"Say We believe in God and what is revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and I`saac and Jacob and the Tribes, and what was entrusted to Moses and Jesus and the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them and to Him we have surrendered."
(Quran 3: 84)
Fasting in the month of
Ramzan is compulsory for every Muslim who has reached the age. Allah mentions it
in Quran.
"O
ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those
before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint." (Al-Qur' an, 2:183)
The significance of the
month of Ramzan is also explained in the Quran:
"Ramzan
is the month in which was sent down the Quran, as a guide to mankind, also
clear (signs) of guidance and judgement (between the right and the wrong). So
everyone of you who is present during this month should spend it in fasting,
but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (should be made
up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you, he does not want to
put you in difficulties. (Al-Qur' an, 2:185)
There is a meal before dawn,
which is called 'Suhur'. It is the tradition of the Prophet to have Suhur
on the morning of fasting.
The Prophet declared that
"There
is a blessings in it". (Al-Bukhari : Book of Siyam)
In the evening immediately
after the sunset, the Muslim should hasten to break his fast, as it is reported
in the books of Tradition.
"When
one of you breaks his fast he should do so with some dates, but if cannot get
any, he should break his fast with water, for it is purifying."
(Reported by Ibn Khuzaima, Abu Dawud)
A fasting person is obliged
to abstain from all the forbidden things. The Prophet said,
"If
one does not abandon falsehood, and action in accordance with it and
foolishness, Allah has no need that he should abandon his food and
drink."
(Reported by Al-Bukhari and Abu Dawud)
* pbuh - Peace be upon him; It is a
Muslim practise to convey prayers of peace whenever the name of Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) and other prophets is taken.
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