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Fasting

September 23rd, 2006 by fiorelino

Today is the begin of Ramadan month. Moeslem are normally fasting in this month, so I guess before sleeping (again) I would like to write about fasting from many aspects … hihihi inspired by wikipedia and iqbal, who just told me why I was blogging while I did my sahur :-)

Fasting is the act of willingly abstaining from some or all food and in some cases drink, for a period of time. Depending on the tradition, fasting practices may forbid sexual intercourse, masturbation, as well as refraining from eating certain types or groups of food (e.g. meat). Medical fasting can be a way to promote detoxification.

Fasting for religious and spiritual reasons has been a part of human custom since pre-history. It is mentioned in the Bible, in both the Old and New Testament, in the Mahabharata, in the Upanishads and in the Qur’an.

In Islam, fasting starts from fajr (dawn), until maghrib (sunset) is observed during the month of Ramadan. Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the Pillars of Islam, and thus one of the most important acts of Islamic worship. By fasting, whether during Ramadan or other times a Muslim
draws closer to his Lord by abandoning the things he/she enjoys, such
as food and drink. This makes the sincerity of his/her faith and
his/her devotion to Allah (God)
all the more evident. The believer knows that Allah will love him/her
when he/she is ready to abandon worldly comforts for Allah’s sake.

Allah informs Muslims in the Qur’an that fasting was prescribed for those before them (i.e., the Jews and Christians) and that by fasting Muslim gains ‘taqwa‘,
which can be described as the care taken by a person to do everything
Allah has commanded and to keep away from everything that He has
forbidden. Fasting helps prevent many sins and is a shield with which
the Muslim protects him/herself from jahannam (hell).

Muslims believe that fasting is more than abstaining from food and
drink. It also means to abstain from any falsehood in speech and
action, from any ignorant and indecent speech, and from arguing and
fighting, and sexual intercourse. Therefore, fasting helps to develop
good behavior.

Fasting also inculcates a sense of brotherhood and solidarity, as a Muslim
feels and experiences what his needy and hungry brothers and sisters
feel. However, even the poor, needy, and hungry participate in the
fast. Moreover, Ramadan is a month of giving charity and sharing meals to break the fast together.

While fasting in the month of Ramadan is considered fard
(obligatory), Islam also proscribed certain days for non-obligatory
fasting, such as on each Monday and Thursday of a week, the 13/14/15th
days of each lunar month, the Day of Arafat (9th of Dhu al-Hijjah in
the Islamic (Hijri) calendar, the day the Hajji’s reach Mount Arafat), or six days in the month of Shawal (the month following Ramadan).

Well… today is the begin of Ramadan, and in this opportunity I would like to appologize, if something in my blog bother the reader … :-)

Happy Ramadan - May God bless all of us …

Posted in Religion | | |


5 Responses to ' Fasting '

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  1.   Iqbal said,

    on September 23rd, 2006 at 8:47 pm

    ck ck ck

  2.   Hedi said,

    on September 24th, 2006 at 3:10 am

    Happy Ramadhan, sis.

  3.   Fiorelino said,

    on September 24th, 2006 at 4:10 am

    Happy Ramadhan juga .. bro :)

  4.   Eddie said,

    on September 24th, 2006 at 12:56 pm

    Met puasa ya mbak Arum….

  5.   Ira ira ira ira said,

    on September 26th, 2006 at 1:42 am

    Ibu aruuuuuum….
    ca va? met puasa ya….muach muach muach muach

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