gates may not be closed on you, while the Gates of Hell are closed. Do invoke that these gates may never be opened. During this month Shaytan (Saten) is imprisoned so ask your Lord not to let him have power over you.
The inner dimensions of fasting
Abu Hamid al-Ghazali
Translated from the Ihya' Ulom ud Din by Muhtar Holland
Three Grades
It should be known that there are three grades of Fasting: ordinary, special and extra-special.
Ordinary Fasting means abstaining from food, drink and sexual satisfaction.
Special Fasting means keeping one's ears, eyes, tongue, hands and feet -- and all other organs -- free from sin.
Extra-special Fasting means fasting of the heart from unworthy concerns and worldly thoughts, in total disregard of everything but God, Great and Glorious is He. This kind of Fast is broken by thinking of worldly matters, except for those conducive to religious ends, since these constitute provision for the Hereafter and are not of this lower world. Those versed in the spiritual life of the heart have even said that a sin is recorded against one who concerns himself all day with arrangements for breaking his Fast. Such anxiety stems from lack of trust in the bounty of God, Great and Glorious is He, and from lack of certain faith in His promised sustenance.
To this third degree belong the Prophets, the true awliya and the intimates of God. It does not lend itself to detailed examination in words, as its true nature is better revealed in action. It consists in utmost dedication to God, Great and Glorious is He, to the neglect of everything other than God, Exalted is He. It is bound up with the significance of His words: 'Say: "Allah (sent it down)": then leave them to play in their vain discussions.' [al-An'am,6:91]
Inward Requirements
As for Special Fasting, this is the kind practiced by the righteous. It means keeping all one's organs free from sin and six things are required for its accomplishment:
1. SEE NOT WHAT DISPLEASES GOD
A chaste regard, restrained from viewing anything that is blameworthy or reprehensible, or that distracts the heart and diverts it from the remembrance of God, Great and Glorious is He. Said the Prophet, on him be peace: 'The furtive glance is one of the poisoned arrows of Satan, on him be God's curse. Whoever forsakes it for fear of God will receive from Him, Great and Glorious is He, a faith the sweetness of which he will find within his heart.'
Jabir relates from Anas that God's Messenger, on him be peace, said: 'Five things break a man's Fast: lying, backbiting, gossiping, perjury and a lustful gaze.'
2. SPEAK NOT...
Guarding one's tongue from idle chatter, lying, gossiping, obscenity, rudeness, arguing and controversy; making it observe silence and occupying it with remembrance of God, Great and Glorious is He, and with recitation of Quran. This is the fasting of the tongue. Said Sufyan: 'Backbiting annuls the Fast.' Layth quotes Mujahid as saying: 'Two habits annul Fasting: backbiting and telling lies.'
The Prophet, on him be peace, said: 'Fasting is a shield; so when one of you is Fasting he should not use foul or foolish talk. If someone attacks him or insults him, let him say: "I am Fasting, I am Fasting!"'
According to Tradition: 'Two women were Fasting during the time of God's Messenger, on him be peace. They were so fatigued towards the end of the day, from hunger and thirst, that they were on the verge of collapsing. They therefore sent a message to God's Messenger, on him be peace, requesting permission to break their Fast. In response, the Prophet, on him be peace, sent them a bowl and said: "Tell them to vomit into it what they have eaten." One of them vomited and half filled the bowl with fresh blood and tender meat, while the other brought up the same so that they filled it between them. The onlookers were astonished. Then the Prophet, on him be peace, said: "These two women have been Fasting from what God made lawful to them, and have broken their Fast on what God, Exalted is He, made unlawful to them. They sat together and indulged in backbiting, and here is the flesh of the people they maligned!"'
3. HEAR NOT...
Closing one's ears to everything reprehensible; for everything unlawful to utter is likewise unlawful to listen to. That is why God, Great and Glorious is He, equated the eavesdropper with the profiteer, in His words, Exalted is He:
'Listeners to falsehood, consumers of illicit gain.' [al-Ma'idah, 5:42]
God, Great and Glorious is He, also said:
'Why do their rabbis and priests not forbid them to utter sin and consume unlawful profit?' [al-Ma'idah, 5:63]
Silence in the face of backbiting is therefore unlawful. God, Exalted is He, said: 'You are then just like them.' [al-Nisa, 4:140] That is why the Prophet, on him be peace, said: 'The backbiter and his listener are copartners in sin.'
4. DO NOT...
Keeping all other limbs and organs away from sin: the hands and feet from reprehensible deeds, and the stomach from questionable food at the time for breaking Fast. It is meaningless to Fast -- to abstain from lawful food - only to break one's Fast on what is unlawful. A man who Fast like this may be compared to one who builds a castle but demolishes a city. Lawful food injurious in quantity not in quality, so Fasting is to reduce the former. A person might well give up excessive use of medicine, from fear of ill effects, but he would be a fool to switch to taking poison. The unlawful is a poison deadly to religion, while the lawful is a medicine, beneficial in small doses but harmful in excess. The object of Fasting is to induce moderation. Said the Prophet, on him be peace: 'How many of those who Fast get nothing from it but hunger and thirst!' This has been taken to mean those who break their Fast on unlawful food. Some say it refers to those who abstain from lawful food, but break their Fast on human flesh through backbiting, which is unlawful. Others consider it an allusion to those who do not guard their organs from sin.
5. AVOID OVEREATING
Not to over-indulge in lawful food at the time of breaking Fast, to the point of stuffing one's belly. There is no receptacle more odious to God, Great and Glorious is He, than a belly stuffed full with lawful food. Of what use is the Fast as a means of conquering God's enemy and abating appetite, if at the time of breaking it one not only makes up for all one has missed during the daytime, but perhaps also indulges in a variety of extra foods? It has even become the custom to stock up for Ramadan with all kinds of foodstuffs, so that more is consumed during that time than in the course of several other months put together. It is well known that the object of Fasting is to experience hunger and to check desire, in order to reinforce the soul in piety. If the stomach is starved from early morning till evening, so that its appetite is aroused and its craving intensified, and it is then offered delicacies and allowed to eat its fill, its taste for pleasure is increased and its force exaggerated; passions are activated which would have lain dormant under normal conditions.
The spirit and secret nature of Fasting is to weaken the forces which are Satan's means of leading us back to evil. It is therefore essential to cut down one's intake to what one would consume on a normal night, when not Fasting. No benefit is derived from the Fast if one consumes as much as one would usually take during the day and night combined. Moreover, one of the properties consists in taking little sleep during the daytime, so that one feels the hunger and thirst and becomes conscious of the weakening of one's powers, with the consequent purification of the heart.
One should let a certain degree of weakness carry over into the night, making it easier to perform the night Prayers (tahajjud) and to recite the praises (awrad). It may then be that Satan will not hover around one's heart, and that one will behold the Kingdom of Heaven. The Night of Destiny represents the night on which something of this Kingdom is revealed. This is what is meant by the words of God, Exalted is He:
'We surely revealed it on the Night of Power.' [al-Qadr, 97:1]
Anyone who puts a bag of food between his heart and his breast becomes blind to this revelation. Nor is keeping the stomach empty sufficient to remove the veil, unless one also empties the mind of everything but God, Great and Glorious is He. That is the entire matter, and the starting point of it all is cutting down on food.
6. LOOK TO GOD WITH FEAR AND HOPE
After the Fast has been broken, the heart should swing like a pendulum between fear and hope. For one does not know if one's Fast will be accepted, so that one will find favor with God, or whether it will be rejected, leaving one among those He abhors. This is how one should be at the end of any act of worship one performs.
It is related of al-Hasan ibn Abil Hasan al-Basri that he once passed by a group of people who were laughing merrily. He said: 'God, Great and Glorious is He, has made the month of Ramadan a racecourse, on which His creatures compete in His worship. Some have come in first and won, while others have lagged behind and lost. It is absolutely amazing to find anybody laughing and playing about on the day when success attends the victors, and failure the wasters. By God, if the veil were lifted off, the doer of good would surely be preoccupied with his good works and the evildoer with his evil deeds.' In too full of joy to indulge in idle sport, while for one who has suffered rejection laughter will be precluded by remorse.
Of al-Ahnaf ibn Qays it is reported that he was once told: 'You are an aged elder; Fasting would enfeeble you.' But he replied: 'By this I am making ready for a long journey, Obedience to God, Glorified is He, is easier to endure than His punishment.'
Such are the inwardly significant meanings of Fasting.
Tradition from the Prophet (S) and the Imams(AS)t
Hadith No. 1
Why the name Ramadhan?
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم :
{إنَّما سُمِّی رَمَضَانُ لأنَّهُ یُرَمْضُ الذُّنوبُ}
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) said:
Surely, the month of Ramadhan has been named so because it scorches away the sins.
Kanz ai-'Ummal, H.: 23688
Hadith No. 2
The Reverence of the Month of Ramadhan.
قال علی عليه السلام :
{لا تَقُولُوا رَمَضَانَ ولَكِنْ قُولُوا شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ فإنَّكُمْ لا تَدْرُونَ مَا رَمَضَانُ}
Imam Ali (peace be upon him) said:
Do not say Ramadhan rather say month of Ramadhan, for surely you know not what (really) Ramadhan is.
AI-Kafi, Vol.: 4, Pg.: 69
Hadith No. 3
The Name of God
قال الصادق عليه السلام :
{لا تَقُولُوا هَذَا رَمَضَانُ ولا ذَهَبَ رَمَضَانُ ولا جَاءَ رَمَضَانُ فَإنَّ رمَضَانَ إسْمٌ مِنْ أسْمَاءِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لا یَحِیءُ ولا یَذْهَبُ و إنَّمَا یَحِیءُ وَ یَذْهَبُ الزَّائِلُ ولَكِنْ قُولُوا شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ}
Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said:
Say not, "This is Ramadhan" and "Ramadhan has departed" and "Ramadhan has arrived" for surely, Ramadhan is one of the names of Allah, The Mighty the Glorious, who neither arrives nor departs.
Surely, arrives and departs that, which is ephemeral. Instead say: "The month of Ramadhan".
AI-Kafi, Vol.: 4, Pg.: 70
Hadith No. 4
The month of Revelation of the Qur’an
قال الرضا عليه السلام :
{فَإنْ قَالَ فَلِمَ جُعِلَ الصَّوْمُ فِی شَهْر رَمَضَانَ خَاصَّةً دوُن سَائِرَ الشُّهُورِ قِیْل لأنَّ شَهْرَ رَمَضَانُ هُو الشَّهْرُ الَّذِی أُنْزَلَ اللهُ تَعالى فِيهِ القُرْآنَ}
Imam Redha (peace be upon him) has said:
If he asks, "Why is it that the fasts were made obligatory extensively in the month of Ramadhan and not in the other months?" it should be said, "(this is) because the month of Ramadhan is the month in which Allah, The Exalted, had revealed the Qur’an."
Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.: 18, Pg.: 190
Hadith No. 5
The Spring of the Holy Our'an
قال الباقر عليه السلام :
{لِكُلِّ شَیْءٍ رَبِيعٌ وَ رَبِيعُ الْقُرْآنِ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ}
Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) said:
For every thing there is a (period of) spring and the spring of Qur’an is the month of Ramadhan.
Wasail aI-Shia'h, Vol.: 10, Pg.: 302
Hadith No. 6
The Reward for Recitation of the Qur’an
قال الرضا عليه السلام :
{مَنْ قَرَأَ فِی شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ آيةً مِنْ كِتَابِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ كَانَ كَمَنْ خَتَمَ القُرْآنَ فِی غَیْرِهِ مِنَ الشُّهُورِ}
Imam Redha (peace be upon him) has said:
One, who recites one verse from the Book of Allah, The Mighty The Glorious, in the month of Ramadhan, is like one, who has recited the entire Qur’an in the other months.
Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.: 93, Pg.: 344
Hadith No. 7
The Reward of the Month of Ramadhan
سئل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم :
{یَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ثَوابُ رَجَبٍ أبْلَغُ أمْ ثَوابُ شَهْر رَمَضَانَ
فقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (ص) لَیْسَ عَلَى ثَوَابِ رَمَضَانَ قِياس}ٌ
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) was asked:
0' Prophet of Allah! Which, of the two months, possesses a greater reward, Rajab or the month of Ramadhan?
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) replied:
Nothing can be compared to the month of Ramadhan in terms of reward.
Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.: 97, Pg.: 49
Hadith No. 8
The Month of God
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم :
{شَعْبَانُ شَهْرِی وشَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرُ اللهِ تَعالى وَهُوَ رَبِیْعُ الفُقَرَاءِ}
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) said:
Sha'ban is my month and the month of Ramadhan is the month of Allah, The Exalted, and it is the springtime for the poor.
Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.: 97, Pg.: 68
Hadith No. 9
The Chosen Month
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم :
{إنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أخْتَارَ مِنَ الشُّهُور شَهْرَ رَجَبٍ وشَعْبَانَ وشَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ}
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) said:
Surely, Allah, The Mighty The Glorious, has chosen from amongst the months (and granted preference to), the months of Rajab, Sha'ban and the month of Ramadhan.
Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.: 27, Pg.: 53.
Hadith No. 10
The Great Month
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم :
{إنَّ شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرٌ عَظِيمٌ یُضَاعِفُ اللهُ فِيهِ الحَسَنَاتِ ویَمْحُو فِيهِ السَّیِّئاتِ وَیَرْفَعُ الدَّرَجَاتِ}
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) said:
Surely, the month of Ramadhan is a great month. Allah, multiplies in it the good deeds, erases in it the sins and elevates in it the ranks.
Wasail aI-Shia'h, Vol.: 10, Pg.: 312
Hadith No.11
The Chief of the Months
قال علی عليه السلام :
{أَتَاكُمْ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ وَهُوَ سَیِّدُ الشُّهُورِ وَ أَوَّلُ السَّنَةِ}
Imam Ali (peace be upon him) said:
The month of Ramadhan has approached you. It is the chief of the months and the beginning of the year.
Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.: 42, Pg.: 193
Hadith No. 12
The Beginning of the Year
قال الصادق عليه السلام :
إذا سَلِمَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ سَلِمَتِ السَّنَةُ وَرَأسُ السَّنَةِ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ}
Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said:
If, the month of Ramadhan remains safe and sound (with respect to sins), the (entire) year shall remain so (too); and the month of Ramadhan is the beginning of the year.
Wasail aI-Shia'h Vol.: 10, Pg.: 311.
Hadith No. 13
The Month of Mercy
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم :
{وَهُوَ شَهْرٌ أوَّلُهُ رَحْمَةٌ وأوْسَطُهُ مَغْفِرَةٌ وآخِرَهُ عِتْقٌ مِنَ النَّار}
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) has said:
It (Ramadhan) is the month, whose beginning is mercy, its middle, forgiveness and its end, emancipation from the fire (of helI) Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.: 93, Pg.: 342
Hadith No. 14
The Excellence of the Month of Ramadhan
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم :
{أیُّهَا النَّاسُ إنَّهُ قدْ أقْبَلَ إلَیْكُمْ شَهْرُ الله شَهْرٌ هُوَ عِنْدَ اللهِ أفْضَلُ الشُّهُور وَ أیَّامُهُ أفْضَلُ الأیَّام وَ لَیَالَيهِ أفْضَلُ اللَّيالِی وَسَاعَاتُهُ أفْضَلُ السَّاعَاتِ}
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) said:
0' People! Surely, the month of God has approached you. The month, which, in the eyes of Allah, is the most virtuous of the months: Its days are the best of the days and its nights, the best of the nights and its moments, the best of the moments.
Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.: 96, Pg.: 356
Hadith No. 15
The Best of the Months
قال الصادق عليه السلام :
{فَغُرَّةُ الشُّهُور شَهْرُ اللهِ وهُوَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ وقَلْبُ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ لَیْلَةُ الْقَدْر}
Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said:
The best of the months is the month of God - the month of Ramadhan - and the heart of the month of Ramadhan is the Night of Qadr (Lallatul Qadr)
Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.: 93, Pg.: 386
Hadith No. 16
The Night of Qadr
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم :
{یَا أیُّها النَّاسُ قَدْ أظَلَّكُمْ شَهْرٌ عَظِيمٌ مُبَارَكٌ شَهْرٌ فِيهِ لَیْلَةُ الْعَمَلُ فِيهَا خَیْرٌ مَنْ ألْفِ شَهْر}
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) said:
0' People! Surely, a great and blessed month has enveloped you. A month, in which there is a night; deeds in which are better than that of a thousand months.
Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.: 96, Pg.: 342.
Hadith No. 17
The Gift of Allah's Month
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم :
{أنْفَاسَكُمُ فِيهِ تَسْبِيحٌ وَنَوْمَكُمْ فِيهِ عِبَادَةٌ}
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) said:
Your breath in it is glorification (of Allah) and your sleep in it is worship (of Allah).
Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.: 96, Pg.: 356.
Hadith No. 18
The Fasts of the Month of Ramadhan
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم :
{شَهْرُ رَمَضَان شَهْرٌ فَرَضَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَیْكُمْ صِیَامَهُ فَمَنْ صَامَهُ إيمَاناً واحْتِسَاباً خَرَجَ مِنْ ذُنُوبِهِ كَیَوْم وَ لَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ}
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) said:
The month of Ramadhan is the month whose fasts Allah, The Mighty
The Glorious, has made obligatory upon you. So one, who fasts in this month in a state of belief and with the intention of recompense, shall become free of his sins just as he was on the day when his mother gave him birth.
Tahdheeb al-Ahkam, Vol.: 4, Pg.: 152.
Hadith No. 19
The Contentment of Allah
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم :
{مَنْ صَامَ شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ فَاجْتَنَبَ فِيهِ الْحَرَامَ والْبُهْتَانَ رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُ وَ أوْجَبَ لَهُ الْجِنانَ}
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) said:
One, who fasts in the month of Ramadhan and refrains from the forbidden things and calumny, Allah shall be pleased with him and make paradise mandatory for him.
Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.: 93, Pg.: 343.
Hadith No. 20
Paradise covets one who fasts
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم :
{إنَّ الْجَنَّةَ مُشْتَاقَةٌ إلى أرْبَعَةِ نَفَر إلى مُطْعِمٍ الجَيعانِ وَحَافِظِ اللِّسَانِ وَ تَالِی الْقُرآنِ وَ صَائِم شَهْر رَمَضَانَ}
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) said:
The paradise is desirous for four persons:
1. One, who feeds the hungry.
2. One, who guards the tongue.
3. One, who recites the Quran.
4. One, who fasts the month of Ramadhan.
Mustadrak al-Wasail, Vol.: 7, Pg.: 400
Hadith No. 21
The Burning away of Sins
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم :
{وإنَّما سُمِّیَ رَمَضَانَ لأنَّهُ تُرْمَضُ فِيهِ الذُّنُوبُ أیْ تُحْرَقٌ}
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) has said:
Surely, the month of Ramadhan has been named so because the sins get burnt away in it.
Mustadrak al-Wasail, Vol.: 7, Pg.: 484.
Hadith No. 22
The Month of Spiritual Striving
قال الصادق عليه السلام :
{إذا دَخَلَ شَهْرٌ رَمَضَانَ فَاجْهَدُوا أنْفُسَكُمْ فإنَّ فِيهِ تُقَسَّمُ الأرْزَاقٌ وَ تٌكْتَبٌ الآجَالٌ وفِيهِ یُكْتَبٌ وَفْدٌ اللهِ الَّذِينَ یَفِدٌونَ إلیْهِ وفِيهِ لَیْلَةُ الْعَمَلٌ فِهَا خَیْرٌ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ فِی ألفِ شَهْر}
In his testament to his sons, Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said:
When the month of Ramadhan arrives, exert yourselves, for surely it is in this month that livelihood is distributed, the hour of death, ordained and those arriving for Hajj, decreed. In it is a night, deeds in which are better than deeds in a thousand months.
AI-Kafi, Vol.: 4, Pg.: 66
Hadith No. 23
The Month of Good Deeds
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم :
{إنَّ شَهْرَكُمْ هَذَا لَیْسَ كَالشٌّهُور إنَّهُ إذَا أقْبَلَ إلَیْكُمْ أقْبَلَ بالْبَرَكَةِ وَ الرَّحْمَةِ وإذَا أدْبَرَ عَنْكُمْ أدْبَرَ بِغُفْرَانِ الذُّنُوبِ هَذَا شَهْرُ الْحَسَنَاتُ فِيهِ مُضَاعَفَةٌ وأعْمَالُ الْخَیْر فِيهِ مَقْبُولَةٌ}
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) said:
This month of yours (Ramadhan) is unlike the other months.
Surely, when it approaches you, it does so with blessings and mercy and when it turns away from you, it does so with forgiveness of sins. This is a month in which, good deeds are multiplied and acts of goodness accepted.
Wasail aI-Shia'h, Vol.: 10, Pg.: 312
Hadith No. 24
The Blessed Month
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم :
{قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرٌ مُبَارَكٌ شَهْرٌ فَرَضَ اللهُ عَلَیْكُمْ صِیَامَهُ تُفْتَحُ فِيهِ أبْوَابُ الْجِنَانِ وَ تُغَلُّ فِيهِ الشَّیَاطِينُ فِيهِ لَیْلَةُ الْقَدْر خَیْرٌ مِنْ ألْفِ شَهْر}
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) has said:
Surely, the month of Ramadhan, the blessed month, has come to you. The month, whose fasts Allah has made obligatory upon you.
In it, the doors of Paradise are opened up and the Satans fettered, and in it is the Night of Qadr, which is more virtuous than a thousand months.
Tahdheeb aI-Ahkam, Vol.: 4, Pg.: 152
Hadith No. 25
The Month of Emancipation
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم :
{وَ سُمِّیَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرَ الْعِتْقِ لأنَّ للهِ فِيهِ كُلَّ یَوْمٍ وَ لَیْلَةٍ سِتْمَائَةِ عَتِيقٍ وفِی آخِرهِ مِثْل مَا أعْتَقَ فِيمَا مَضَى}
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) said:
The month of Ramadhan is called the month of Emancipation, because on every day and in every night of it, Allah emancipates six hundred people (from the fire of hell), and on the last day of the month, (those emancipated) are equivalent to all those whom He has emancipated on all the previous days.
Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.: 97, Pg.: 77
Hadith No. 26
The Month of Ramadhan and Seeking Forgiveness
قال أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام :
{عَلَیْكُمْ فی شَهْر رَمَضَانَ بِكَثْرَةِ الإسْتِغْفَار والدُّعَاءِ فأمَّا الدُّعَاءُ فَیَدْفَعُ بِهِ عَنْكُمْ الْبَلاءُ وأمَّا الإسْتِغْفَارُ فَیَمْحَى ذُنُوبَكُمْ}
Imam Ali (peace be upon him) said:
It is incumbent upon you to seek forgiveness and supplicate excessively, in the month of Ramadhan. As for the supplication, by means of it the calamities are warded off from you, and as for the seeking of forgiveness, it erases away your sins.
AI-Kafi, Vol.: 4, Pg.: 88.
Hadith No. 27
The Liberation from Hell
قال الصادق عليه السلام :
{إنَّ للهِ عَزَّ وّ جلَّ فی كُلِّ لَیْلَةٍ مِنْ شَهْر رَمَضَان عُتَقَاءَ و طُلَقَاءَ من النَّار إلاَّ مَنْ أفْطَرَ على مُسْكِر}
Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said:
Surely, in every night of the month of Ramadhan, there are those whom Allah, The Mighty The Glorious, liberates from the fire (of hell), except those, who break their fasts by means of intoxicants (for they are not of the liberated ones).
AI-Kafi, Vol.: 4, Pg.: 68.
Hadith No. 28
The Opening of the Doors of the Heavens
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم :
{إن أبْوابَ السَّماءِ تُفْتَحُ فی أوَّل لَیْلَةٍ مِنْ شَهْر رَمَضَان ولا تُغْلَقُ إلى آخر لَیْلَةٍ منهُ}
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) said:
The doors of the heavens are opened Li on the first night of the month of Ramadhan and are not closed till the last night of it.
Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.: 96, Pg.: 344.
Hadith No. 29
The Opening of the Doors of Paradise
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم :
{تُغْلَقُ فِيهِ أبْوَاب النيران وَتُفْتَحُ فِيهِ أبْوَابُ الْجِنَانِ}
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) said:
In it (the month of Ramadhan) the doors of Hell are closed and thedoors of Paradise, opened.
Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.: 96, Pg.: 363.
Hadith No. 30
The Month of Ramadhan and Itekaaf
قال الصادق عليه السلام :
{اعْتَكَفَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (ص) فی شَهْر رَمَضَانَ فی الْعَشْر الأوَّلِ ثُمَّ اعْتَكَفَ فی الثَّانِيةِ فی الْعَشْر الْوُسْطَى ثُمَّ اعْتَكَفَ فی الثَّالِثَةِ فی الْعَشْر الأوَاخِر ثُمَّ لَمْ یَزَلْ یَعْتَكِفُ فی الْعَشْر الأواخِر}
Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said:
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny), initially, observed the itekaaf (spiritual retreat) during the first ten days of the month of Ramadhan. Later, he observed it during the middle ten days of the holy month and finally, he observed it during the last 10 days of the month and then continued to do so in the last ten days (for as long as he was alive).
Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.: 16, Pg.: 274.
Hadith No. 31
The Month of Ramadhan and the Divine Books
قال الصادق عليه السلام :
{نَزَلَتْ التَّوْرَاةُ فی سِتٍّ مَضَتْ مِنْ شَهْر رَمَضَانَ وَنَزَلَ الإنْجِيلُ فی إثْنَتَیْ عَشْرَةَ لَیْلَةً مَضَتْ من شَهْر رَمَضَانَ ونَزَلَ الزَّبُورُ فی لَیْلَةِ ثَمَانَیَ عَشَرَةَ مَضَتْ مَنْ شَهْر رَمَضَانَ وَنَزَلَ القُرْآنْ فی لَیْلَةِ الْقَدْر}
Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said:
The Torah was revealed on the sixth day of the month of Ramadhan, the Bible, on the twelfth night of the month, the Psalms on the eighteenth night of the month and the Qur’an on the Night of Qadr.
AI-Kafi, Vol.: 4, Pg.: 157
Hadith No. 32
Eclipses during the Holy Month of Ramadhan
قال الصادق عليه السلام :
{تَنْكَسِفُ الشَّمْسُ لِخَمْسَ مَضَیْنَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ قَبْلَ قِیَامِ القَائِمِ (عج) }
Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said:
The sun shall be eclipsed, on the fifth day of the month of Ramadhan, before the reappearance of the Qaim (May Allah hasten his reappearance).
Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.: 52, Pg.: 207.
Hadith No. 33
The Best Deed of the Month of Ramadhan
فی خُطْبَةِ النَّبی ص فی فَضْلِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَان......
قال علی عليه السلام :
{فَقُمْتُ فَقُلْتُ یَا رَسُولَ اللهِ مَا أفْضَلُ الأعْمَالِ فی هذا الشَّهْرِ فَقَالَ یَا أبا الحَسَنِ أفْضَلُ الأعْمَالِ فِی هَذَا الشَّهْرِ الوَرَعُ عَنْ مَحَارِمِ اللهِ عَزّض وَ جَلَّ}
During the course of a sermon of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) upon the virtues of the month of Ramadhan.
Imam Ali (peace be upon him) says:
I stood up and said: 0' Prophet of Allah! What is the best deed for this month?
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) replied:
0' Abu al-Hasan! The best deed for thL5 month is abstinence from that which is forbidden by Allah, The Mighty The Glorious.
Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.: 42, Pg.: 190.
Hadith No. 34
The Battles of the Month of Ramadhan
قال الرضال عليه السلام :
{أنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ (ص) سَافَرَ إلى بَدْرٍ فِی شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وافْتَتَحَ مَكَّةَ فی شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ}
Imam Redha (peace be upon him) said:
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) set off for (the battle of) Badr in the month of Ramadhan and achieved the conquest of Mecca in the month of Ramadhan (too).
Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.: 21, Pg.: 116.
Hadith No. 35
The Month of Ramadhan and Faith
وقال الصادق عليه السلام :
{مَنْ أفْطَرَ یَوْماً مِنْ شَهْر رَمَضَانَ خَرَجَ رُوحُ الإيمَانِ مِنْهُ}
Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said:
One, who does not fast for a day in the month of Ramadhan, the `Soul of Faith' departs from him.
Wasail aI-Shia'h, Vol.: 10, Pg.: 251.
Hadith No. 36
The Month of Ramadhan and the Satans
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم :
{قَدْ وَكَّلَ اللهُ لِكلِّ شَیْطَان مَرِيدٍ سَبْعَةً مِنْ ملائِكَتِهِ فَلَیْسَ لِمَحْلُولٍ حَتَّى یَنْقَضِی شَهْرُكُمُ هَذَا}
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) said:
Surely, over every recalcitrant Satan, Allah has appointed seven angels (to fetter hit), and he shall not be released till this month of yours (month of Ramadhan) passes away.
Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.: 96, Pg.: 372.
Hadith No. 37
The Losers of the Month of Ramadhan
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم :
{مَنْ أدْرَكَ شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ فَلَمْ یُغْفَرْ لَهُ فأبْعَدَهُ اللهُ}
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) said:
One who perceives the month of Ramadhan and (does not strive in it and hence) is not forgiven, Allah distances him from Himself
Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.: 74, Pg.: 74.
Hadith No. 38
Imam Zayn al-Abidin (peace be upon him) and the Month of Ramadhan
قال الصادق عليه السلام :
{كَانَ عَلیُّ بْنُ الحُسَیْنِ (ع) إذا كَانَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ لَمْ یَتَكَلَّمْ إلا بالدُّعَاءِ وَ التَّسْبِيحِ والإسْتِغْفار وَ التَّكْبِير}
Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said:
With the advent of the month of Ramadhan, Imam Au Ibn al-Husain (peace be upon them) would cease to speak out anything except dua, tasbeeh (glorification of Allah), isteghfar (seeking forgiveness) and takbeer (saying `AllahuAkbar).
AI-Kafi, Vol.: 4, Pg.: 88.
Hadith No. 39
The Superiority of the Fridays of the Month of Ramadhan
قال الباقر عليه السلام :
{إنَّ لِجُمَعِ شَهْر رَمَضَانَ لَفَضْلاً عَلَى سَائِر الشُّهُورِ كَفَضْلِ رَسُولِ اللهِ (ص) عَلَى سَائِر الرُّسُل}
Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) has said:
Surely, the Fridays of the month of Ramadhan possess an excellence over the Fridays of the other months, just as the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) possesses an excellence over the other prophets.
Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.: 96, Pg.: 376.
Hadith No. 40
Farewell to the Month of Ramadhan
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم :
{اللَّهُمَّ لا تَجْعَلْهُ آخِرَ الْعَهْدِ مِنْ صِیَامِی لِشَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَإنْ جَعَلْتَهُ فَاجْعَلْنِی مَرْحُوماً وَلا تَجْعَلْنِی مَحْرُوماً}
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) prayed:
0' God! Ordain not this month of Ramadhan to be the last one for my fasts. But should you ordain it to be so, then make me blessed and leave me not, deprived (of Your mercy).
Studies On Islamic Fasting
(A medical approach)
Dr. Soliman, from the University Hospital, Amman, Jordan (ref. 8) has reported that during the month of Ramadan 1404 AH (June-July, 1984 AD) healthy Muslim volunteers; 42 males and 26 females, ranging in age from 15-64 and 16-28 years respectively were studied.
They were weighed and their blood levels of cortisol, testosterone, Na, K, urea, glucose, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides (TG) and serum osmolality were measured at the beginning and at the end of Ramadan.
There was significant loss of weight in males form a mean of 73.8 +- 6.2 kg 72.0+- 7.1 kg (P less than 0.01) and in females from 55.2 +- 4.8 to 54.6 +- 4.2 kg (P less than 0.05).
Blood glucose levels rose in males from 77.7 +- 23.6 mg/dl to 90.2 mg/dl (P less than 0.05) and in females from 76.0 +- 7 mg/dl to 84.5 +- I 1.1 mg/dl (P less than 0.002).
All other parameters did not show significant changes.
Dr. F. Azizi and his associates (ref.9) from the University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran has reported the following.
Serum levels of glucose, bilirubin, calcium, phosphorous, protein, albumin, FSH, LH, testosterone, prolactin, TSH, TI, TI, and T uptake, as well as prolactin and TSH responses to TRH were evaluated in group of nine healthy men before and on the 1Oth, 20th and 29th days of Ramadan.
Mean body weight decreased from 65.4 +- 9.1 to 61.6 +- 9.0 kg at 29th day.
Serum glucose decreased from 82 +- 4 mg/dl on the 10th day, and increased thereafter (76 +- 3 and 84 +- 5 on the 20th and 29th days of fasting respectively).
Serum bilirubin increased from 0.56 +- 0.17 to 1.43 +- 52 mg/dl on the 10th day, and decreased thereafter (I. I.+- 0.4 on the 20th and 29th days.)
All Changes returned to basal values four weeks after fasting.
There were no significant changes in serum levels of Ca, P, protein, albumin, and any of measured hormones. Prolactin and TSH responses to TRH were also unaltered.
He concluded that:
(1) intermittent abstinence from food and drink for 17 hours a day for 29 days does not alter male reproductive hormones, hypothalainic-pituitary-thyroid axis or peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormones and
(2) physicians caring for Muslims should be aware of changes of glucose and bilirubin during Ramadan.
Therefore it is concluded from the above two studies that Islamic fasting does not cause any adverse medical effect and may have some beneficial effect on weight and lipid metabolism.
Why Islamic Fasting Is Different Than Other Types of Fasting (ref. 7)
The Islamic fast, is different from the above "Diet Plans". It has beneficial features of both plans. Its unique medical benefits are due to the following factors :
I . As compared to other diet plans, in fasting during Ramadan, there is no malnutrition or inadequate calorie intake since there is no restriction on the type or amount of food intake during Iftaar or Sahar. This was confirmed by M.M.Hussaini (ref. 6) during Ramadan 1974 when he conducted dietary analysis of Muslim students at the University of North Dakota State University at Fargo. He concluded that calorie intake of Muslim students during fasting was at two thirds of NCR- RDA.
2. Fasting, in Ramadan is voluntarily undertaken. It is not a prescribed imposition from a physician. In the hypothalamus part of the brain there is a center called "lipostat" which controls the body mass. When severe and rapid weight loss is achieved by starvation diet, the center does not recognize this as normal and, therefore re-programs itself to cause weight gain rapidly once the person goes off the starvation diet. So the only effective way of losing weight is slow, self-controlled, and gradual weight loss by modifying our behavior, and the attitude about eating while eliminating excess food. Ramadan is a month of self-regulation and self-training if terms of food intake thereby causing hopefully, a permanent change in lipostat reading.
3. In Islamic fasting, we are not subjected to a diet of selective food only (i.e. protein only, fruits only etc). An carry breakfast, before dawn is taken and then at sunset fast is broken with something sweet i.e. dates, fruits, juices to warrant any hypoglycemia followed by a regular dinner later on.
4. Additional prayers are prescribed after the dinner, which helps metabolize the food. Using a calorie counter, I counted the amount of calories burnt during extra prayer called Traveeh. It amounted to 200 calories. Islamic prayer called Salat uses all the muscles and joints and can be placed in the category of a mild exercise in terms of caloric out put.
5. Ramadan fasting is actually an exercise in self discipline. For those who are a chain smoker, or nibble food constantly, or drink coffee every hour, it is a good way to break the habit, hoping that the effect will continue after the month is over.
6. Psychological effect of Ramadan fasting are also well observed by the description of people who fast. They describe a feeling of inner peace and tranquility. The prophet has advised them "If one slanders you or aggresses against you, tell them I am fasting". Thus personal hostility during the month is minimal. Crime rate in muslim countries fall during this month.
It is my experience that within the first few days of Ramadan, I begin to feel better even before losing, a singIe pound. I work more and pray more; physical stamina and mental alertness improve. As I have my own lab in the office, I usually check my chemistry, that is, blood glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride before the commencement of Ramadan and at its end. I note marked improvement at the end. As I am not overweight, thank God, weight loss is minimal. The few pounds I lose, I regain soon after. Fasting in Raniadan will be a great blessing for the overweight whether with or without mild diabetes (type II). It benefits those also who are given to smoking or nibbling. They can rid themselves of these addictions in this month.
Fasting For Medical Patients: Suggested Guideline (ref. 10)
As mentioned earlier, patients are exempt from fasting. But some, for whatever reasons, do decide to observe fasting. For physicians treating Muslim patients, the following guidelines are suggested.
a. Diabetic Patients:
Diabetics who are controlled by diet alone can fast and hopefully with weight reduction, their diabetes may even be cured or at least improved. Diabetics who are taking oral hypoglycemia agents like Orinase along with the diet should exercise extreme caution if they decide to fast. They should reduce their dose to one-third, and take the drug not in the morning, but with Iftar in the evening. If they develop low blood sugar symptoms in the day time, they should break the fast immediately. Diabetics taking insulin should not fast. If they do, at their own risk, they should do so under close supervision and make drastic changes in the insulin dose. For example, eliminate regular insulin altogether and take only NPH in divided doses after Iftar or before Sahar. Diabetics, if they fast, should still take a diabetic diet during Iftar, Sahar and dinner. The sweet snacks common in Ramadan are not good for their disease. they should check their blood sugar before breakfast and after ending their fast.
b. Hypertensive or Cardiac Patients:
Those who have mild to moderate high blood pressure along with being overweight should be encouraged to fast, since fasting may help to lower their blood pressure. They should see their physician to adjust medicines. for example, the dose of water pill (diuretic) should be reduced for fear of dehydration and long acting agents like Inderal LA or Tenormin can be given once a day before Sahar. Those with severe hypertension or heart diseases should not fast at all.
c. Those with Migraine Headache:
Even in tension headache, dehydration, or low blood sugar will aggravate the symptoms, but in migraine during fasting, there is an increase in blood free fatty acids, which will directly affect the severity or precipitation of migraine through release of catecholamines. Patients with migraines are advised not to fast.
d. Pregnant Women (Normal Pregnancy):
This is not an easy situation. Pregnancy is not a medical illness, therefore, the same exemption does not apply. There is no mention of such exemption in Quran. However, the Prophet said the pregnant and nursing women do not fast. This is in line with God not wanting anyone, even a small fetus, to suffer. There is no way of knowing, the damage to the unborn child until the delivery, and that might be too late. In my humble opinion, during the first and third trimester (three months) women should not fast. If however, Ramadan happens to come during the second trimester (4th-6th months) of pregnancy, a women may elect to fast provided that (1) her own health is good, and (2) it is done with the permission of her obstetrician and under close supervision. The possible damage to the fetus may not be from malnutrition provided the Iftar and Sahar are adequate, but from dehydration, from prolonged (10-14 hours) abstinence from water.
Therefore it is recommended that Muslim patients if they do fast. do so under medical supervision.
References:
1. Bistrian,B.R.,"Semi-starvation Diet Recent Development", Diabetic Care, November 1978.
2. Blackbum, G.L., et el, "Metabolic Changes On PSMF diet" diabetes, June 1976.
3. Cott, A., "Fasting Is A Way Of Life", New York: Bantam Books, 1977.
4. Hirsch, Jules, "Hypothalmic Control Of Appetite" Hospital Practices, February 1984.
5. Khurane, R.C., "Modified Ketogenic Diet For Obesity" , Cancer Monthly Digest, July 1973.
6. Hussaini, N.M., Joumal of Islamic Medical Association, October 1982.
7. Athar, S., "Therapeutic Benefits Of Ramadan Fasting ", Islamic Horizon May 1984.
8. Soliman, N., "Effects Of Fasting During Ramadan", Journal of Islamic Medical Association, November 1987.
9. F. Azizi et el, "Evaluation of Certain Hormones And Blood Constituents During Islamic Fasting Month", Journal of Islamic Medical Association, Nov. 1987.
10. Athar, S., "Fasting For Medical Patients - Suggested Guide-line" Islamic Horizon, May 1985
Ramadhan Historical Calendar
2nd Ramadhan
The occupation of Mecca by the prophet in the year 10H
7th Ramadhan
The death of Abu Talib the prophet’s uncle in the year 10H
10th Ramadhan
The death of lady Khadija Bint Khoailid the prophet's first wife and lady Fatima al- Zahra’s mother , 3 years before hijra.
15th Ramadhan
The birth of Imam Hassan Al-Mujtaba (PBUH) in the year 2H
- The departure of Muslim bin Akil from Mecca to Kufa in the year 60H.
17th Ramadhan
The battle of Badr took place between the unbelievers and the Muslims in the year . 2H
19th Ramadhan
Imam Ali (PBUH) was wounded by the sward of Ibn Muljim in the year 40H
21st Ramadhan
Imam Ali's (PBUH) martyrdom in the year 40H
23rd Ramadhan
The night of Qadr (laylat al-qadr) according to the most authentic narrations
- The revelation of the holy Qur'an.
The Night of Destiny
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) is quoted on page 265, Vol. 3, of al- Amin's work Miftahul Jannat, saying, "Allah has favored Friday over all other days, the month of Ramadan over all other months, and the Night of Destiny (Lailatul-Qadr) over all other nights." And Allah has favored the Holy Qur'an over all other Books which He revealed. Ibrahim, one of the companions of Imam Abu Abdullah al-Sadiq (as), is quoted on p. 25, Vol. 94, of Bihar al-Anwar, saying that he once asked the Imam (as) about how the Holy Qur'an was revealed during Lailatul-Qadr, knowing that it took more than twenty years to reveal. The Imam (as) answered by saying, "The Holy Qur'an was revealed as a whole during the month of Ramadan at the Ancient House (the Ka'ba), then from there it was revealed along the span of (more than) twenty years." Then he cited the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) saying "The Books of Ibrahim (as) were revealed on the first night of the month of Ramadan; the Torah was revealed on the sixth of the month of Ramadan; the Gospel (Injil) was revealed on the thirteenth of the month of Ramadan; the Psalms (Zabur) were revealed on the eighteenth of the month of Ramadan, and the Holy Qur'an was revealed on the twenty-fourth of the month of Ramadan." This tradition is also recorded on p. 80, Vol. 1, of al-'Ayyashi's Tafsir.
This name was used for Lailatul-Qadr because Allah Almighty determines in it for everyone all what will happen the entire next year. The "Qadr" in this sense means destiny. According to al- Qummi's Tafsir, as explained on p. 432 of its second volume, such destiny includes life and death, sustenance, abundance of crops or famine and everything good or bad. This means that Allah the Glorified and Exalted determines in this night each and every event to Occur during the next year to any and all of His creation.
Al-Majlisi quotes his father on p. 12, Vol. 94, of his own Bihar al Anwar quoting al-Nadar quoting Yahya al-Halabi quoting Ibn Maskan quoting Imam Abu Abdullah al-Sadiq (as) saying, "During Lailalul-Qadr, the angels, the spirit, and the trusted scribes all descend to the lower heavens and write down whatever Allah decrees that year, and if Allah wishes to advance something or postpone it or add thereto, He orders the angel to erase it and replace it with whatever He decrees." This is also confirmed by al-Qummi in his renown Tafsir, exegesis of the Holy Qur'an. On p. 182, Vol. 1, of Uyun Akhbar al-Rida, and on p. 14, Vol. 94, of Bihar al-Anwar, Ja'fer ibn Ali ibn Ahmed quotes al-Hassan ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Sadaqah quotes Muhammad son of 'Umer ibn 'Abdul-'Aziz quoting al-Hassan ibn Muhammad al-Nawfali quoting Sulayman al- Marzawi asking Imam al-Rida (as), "Could you please tell us why the Chapter of Qadr was revealed?" The Imam (as) said, "O Sulayman! Lailatul-Qadr is the night when Allah, the most Exalted, the most Great, decrees what will take place from one year to another of life or death, good or evil, or regarding sustenance, and whatever He then decrees is sure destiny."
On p. 315 of Ma'ani al-Akhbar, and also on p. 18, Vol. 94, of Biharal-Anwar, Ibn Musa quotes Ibn Zakariyya citing Muhammad ibn al-Abbas quoting Muhammad ibn al-Sary quoting Ahmed ibn Abdullah ibn Yunus quoting Ibn Tareef quoting Ibn Nubatah quoting Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) saying, 'The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) asked me once, 'O Ali! Do you know the implication of Lailatul- Qadr?' I said, 'No, indeed, O Messenger of Allah!' He (pbuh) said, 'Allah, the Praised One, the Most Glorified, decreed in it what will take place till the Day of Judgment, and among what He, the most Exalted, the Most Great, decreed was your own Imamate and Wilayat and the Imamate and Wilayat of your offspring till the Day of Resurrection." Both Ma'ani al-Akhbar and Bihar al-Anwar quote Sa'd citing the great traditionist Abdullah son of 'Umer ibn al-Khattab quoting Muhammad ibn 'Ubayd ibn Mahran quoting Salih quoting Salih ibn 'Uqbah quoting al-Fadl ibn 'Uthman saying, "When the Chapter of Qadr was mentioned in the presence of Abu Abdullah Imam Ja'fer al-Sadiq (as), he was asked about its merits over other chapters, and he said, 'It was revealed with reference to the Wilayat of the Commander of the Faithful (Imam Ali) (as).' He (as) was asked, 'Do you mean Lailatul-Qadr for which we look in anticipation during the month of Ramadan?' He (as) said, 'Yes; it is the night in which the heavens and the earth were determined, and the Wilayat of the Commander of the Faithful (as) was decreed."'
Ahmed ibn Muhammad and Ahmed ibn Ishaq, as recorded on p. 21, Vol. 94, of Bihar al-Anwar, quote al-Qasim ibn Yahya quoting others citing Imam Abu Abdullah (as) saying that Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) quite often used to say, 'We saw the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) once in the company of al-Taymi and a friend of his while the latter was reciting Chapter al-Qadr. He (pbuh) was profoundly moved and he kept weeping to the extent that he (pbuh) was asked, 'How so deeply moved by this Chapter your heart is!' He (pbuh) said, 'My heart is deeply impressed because of what my eyes had witnessed, and what my mind had comprehended, and because of what the heart of this man [meaning Ali (as)] will go through after me.' Both men asked the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), 'Did you really see all of that?! And what will he (Ali) see?' He (pbuh) would then recite the verse saying, 'The angels and the Spirit descend therein with the permission of their Lord for every affair; peace, it is, till the break of the morn.' Then he (pbuh) would pause and ask them, 'Is there anything left after the Almighty having verbally said 'every affair'?' They would both answer in the negative, and he (pbuh) would then ask them, 'Do you both know regarding whom it is revealed?' They would both say, 'No, by Allah, O Messenger of Allah!' He (pbuh) would then say, 'Yes; is there going to be a Lailatul-Qadr after me (i.e., after my demise)?' They would answer in the affirmative, and he (pbuh) would then ask them, 'Will every affair descend therein?' They said: 'Yes.' He then asked them, 'To whom will it descend?' They answered, 'We do not know.' He (pbuh), with his hand on my head, pushed me gently forward and said, 'If you do not know, then it is regarding this person after me.' Both men, ever since the demise of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), used to be filled with awe whenever that night approached."'
The Almighty says, "Therein every wise affair is made distinct" (44:4). This means that in this night, the Exalted One decrees everything that will happen next year. It is also said in Arabic that someone has a "qadr," a social status or a certain prestige, which he enjoys among people. The "Qadr" in this sense, therefore, also connotes prestige and significance. The Almighty also says in the Holy Qur'an, "They did not honor Allah as He ought to be honored," that is, they did not glorify Him as He ought to be glorified; thus, "qadr" in this verse implies glorification. Lailatul-Qadr, then, is the great night which enjoys a great deal of prestige and high esteem with Allah and in which He determines and decrees the fate and sustenance of all His creation. It has a special status simply because obedience to Him during it is regarded with great seriousness and urgency, and a great reward awaits those who honor the month wherein it falls.
It is also said that it was so named because a Book from Allah which enjoys greatness of status was revealed to a Prophet who also enjoys a great honor and prestige. Another view is that it was named so because the earth becomes straitened due to the number of angels on it. "Qadr," according to this view, carries the meaning of straitness due to the fact that the Almighty has said "... and whoever He decides to straiten his sustenance...." and Allah knows best.
The Almighty has addressed His servant and Messenger, our master, Muhammad (pbuh), saying, "And what will make you comprehend what Lailatul-Qadr is? Lailatul-Qadr is better than a thousand months;" that is, "How would you know the greatness, significance, and sanctity of this night which I have decreed to be better than a thousand months?"
There are indications that the Holy Qur'an was revealed as a whole to the Messenger (pbuh). In the Holy Qur'an, we read: "Haa, Meem. By the Book that makes (the truth) manifest, surely We revealed it on a blessed night" (44:1-3), and also, "Surely We revealed it on Lailatul-Qadr" (98:1).
Ibn Abbas is quoted saying, "The Holy Qur'an was revealed as a whole from the Safeguarded Scroll from the heavens to the lower earth on Lailatul-Qadr, then Gabriel (as) used to reveal it unto Muhammad (pbuh) gradually." It is well known that the Holy Qur'an was revealed unto the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) in installments during a period of twenty-three years. The first chapter revealed unto the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) at the Cave of Hira was the Chapter of al-'Alaq when Gabriel said to him: "(O Muhammad!) Read!" He (pbuh) said: "I cannot read." He repeated, "Read!" Again the Prophet (pbuh) said, "I cannot read." So he said once more, "Read in the Name of your Lord Who created..." (96:1), up to the end of the chapter. The last verse of the Glorious Book of Allah revealed unto the Messenger (pbuh) was: "Today have I completed for you your religion, perfected My blessing unto you, and accepted Islam as your religion" (5:3). Thus, suffices this blessed night the honor and dignity of being particularly chosen by the Glorified and Exalted One for the revelation of His Glorious Qur'an which is the shining and guiding light of the religion of Islam and the constitution of its adherents.
Why is Lailatul-Qadr better than a thousand months? Why not better than ten or a hundred thousands? ! Al-Qummi indicates on page 432, Vol. 2, of his Tafsir, that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) once saw in a vision monkeys climbing over his pulpit, and he felt very distressed; thereupon, the chapter of Qadr was revealed to remove his distress. The period of Banu Umayyad's government lasted roughly a thousand months: from 661 to 750 A.D., with the first ruler being Abu Sufyan and the last Mu' awiyah al-Himar. Both al-Kulayni in his Al-Kafi and al-Majlisi in his Bihar al-Anwar quote Ahmed ibn Muhammad quoting Ali ibn al-Hassan quoting Muhammad ibn al-Walid and Muhammad ibn Ahmed quoting Yunus ibn Ya'qub quoting Ali ibn 'Eisa al-Qammat quoting his uncle quoting Imam Abu Abdullah al-Sadiq (as) saying, 'The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was shown in a vision how Banu Umayyah climbed over his pulpit (like monkeys climb over trees), so he felt very unhappy, whereupon Gabriel (as) descended upon him and asked him why he was so forlorn. He (pbuh) said, 'I have seen (in a vision) tonight Banu Umayya ascending my pulpit after having misled people from the Straight Path.' Gabriel (as) said, 'I swear by the One Who has sent me (as a messenger) with the truth, this is something with which I am not familiar.' Having said so, he ascended to the heavens. After a short while, he brought him one verse to remove thereby his grief; it said: 'Have you considered if We would let them enjoy themselves for (a few) years, then that with which they are threatened comes to them, so much so that whatever they were permitted to enjoy shall not avail them (in the least)?' (Holy Qur'an, 26:205-207). And he also brought him: 'We revealed it in Lailatul-Qadr, and what will make you comprehend what Lailatul-Qadr is? Lailatul-Qadr is better than a thousand months..., etc."'
Lailatul-Qadr is a blessed night also because the Almighty brings down during it goodness, bliss, and forgiveness for His servants. One tradition of the greatest of all prophets Muhammad ibn Abdullah (pbuh) states that when Lailatul-Qadr approaches, the Almighty orders Gabriel (as) to descend accompanied by a crowd of angels to the earth with a green banner. He would mount the banner atop the Ka'ba while having six hundred wings one of which is not spread except on Lailatul-Qadr; so, he would spread them during that night, and he and all other angels would greet everyone who is standing for his prayers, sitting, adoring, or reciting the Holy Qur'an. They would shake hands with them and pray the Almighty to accept their pleas, and they would continue doing so till daybreak. It is then that they would ask Gabriel: "What has the Almighty Allah done with the wishes of the believers among the nation of Muhammad (pbuh)?" He would answer, "The Almighty Allah has looked upon them on this night and forgiven them, all of them, except the following: one who is addicted to drinking, one who severs his ties with his kin, and one who is a trouble-maker."
The Almighty has said, "Lailatul-Qadr is better than a thousand months," meaning, mathematically, that this night, which is comprised of a few hours, is honored by Allah the Exalted and Praised over about eighty-three years which is the equivalent of a thousand months. The Umayyads fought Islam since its inception, then they fought the family of the Prophet (pbuh), that is, Ahl al- Bayt, the whole time they were in power. The first self-declared Umayyad ruler was Abu Sufyan, and the last was Mu'awiya al-Himar. If you trace the period extending from the first year during which Abu Sufyan forced his authority on the Muslims until the Umayyad lost grip over power, you will come to a figure equivalent to a thousand months. It is as if the Holy Qur'an is saying that one night in the sight of Allah is better than all the thousand months those corrupt Umayyads ruled the Muslim masses by sheer force.
The Almighty has also said, "Peace, it is, till the break of the moon," that is, "Lailatul-Qadr is a night of peace and tranquility against all evils, tribulations, and the mischief of the devils. No evil can take place during it, nor can a demon practice his evil designs. It is peace for the devotees who are greeted whenever they are met by the angels. The angels greet them and greet you, O Muhammad, and so does My Spirit, since the moment they descend from heavens and till the time of daybreak."
According to the book titled al-Iqbal which cites Kansul Yawaqeet by Abul-Fadl ibn Muhammad al-Harwi, the Prophet (pbuh) has said, "Whoever remains awake during Lailatul-Qadr and spends it in adoration will have his penalty postponed till the next year." According to the same reference, the Prophet (pbuh) says that Moses (as) once addressed the Almighty saying, "Lord! I desire to be near to You." The Almighty said, "Whoever desires nearness to Me is one who remains awake during Lailatul-Qadr (worshipping Me)." He said, "Lord! I wish to earn Your mercy." The Almighty said, "My mercy is granted to anyone who is merciful to the indigent during Lailatul- Qadr." He said, "Lord! I wish to pass on the right path." He said, "This is granted to anyone who spends alms during Lailatul-Qadr." He said, "Lord! I wish to enjoy the trees and fruits of Paradise!" The Almighty said, "This is granted to anyone who pr
