For 1.6 billion Muslim people, the holiest month of the year began this week.
The exact starting date depended on the locale, but most Muslims across the globe will be fasting, praying and abstaining from sex and smoking during daylight hours. Many call it a time of spiritual purity and rededication to Almighty Allah.
Here's everything you need to know about the observance.Ramadan is the name of the ninth month in the Hijri, or Islamic calendar. The word derives from the Arabic ramida or ar-ramad meaning a fierce, burning heat.
Ramadan is the most sacred month in the Muslim year, commemorating the revelation of the Holy Quran - the sacred religious text of Islam - by the angel Gabriel to the Prophet Mohammed, according to Islamic tradition.
The main obligation of the festival is the Sawm, or fast. Believers are expected to refrain from eating and drinking from dawn (fajr) until dusk (maghrib) for the entire month, a discipline that is thought to burn away all sins (hence the origin of the word 'ramadan'). The Sawm is considered one of the five "pillars," or foundations of Islam, the others being the Shahadah (profession of faith), Salat (praying five times daily), Zakat (charity) and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).
Ramadan begins with the sighting of the new moon. Because it is calculated according to a lunar rather than a fixed calendar, its precise dates change from year to year, and it can begin at different times in different parts of the world. According to the Islamic Society of North America, Ramadan started this year on July 9 and ends on August 8.
Ramadan officially ends on the first day of the month of Shawwal. This heralds a three-day celebration called Eid al-Fitr, or the "Festival of Breaking Fast", a joyous occasion during which believers attend mosques, give gifts, visit friends and family and decorate their homes.
Ramadan: Rules of Fasting
THINGS WHICH BREAKS FAST
1) Eating or drinking breaks the sawn.
2) Sexual intercourse even if there is no emergence of semen.
3) Smoking
4) Inhaling smoke by one's own action. E.g. inhaling the smoke of incense, etc.
5) Application of medication into the anus.
6) Swallowing any substance or object which is not normally, consumed as food or medicine, e.g. pebbles, paper, a com, etc.
7) Pouring oil into the ear.
8)Saliva mingled with blood will break- the fast if the taste of blood is discernible when swallowing.
9) Eating deliberately after having eaten mistakenly. (Eating mistake does not break the fast).
10) Water slipping down the throat while making wudhu even if not done deliberately.
11) Deliberately inducing oneself to vomit will break- the fast if the vomit is a mouthful. If the emergence of vomit cannot be
restrained, the vomit will be said to be a mouthful. Vomiting less than a mouthful will not break the fast even if it is deliberately induced
12) A food particle the size of a chana (about the size of a half a pea), becoming unstuck from the teeth and slipping down the throat.
13) Applying drops of medicine into the nostrils.
14) Masturbation. In addition to it nullifying the saum. It is an immoral and a sinful act. The perpetrator has been cursed by Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam).
15) Medical test undertaken by women in which any instrument, etc. Is internally inserted.
16) Ejaculation as a result of caressing and fondling the wife even if there was no sexual intercourse.
THINGS WHICH DO NOT BREAK THE FAST
1) Eating, drinking or indulging in sexual relation forgetfully. This means that at the time of committing act. One does not remember the fast. However, if one continues even momentarily after recalling the fast, the Saum will be nullified.
2) Applying eye drops.
3) Water entering the ear.
4) Vomiting, no matter how much. This refers to vomiting which is not self-induced. For the rule regarding self-induced vomiting, (see above no. 11)
5) Smoke, which is inhaled unintentionally, not by one's volition or conscious action.
6) Applying Surmah into the eye.
7) Smelling anything fragrant providing that there are no vapors.
8) A food particle less than the size of a chana becoming unstuck from the teeth.
9) Swallowing saliva and slime.
10) Injection. The injection of medicine into the body will not break the fast providing that the medicine does not reach the brain or stomach.
11) Blood in the saliva will not break the fast if the blood is less than the saliva. This fact will be recognized if the taste of the blood is not discerned.
12) Using a miswak to clean the teeth even if the miswak is fresh and has a taste.
13) Breast-feeding the baby.
14) If during wudhu water slips down the throat while on does not remember the saum, the fast will not break.
15) Ejaculation of semen during sleep.
16) Ejaculation caused by imagination.
17) Janabat or the state of Hadath-e-Akbar which is purified by ghusl. If one has not taken ghusl and Sahri time ends, the fast is valid.
THINGS WHICH DO NOT BREAK THE FAST, BUT WHICH ARE MAKROOH DURING SAUM
Some things, while not breaking the fast are nevertheless Makrooh to do during fasting. Makrooh means detestable and in this context Makrooh things are sinful. Makrooh things bring about a decrease in the committing of the Saum. It is, therefore, essential to abstain from community Makrooh acts. The following acts are Makrooh during fasting.
1) Tasting. Tasting food, etc., is Makrooh if done unnecessarily. If an ill-tempered husband shows his unjustified wrath when food has not been prepared to satisfy his taste, it will be permissible for the wife to taste the food while she is preparing it. As long as nothing goes down her throat, her fast will be valid and her act of tasting will not be Makrooh.
2) Using powder or paste to clean the teeth. If anything of these substances slips down the throat the saum is nullified.
3) Caressing, fondling or kissing the wife. If ejaculation does not occurs, the saum will be valid.
4) To rinse the mouth at time other than when making wudnu.
5) To put water in the nose at time other than when making wudhu.
6) To take ghusl merely for cooling.
7) To swim.
8) To unnecessarily apply ointment to the lips. If, however, due to pair caused by cracked lips, ointment is applied, care should be taken to prevent licking the ointment.
9) To unnecessarily chew something to soften it, for example.
10) To eat when in doubt as regards the existence of Sahri time. If later it transpires that Shari time had in fact expires, qadha will be obligatory.
11) To make Iftar (I.e. to break the fast) when in doubt as to the time of sunset. If it transpires that the time when iftar was made the sun had not yet set. Quadha will be obligatory.
12) Participating in un-Islamic activities such as watching television and playing games such as chess, draughts, monopoly, etc., The thawa of the Saum is destroyed by indulgence in such unlawful activities.
13) Gheebat or back-biting.
14) To gargle the mouth when making wudhu.
From On Desk
The exact starting date depended on the locale, but most Muslims across the globe will be fasting, praying and abstaining from sex and smoking during daylight hours. Many call it a time of spiritual purity and rededication to Almighty Allah.
Here's everything you need to know about the observance.Ramadan is the name of the ninth month in the Hijri, or Islamic calendar. The word derives from the Arabic ramida or ar-ramad meaning a fierce, burning heat.
Ramadan is the most sacred month in the Muslim year, commemorating the revelation of the Holy Quran - the sacred religious text of Islam - by the angel Gabriel to the Prophet Mohammed, according to Islamic tradition.
The main obligation of the festival is the Sawm, or fast. Believers are expected to refrain from eating and drinking from dawn (fajr) until dusk (maghrib) for the entire month, a discipline that is thought to burn away all sins (hence the origin of the word 'ramadan'). The Sawm is considered one of the five "pillars," or foundations of Islam, the others being the Shahadah (profession of faith), Salat (praying five times daily), Zakat (charity) and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).
Ramadan begins with the sighting of the new moon. Because it is calculated according to a lunar rather than a fixed calendar, its precise dates change from year to year, and it can begin at different times in different parts of the world. According to the Islamic Society of North America, Ramadan started this year on July 9 and ends on August 8.
Ramadan officially ends on the first day of the month of Shawwal. This heralds a three-day celebration called Eid al-Fitr, or the "Festival of Breaking Fast", a joyous occasion during which believers attend mosques, give gifts, visit friends and family and decorate their homes.
Ramadan: Rules of Fasting
THINGS WHICH BREAKS FAST
1) Eating or drinking breaks the sawn.
2) Sexual intercourse even if there is no emergence of semen.
3) Smoking
4) Inhaling smoke by one's own action. E.g. inhaling the smoke of incense, etc.
5) Application of medication into the anus.
6) Swallowing any substance or object which is not normally, consumed as food or medicine, e.g. pebbles, paper, a com, etc.
7) Pouring oil into the ear.
8)Saliva mingled with blood will break- the fast if the taste of blood is discernible when swallowing.
9) Eating deliberately after having eaten mistakenly. (Eating mistake does not break the fast).
10) Water slipping down the throat while making wudhu even if not done deliberately.
11) Deliberately inducing oneself to vomit will break- the fast if the vomit is a mouthful. If the emergence of vomit cannot be
restrained, the vomit will be said to be a mouthful. Vomiting less than a mouthful will not break the fast even if it is deliberately induced
12) A food particle the size of a chana (about the size of a half a pea), becoming unstuck from the teeth and slipping down the throat.
13) Applying drops of medicine into the nostrils.
14) Masturbation. In addition to it nullifying the saum. It is an immoral and a sinful act. The perpetrator has been cursed by Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam).
15) Medical test undertaken by women in which any instrument, etc. Is internally inserted.
16) Ejaculation as a result of caressing and fondling the wife even if there was no sexual intercourse.
THINGS WHICH DO NOT BREAK THE FAST
1) Eating, drinking or indulging in sexual relation forgetfully. This means that at the time of committing act. One does not remember the fast. However, if one continues even momentarily after recalling the fast, the Saum will be nullified.
2) Applying eye drops.
3) Water entering the ear.
4) Vomiting, no matter how much. This refers to vomiting which is not self-induced. For the rule regarding self-induced vomiting, (see above no. 11)
5) Smoke, which is inhaled unintentionally, not by one's volition or conscious action.
6) Applying Surmah into the eye.
7) Smelling anything fragrant providing that there are no vapors.
8) A food particle less than the size of a chana becoming unstuck from the teeth.
9) Swallowing saliva and slime.
10) Injection. The injection of medicine into the body will not break the fast providing that the medicine does not reach the brain or stomach.
11) Blood in the saliva will not break the fast if the blood is less than the saliva. This fact will be recognized if the taste of the blood is not discerned.
12) Using a miswak to clean the teeth even if the miswak is fresh and has a taste.
13) Breast-feeding the baby.
14) If during wudhu water slips down the throat while on does not remember the saum, the fast will not break.
15) Ejaculation of semen during sleep.
16) Ejaculation caused by imagination.
17) Janabat or the state of Hadath-e-Akbar which is purified by ghusl. If one has not taken ghusl and Sahri time ends, the fast is valid.
THINGS WHICH DO NOT BREAK THE FAST, BUT WHICH ARE MAKROOH DURING SAUM
Some things, while not breaking the fast are nevertheless Makrooh to do during fasting. Makrooh means detestable and in this context Makrooh things are sinful. Makrooh things bring about a decrease in the committing of the Saum. It is, therefore, essential to abstain from community Makrooh acts. The following acts are Makrooh during fasting.
1) Tasting. Tasting food, etc., is Makrooh if done unnecessarily. If an ill-tempered husband shows his unjustified wrath when food has not been prepared to satisfy his taste, it will be permissible for the wife to taste the food while she is preparing it. As long as nothing goes down her throat, her fast will be valid and her act of tasting will not be Makrooh.
2) Using powder or paste to clean the teeth. If anything of these substances slips down the throat the saum is nullified.
3) Caressing, fondling or kissing the wife. If ejaculation does not occurs, the saum will be valid.
4) To rinse the mouth at time other than when making wudnu.
5) To put water in the nose at time other than when making wudhu.
6) To take ghusl merely for cooling.
7) To swim.
8) To unnecessarily apply ointment to the lips. If, however, due to pair caused by cracked lips, ointment is applied, care should be taken to prevent licking the ointment.
9) To unnecessarily chew something to soften it, for example.
10) To eat when in doubt as regards the existence of Sahri time. If later it transpires that Shari time had in fact expires, qadha will be obligatory.
11) To make Iftar (I.e. to break the fast) when in doubt as to the time of sunset. If it transpires that the time when iftar was made the sun had not yet set. Quadha will be obligatory.
12) Participating in un-Islamic activities such as watching television and playing games such as chess, draughts, monopoly, etc., The thawa of the Saum is destroyed by indulgence in such unlawful activities.
13) Gheebat or back-biting.
14) To gargle the mouth when making wudhu.
From On Desk
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