RAMADHAN AL-MUBARAK

In Islam, fasting for a month is an obligatory practice during the holy month of Ramadhan, from fajr(dawn), until maghrib(sunset). During these 30 days, Muslims are prohibited from eating, drinking, smoking while fasting. Fasting is more than abstaining from food and drink. It also includes abstaining from any falsehood in speech and action, from any ignorant and indecent speech, and from arguing and fighting, and lustful thoughts. Therefore, fasting helps develop good behaviour.

Fasting also inculcates a sense of fraternity and solidarity, as Muslims feel and experience what their needy and hungry brothers and sisters feel. However, even the poor, needy, and hungry participate in the fast. Moreover, Ramadan is a month of giving charity and sharing meals to break the fast together.

Fasting strengthens family ties, especially in that the family is an endangered institution in the western society. It helps the family gather together to break fast at Iftar, and then eat sahuur (food before fasting) together at least twice a day for a month. The family even makes Salaat together with normally the head of the family as an Imam.

The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Many a faster receives naught from his fast except the pain of hunger and thirst. The tongue must desist from slander and backbiting. The eyes must restrain themselves from any unlawful look. The hand must not touch or take what does not belong to it. The ears must not listen to idle talk, gossip, lyrics and notes that contain obscene and indecent things; the nose must fast also by not sniffing, smelling unlawful things. The feet must fast by not going to places where sinful acts are propagated.

Have a baraqah fasting to All Muslim.