by Sayyada Asharia
And we’re back to the month of Ramadan…except the fasting gets more difficult this year round. Iftar time is at nearly 8pm for 30 days! So how can we survive not eating nor drinking for this long? Here are a few tips:
1. Wake up for sehri. It’s the last time you can eat before you start your fast, so why not make the most of those last few minutes by eating till you’re full? The atmosphere during sehri is also great and it makes your fast seem so spiritual.
2. Sleep. It kills time, it helps you stay away from temptation and at the same time is an act of worship, as the Holy Prophet (SAW) has said: "The sleep of a fasting person is regarded as an act of ibaadah, his remaining silent is regarded as a tasbeeh, the reward for his good deeds is multiplied, his duas are accepted, and his sins are forgiven."
3. Tell the least number of people that you are fasting. Firstly, because they may think you’re crazy and put you off fasting, and secondly, it can cause the fast to become a law to your heart. When you are tempted to break the fast, you may think, “Dad, Mom, and half the mosque know I’m on a fast. If I quit now, I’ll be humiliated in front of all of them.” Your fast is between you and God. When you are being tempted to break, it is not you whole extended family you need to be concerned with!
4. Read Quran. It was revealed during the month of Ramadan, and that is the main reason why we fast during the month, so why not read the Quran to see the meanings laying underneath it? It also kills a lot of time and helps your fast finish quickly!
5. Stay away from the kitchen! All you’ll be able to smell are samosas being fried so stop getting yourself into needless temptation! Next thing you know, you’ll be stuffing yourself with everything you can eat!
6. Don’t keep checking the time. This just creates more pressure, especially when the fast is just about to finish. Maybe it’s just me, but have you noticed that the last few minutes of your fast, while you’re staring at the clock, go the slowest? So don’t wear a watch while fasting!
7. Keep yourself occupied. Doing other stuff takes your mind off your fast. And sometimes, you’re so preoccupied in keeping yourself occupied, that you forget that you’re fasting altogether!
Showing posts with label fasting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fasting. Show all posts
Saturday, 2 August 2008
Saturday, 1 September 2007
Shahr Ramadhan: Month of Fasting or Feasting?
by Shahista Asharia
The Month of Ramadhan is supposed to be about learning
self-restraint and to remember those that do not
have food throughout the year, yet it is increasingly
becoming more about preparing throughout the day for
a huge evening feast. Is this Holy Month becoming more
about feasting than fasting?
According to Gulfnews, the Middle-Eastern food company
Co-op Al Islami has an increase of 75% in food
sales during the month of Ramadhan. In Saudi Arabia,
stores boast that their sales increase by 25% during the
month, and a study in the Kingdom highlighted that
consumers spend two to three times their usual
monthly expenditure during the month of Ramadhan.
Surprising, one might say, in a month in which there is
no eating in daylight hours.
Also surprising, considering narrations tell us that the
Prophet Muhammad (saaw) used to break his fast with
nothing but milk and dates. A far cry from the mitumbua
and dhokras that still struggle to satisfy our taste
buds today.
The famous narration about the family of Syeda Fatima
(as) fasting for three days and giving their iftar to the
poor, the orphan and the captive, after which Sura Insaan
(Dahr) was revealed in honour of their kind gesture,
states that they gave away all they had to eat,
which was one loaf of bread each. Today we would
laugh at the thought of breaking our fast with a loaf of
bread. Give us some oily chicken curry to go with it and
we still wouldn’t be happy.
Of course, many people overstock for the month of
Ramadhan, and others invite family and friends over for
Iftar, which is great, but if one really cares about those
guests they wouldn’t feed them so much that they have
to loosen a notch on their belt by the time they leave!
A true host should be more concerned about feeding
their guest healthy food than pleasing them with fatty
delicacies.
So this month of Ramadhan, let’s decide to end the
customs of eating a full day’s food in half an hour, and
rather to fill ourselves only to the extent which is necessary.
You’ll save time cooking, money shopping, and
will feel much better about yourself at the end of the
month!
The Month of Ramadhan is supposed to be about learning
self-restraint and to remember those that do not
have food throughout the year, yet it is increasingly
becoming more about preparing throughout the day for
a huge evening feast. Is this Holy Month becoming more
about feasting than fasting?
According to Gulfnews, the Middle-Eastern food company
Co-op Al Islami has an increase of 75% in food
sales during the month of Ramadhan. In Saudi Arabia,
stores boast that their sales increase by 25% during the
month, and a study in the Kingdom highlighted that
consumers spend two to three times their usual
monthly expenditure during the month of Ramadhan.
Surprising, one might say, in a month in which there is
no eating in daylight hours.
Also surprising, considering narrations tell us that the
Prophet Muhammad (saaw) used to break his fast with
nothing but milk and dates. A far cry from the mitumbua
and dhokras that still struggle to satisfy our taste
buds today.
The famous narration about the family of Syeda Fatima
(as) fasting for three days and giving their iftar to the
poor, the orphan and the captive, after which Sura Insaan
(Dahr) was revealed in honour of their kind gesture,
states that they gave away all they had to eat,
which was one loaf of bread each. Today we would
laugh at the thought of breaking our fast with a loaf of
bread. Give us some oily chicken curry to go with it and
we still wouldn’t be happy.
Of course, many people overstock for the month of
Ramadhan, and others invite family and friends over for
Iftar, which is great, but if one really cares about those
guests they wouldn’t feed them so much that they have
to loosen a notch on their belt by the time they leave!
A true host should be more concerned about feeding
their guest healthy food than pleasing them with fatty
delicacies.
So this month of Ramadhan, let’s decide to end the
customs of eating a full day’s food in half an hour, and
rather to fill ourselves only to the extent which is necessary.
You’ll save time cooking, money shopping, and
will feel much better about yourself at the end of the
month!
The real fast of the AhlulBayt
“O ye who believe” Fasting is prescribed to you that ye
may (learn) self-restraint…”- Qur’an 2:183
The word ‘Ramadhan’ is derived from the root
word ‘R-M-Dh’, which indicates ‘Heat’ and
‘Restlessness’. It is said that the name of the
month indicates the hardships which accompany a
fast like thirst and a comparative restlessness. But
the best explanation was given by the Holy
Prophet (saw) himself, who said: the Month of
Ramadhan “burns the sins and faults as fire burns the
wood”.
Imam Baqir (as) told one of his companions:
“O Jabir! Whoever, during the Month of Ramadhan,
fasts in days, stands for prayers in parts of nights,
controls his sexual desires and emotions, puts rein on
his tongue, keeps his eyes down, and does not injure
the feelings of others, will become as free from sin as
he was the day he was born”. Jabir said: “How tough
are these conditions!”
The month of Ramadhan gives us a chance to start
life afresh. Muslims should make resolutions during
this month, to act upon during the year. This is the
month when emotions remain under the control
of reason. Thoughts, in this month are not wiled,
feelings not hard. Forgiveness, generosity and love
of God through the love of His creatures are infused
in our soul. Naturally, it is the best time to
decide how we are going to live in the coming
year. We should know what do we want to
achieve and how.
Imam Ja’far Sadiq (as) has said your days of fasting
should not be like other ordinary days. When you fast,
all your senses; eyes, ears, tongue, hands and feet
must fast with you.” How?
Eyes: Keep your eyes off unlawful things and objects;
spend this most precious gift of God in good
cause and pious acts and read Qur’an and Du’as.
Ears: Abstain from hearing unlawful gossip, lies,
false statements, music and obscene topics. Pay
attention towards sermons and topics of learning.
Tongue: Do not tell lies or useless tales; do not
spread rumours or, damaging gossips about other
persons. Use the power of speech in spreading the
word of God; in creating goodwill in the society.
Hand: Do not injure others by your actions; instead
strive to help them as far as you can.
Feet: Do not go towards forbidden places. Do
not run between people creating strife. Go to
those places where God is remembered; your
movements should be to bring people together.
And above all, your heart and mind must be with
you in fasting. Because fast in its real sense, will
not be complete unless your thoughts, your emotions,
your actions – in short, all aspects of our life
– become pure, clean and free from blemish. Fasting
cleans our body from impurities. Likewise, it
must purify our hearts and minds from all impure
thoughts improper desires and undisciplined sensations.
Remember fasting and not implementing
these words of advice is not fasting but hunger.
“Many persons get nothing out of their fasts but hunger
and thirst, many more get nothing out of their
night prayers but exertions and sleepless nights. Wise
and sagacious persons are praiseworthy even if they do
not fast and sleep during the nights” – Imam Ali (as)
may (learn) self-restraint…”- Qur’an 2:183
The word ‘Ramadhan’ is derived from the root
word ‘R-M-Dh’, which indicates ‘Heat’ and
‘Restlessness’. It is said that the name of the
month indicates the hardships which accompany a
fast like thirst and a comparative restlessness. But
the best explanation was given by the Holy
Prophet (saw) himself, who said: the Month of
Ramadhan “burns the sins and faults as fire burns the
wood”.
Imam Baqir (as) told one of his companions:
“O Jabir! Whoever, during the Month of Ramadhan,
fasts in days, stands for prayers in parts of nights,
controls his sexual desires and emotions, puts rein on
his tongue, keeps his eyes down, and does not injure
the feelings of others, will become as free from sin as
he was the day he was born”. Jabir said: “How tough
are these conditions!”
The month of Ramadhan gives us a chance to start
life afresh. Muslims should make resolutions during
this month, to act upon during the year. This is the
month when emotions remain under the control
of reason. Thoughts, in this month are not wiled,
feelings not hard. Forgiveness, generosity and love
of God through the love of His creatures are infused
in our soul. Naturally, it is the best time to
decide how we are going to live in the coming
year. We should know what do we want to
achieve and how.
Imam Ja’far Sadiq (as) has said your days of fasting
should not be like other ordinary days. When you fast,
all your senses; eyes, ears, tongue, hands and feet
must fast with you.” How?
Eyes: Keep your eyes off unlawful things and objects;
spend this most precious gift of God in good
cause and pious acts and read Qur’an and Du’as.
Ears: Abstain from hearing unlawful gossip, lies,
false statements, music and obscene topics. Pay
attention towards sermons and topics of learning.
Tongue: Do not tell lies or useless tales; do not
spread rumours or, damaging gossips about other
persons. Use the power of speech in spreading the
word of God; in creating goodwill in the society.
Hand: Do not injure others by your actions; instead
strive to help them as far as you can.
Feet: Do not go towards forbidden places. Do
not run between people creating strife. Go to
those places where God is remembered; your
movements should be to bring people together.
And above all, your heart and mind must be with
you in fasting. Because fast in its real sense, will
not be complete unless your thoughts, your emotions,
your actions – in short, all aspects of our life
– become pure, clean and free from blemish. Fasting
cleans our body from impurities. Likewise, it
must purify our hearts and minds from all impure
thoughts improper desires and undisciplined sensations.
Remember fasting and not implementing
these words of advice is not fasting but hunger.
“Many persons get nothing out of their fasts but hunger
and thirst, many more get nothing out of their
night prayers but exertions and sleepless nights. Wise
and sagacious persons are praiseworthy even if they do
not fast and sleep during the nights” – Imam Ali (as)
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