A Day And A Night In Ramadan (Part 1 Of 2)
EsinIslam
Ramadan
Ramadan Explorer
The Fast of the Day
Description: A typical day in the life of a Muslim in Ramadan.
Ramadan is a very special month for the Muslims, as in it Muslims around the
world perform various types of worship, the most important of them being
fasting. This fasting of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam,
mandatory upon all adolescents and adults who have the ability. Ramadan is
also the month in which the first revelation came to the Prophet Muhammad, and
thus is called the ''Month of the Quran''. During this month, there is a
noticeable change in people's lives as well as societies. This article will
describe a typical day of a Muslim during this month of forgiveness.
An Early Meal
«Eat a predawn meal, for indeed in it there is blessing.» [Saheeh Al-Bukhari]
«تسحروا ، فإن في السحور بركة» البخاري
Although not obligatory, Muslims families throughout Ramadan rise early in the
morning before the first traces of light and partake in a light meal in
implementation of this Prophet teaching. Usually, the day of a Muslim starts
with the dawn prayer performed when the first traces of light appear in the
sky, but since it is the time when one starts the fast by withholding from
food or drink, the Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him,
encouraged Muslims to arise before that time and partake in a meal.
From this it is clear that the point of fasting is not that one feels hunger
throughout the day, but rather that one changes their lifestyle in order for
it to be more conducive to the worship of Allah, a fact which will become
quite clear. One who often misses the dawn prayer, the hardest of the five
prayers to perform due to its stated time, in this blessed month arises early
in order to partake in a meal. Thus this person becomes accustomed to
awakening at an early hour, ultimately helping him to perform the dawn prayer
for the rest of the year.
The most beloved of the voluntary prayers is one called ''Qiyaam –ul-Layl'',
or the Night Prayer[1]. This prayer is performed before the dawn prayer in
solitude. It is so beloved that it is usually nicknamed ''the Prayer of the
Pious'', a prayer performed by the devout when the majority of people are
still sleeping in their beds. God described this prayer in the Quran, saying:
{Their sides forsake from (their) beds, calling upon their Lord in fear and in
hope....} [Quran 32:16]
{تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ
عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا ...} [السجدة:١٦]
Transliteration: Tatajāfá Junūbuhum Ani Al-Mađājii
Yadūna Rabbahum Khawfāan Wa Ţamaāan...
Waking in the early hours before dawn to eat a meal also encourage the
believers to perform this blessed prayer, one which otherwise seem like an
arduous task for some.
This predawn meal is to be eaten close to the time of dawn, and thus people
continue to eat until they hear the mu'ezzin, or caller of prayer, call out
the azaan from the local mosque, signaling that the first traces of light have
appeared. Thus, Muslims end their meal and prepare themselves to attend the
congregational prayer at their local mosque, held five times a day throughout
the year.
The Month of the Quran
After attending the dawn prayer, many Muslims choose to sit in the mosque for
a while and recite a selected portion of the Quran at this time. Recitation of
the Quran is recommended at all times, and due to it one's faith increases in
Islam:
{The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts
tremble with fear, and when His Verses are recited unto them, they (i.e. the
Verses) increase their Faith; and they put their trust in their Lord (Alone).}
[Quran 8:2]
{إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ
إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّـهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ
زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ} [الأنفال:٢]
Transliteration: 'Innamā Al-Mu'uminūna Al-Ladhīna 'Idhā
Dhukira Allāhu Wajilat Qulūbuhum Wa 'Idhā Tuliyat Alayhim 'Āyātuhu Zādat/hum 'Īmānāan
Wa Alá Rabbihim Yatawakkalūna
Being the month in which the Quran was revealed, Muslims are even more zealous
to recite its entirety, as this was also done by the Prophet.
«[The Prophet] would meet him (Gabriel) every night in Ramadan and they would
recite the Quran to each other.» [Saheeh Al-Bukhari]
«وكان يلقاه في كل ليلة من رمضان فيدارسه القرآن» البخاري
Quite often in Ramadan in the Muslim world, you will hardly find a mosque
empty during any part of the day. Muslims try to set aside time this month in
order to complete the Quran and ponder its meanings.
Fasting of the Day
In most Muslim countries, workload and schedules are lightened in order to
accommodate for the special features of this month. Children go to school at a
later time to accommodate for their early rise and the late night prayer, and
the majority of businesses close well before dusk. Many stores also remain
open throughout the night.
During daylight hours until the sun sets below the horizon. Muslim abstain all
types of food and drink, as well as sexual intercourse with their spouses.
This creates a sense within the Muslim throughout the day that they are
obeying the commands of God, as they leave things which are perfectly
permissible at other times. This created within the Muslims a conscience which
encourages them to leave those deeds impermissible at all times. Muslims,
dry-mouthed from lack of water and abstaining from all types of food seen
throughout the day, gain a sixth sense – God consciousness - and this is the
goal of fasting the month of Ramadan. God says in the Quran:
{Fasting has been prescribed for you as it has been prescribed for those
before you in order that you become of the God-conscious.} [Quran 2:183]
{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ
كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ} [البقرة:١٨٣]
Transliteration: Yā 'Ayyuhā Al-Ladhīna 'Āmanū Kutiba
Alaykumu Aş-Şiyāmu Kamā Kutiba Alá Al-Ladhīna Min Qablikum Laallakum
Tattaqūna
Fasting is a secret worship which a person offers to God. He may very well eat
and drink in privacy without anyone coming to know of it... but the trait
which keeps the Muslim from doing so is this consciousness of His Lord.
For this reason, one sees that many sinful Muslims as well leave many of their
sins during this blessed month, due to its sacredness, and one hopes that this
will cause them to be more faithful throughout the remainder of the year.
The Prophet warned Muslims against certain sins they might easily fall into
and thus ruin the goal of fasting. The Prophet said:
«Whoever does not stop speaking falsehood and acting in accordance with it,
God has no need of him giving up his food and drink.» [Saheeh Al-Bukhari]
«من لم يدع قول الزور والعمل به، فليس لله حاجة في أن يدع
طعامه وشرابه» البخاري
He also warned against being provoked into behaving rudely. He encouraged
Muslims to respond to one who may provoke him by saying:
«Indeed I am fasting, Indeed I am fasting.» [Saheeh Muslim]
«إني صائم. إني صائم» مسلم
These Prophetic sayings are clear in that the main benefit of Ramadan is
spiritual and moral rectitude.
Thus one finds in Muslim societies that a spirit of peace dwells in the hearts
of Muslims throughout Ramadan, due to the extra worship and avoidance of all
evilness and ill manners. One finds that people are generally more easy to
deal with and lighthearted, and when one lives in a society for one month in
which most of the people are fasting, the sense of unity and brotherhood which
results is unmatched by any other occasion, except maybe the Hajj.
Iftar, or Breakfast
As the day ends, Muslims gather in their homes in wait for sunset. Mothers and
daughters are usually busy at this time preparing breakfast and dinner, while
men usually return from their work and slip into more comfortable clothes,
either taking time to recite the Quran or help out in the preparation for
breakfast. Before sunset, the family gathers at the dining table in wait for
the mu'ezzin, utilizing this time supplicating to Allah and asking Him for His
Mercy.
Once the call to prayer is heard, Muslims hurry to break their fast with
dates, in emulation of the Prophet, and offer words of gratitude taught by the
Prophet.
«The Thirst has been quenched, and the veins have become moist and full, and
the reward is certain, God willing.» [Abu Dawood]
«ذهب
الظمأ وابتلت العروق وثبت الأجر إن شاء الله» صحيح أبي داود
Many Muslims add:
''Oh Allah, indeed for You Alone I have fasted, and in You alone I have
believed. With your provisions I have broken my fast, and upon You I have
trusted.''
Muslims then eat a light meal of various appetizers and drinks. Many times,
Muslims find themselves either invited or inviting others, whether they be
members of the extended family, one's friends, or the poor. The majority of
mosques also offer free food in order ease the sufferings for the poor. May
mosques hold iftar in order to strengthen community ties, common in countries
in which Muslims are minorities. Prophet Muhammad encouraged to feed others
during this blessed month in his saying:
«Whoever gives food to a fasting person with which to break his fast, he will
have a reward equal to his (the fasting person)...» [Al-Tirmidhi]
«من فطر صائما كان له مثل أجره ، غير أنه لا ينقص من أجر
الصائم شيء» صحيح الترغيب
Special rations are also distributed to needy households in the beginning of
the month by charitable organizations to meet the needs of the month.
The delight felt at breaking fast is one truly indescribable. Never does the
most meager of meals seem so tasty or bring so much joy to a believer. Indeed
the Prophet spoke the truth when he said:
«The fasting person will feel two moments of joy: one moment when he breaks
his fast and another when he meets his Lord.» [Saheeh Al-Bukhari]
«للصائم فرحتان : فرحة حين يفطر ، وفرحة حين يلقى ربه» البخاري
There is no time at that point to eat a large meal, as sunset is the time for
another prescribed prayer. Muslims prepare to attend the congregational
prayer, mostly always at walking distance. After attending the dusk prayer,
some Muslims eat dinner, while others delay eating until the night prayer is
finished, an event which is one of the main features of the night of Ramadan,
another spiritual dimension of this blessed month of mercy and blessings.
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Footnotes:
[1] Literally, ''The Standing of the Night'' due to its lengthy recitation
which is performed during standing in prayer.
By M. Abdulsalam
IslamReligion.com
Revised to agree with authentic Hadeeth
EsinIslam
Ramadan
Team
©
EsinIslam.Com
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