About Ramadhan

Ahlan wa sahlan ya RAMADHAN

Searchingly, I look into the sky
Waiting a sign
From HE, The Most High

Suddenly, dazzlingly, out of the darkness
the moonlight does appear
The whole world rejoice,
'Ramadhan is here!'

My soul is moved to tears

This is the month
In which the Holy Qur'an was sent;
The time of great blessing,
The moment to repent.

This is the month of charity
Of purity
Month of blessing rhapsody!

The doors of heaven are now opened wide
Begging for mankind to enter and abide!

"There is a gate to Paradise that is called ar-Rayyan. On the Day of Resurrection it will say: 'Where are those who fasted?' When the last (one) has passed through the gate, it will be locked."
[Narrated by Sahl ibn Sa'd, al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Ramadhan, the guest from God The ninth month of Islamic lunar calendar, the most sacred time of the year, blessed by Allah, the Most Merciful as a gift to mankind

The month in which the Holy Qur'an was sent down from heaven, as a guidance unto men, a declaration of direction, and means of Salvation, in the year of 603.

Contain Lailatul-Qadr (The Night of Power), a night that is better than 1000 months

During this month;
An act of obedience = An obligatory act
An obligatory act = 70 obligatory act

A Different Routine

It is a time of worship and contemplation. Less time is spent on the concerns of everyday lives.
Around 2 billions of Muslims around the world fast, from dawn to dusk, throughout the whole month.

Days start with suhur; the early breakfast before sunrise. At sunset the fast is broken with a meal called the iftar.

Every night, a special prayer called the Tarawikh prayer (Night Prayer) is performed. Midnights are devoted by those who are pious for Qur'an study and recitation, and zikr (remembering Allah) voluntarily.

Common questions asked

What do Muslims achieve through fasting?

Why Muslims do fast?

Common answers given

Fasting allows us to feel the hunger and thirst that poor people around the world feel, so that we will be grateful to Allah for everything we have.

Fasting helps us think about the poor and about those less privileged than us. So that we can appreciate what Allah have given to us.

Fasting is good for our health as during fasting, the body attempts to eliminate toxins, metabolic byproducts, etc., and adjust physiologically to a health promoting diet.

Are these answers true?!

Let looks on what Allah says in Qur'an;

"O you who believe! Fasting has been ordained for you as it was ordained for those before you, so that you may attain Taqwa." (Al-Baqarah, 2: 183)

Real Answers

The verse of Qur'an tells us that...

Muslims do fast because it is a command from Allah, as those that came before us were also commanded to fast.

The purpose of fasting is for us to attain TAQWA.

What is TAQWA??

A Tabi'ee (A companion from the generation after the Sahaabah), Talq ibn Habeeb (May Allah have mercy upon him) was asked to define taqwa, so he said, 'Taqwa is acting in obedience to Allah (swt), hoping for His mercy, and taqwa is leaving acts of disobedience to Allah out of fear of Him.'

Attaining taqwa is what fasting in Ramadhan should lead us to. The result of achieving this aim is the closeness and pleasure of Allah (swt), and immense reward from Allah in this world and in the hereafter.

Imagine, a white bird. The left wing of the bird is 'great fear', and the right wing is 'great hope'. The body of the bird is 'Taqwa'. When the bird flies in the blue sky, 'fear' and 'hope' balance each other, making up a great hold of taqwa.


How do fasting in Ramadhan leads us to attain TAQWA?

Fasting is an invisible act which only Allah and the person who is fasting know whether he himself is fasting or not. However, the fasting person has made this commitment for the sake of Allah and wants to guard the purity of his fast for the sake of Allah.

Thus, fasting teaches sincerity and obedience to Allah regardless whether others know or do not know. this is the very purpose and essence of Taqwa.

Food and sex are two needs and desires that are essential for human survival and growth, but the can become easily corruptive and disruptive if they are not properly controlled and disciplined.

Taqwa requires observing the rules of Allah when one eats and when one enjoys sexual relations. fasting teaches how to control and discipline these desires.

The world is full of temptations. It takes a lot of disciplines to say "no" to something that is very tempting although it is not good for us. fasting teaches us how to say "no" to things that are otherwise permissible and good, but are forbidden during fasting.

Learn to say 'no' leads us to easily control ourself to avoid thing which is forbidden. This is the spirit of taqwa.

People often ignore the needs of other than himself and his family. Through fasting we taste- to some extent-the pain and suffering of those who are poor and destitute.

Thus, fasting teaches empathy and sympathy, and takes away selfishness and self-centeredness. This is the spirit of taqwa.

When Muslims fast together in Ramadhan, it builds an atmosphere of virtues and brotherhood. We come closer to our Creator and also to each other.

Unity, harmony, brotherhood and peace are the fruits of taqwa.


If your fasting cannot lead you to attain taqwa, do you ask yourself, "Do I fast correctly?"

The prophet (pbuh) said: "Whoever feeds a fasting person will be compensate with forgiveness of sins and salvation of his soul from Hell. He will also receives a reward equal to that of the person he feeds, without causing him any reduction (in his good deeds)."

(The companions) said: "Not all of us can find something to feed a fasting person."

The prophet (pbuh) said: "Allah gives this reward to whoever feeds a fasting person even with just a taste of milk or dates, or a drink of water. Whoever quenches the thirst of a fasting person, Allah the Almighty makes him drinks from my pond such that he will never feels thirsty again until he enters Paradise."

[Narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah and Al-Bayhaqi]

*Credits to Monash University Islamic Society \(^_^)/
*Any comment or enquiry, please contact:
islam.monash@gmail.com