Ramadan Guide: A List of the Best Resources On Ramadan
Welcome to our Ramadan resources corner. Here you will find all the resources and questions you have about the Holy Month of Ramadan answered.
As we are aware, the holy month of Ramadan is a month full of abundant blessings, goodness, and forgiveness for all Muslims across the globe.
And we know that you will have a lot of questions.
From what and why ramadan, to the benefits of fasting and why you should fast, you will find them here.
Bookmark this page. If you have any question that we have not answrwd, please drop as a comment below.
What is Ramadan
Ramadan is one of the pillars of Islam which can be categorized under sawm(fasting), it is practiced on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and all Muslims around the globe are expected to practice it.
It requires everyone in the faith of Islam who worships Allah and agrees that the prophet Mohammed PBUH is a messenger, to fast during the daylight hours till sunset. Not only does it require not eating or drinking, but also, there are other activities that need to be observed which include
Do’s
- Making sure daily solat are being observed
- Recitation or rehearsing the word of God (the Quran)
- Praying and seeking forgiveness from Almighty Allah
- Being kind to neighbors including the non-Muslims
- Giving alms to the needy
- Avoiding impurities
- Volunteering
- Praying the Taraweeh prayer
- Participating in i’tikaf (spending long hours in the mosque for continuous prayer)
- Make dua as much as you can
- Utilizing Lay-lat’ul-Qadr (Night of Power)
- Giving Zakat
All these listed above are certain things that should be practiced during the month of Ramadan. The idea of these is to keep a strong bond with God (Allah) and do what God loves the most. Giving zakat is a wonderful act of seeking God’s kindness.
In Surat’ul Al Baiyina- The Clear Evidence, it reads “And they have been commanded no more than this: to worship Allah, offering Him sincere devotion, being True (in faith); to establish regular Prayer, and to give zakat; and that is the Religion right and straight”
Therefore, worshiping God more in the month of Ramadan and giving zakat/alms to the needy is believed to be much more rewarding.
Don’ts
- Smoking
- Alcohol intake
- Womanizing
- Cursing
- Backbiting
- Lying
- Cheating
- Gambling
- Fighting
Who can fast in the month of Ramadan?
Every Muslim is expected to fast, although there are exceptions to who is qualified to fast during the month of Ramadan. The category of people who are exempted from fasting are mentioned below.
- A person suffering from any illness or other health condition
- Pregnant or breastfeeding mother
- Menstruating women
- Travelers
Why Do We Fast During Ramadan?
Fasting in the month of Ramadan is indeed an important obligation that must be observed by Muslims. The importance of fasting during the month of Ramadan is subjected to many words said by Allah.
Apart from the fact that it is one of the 5 pillars (commandments) of Islam. Allah says in [Quran 2:183] “To you, fasting is prescribed upon, the same way it was prescribed upon those before you”.
Furthermore, the messenger of Allah PBUH once said “There has come to you Ramadan, a blessed month, which Allah, the Mighty, and Sublime, has enjoined you to fast. In it (the month of Ramadan), the gates of the heavens are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and every devil is chained up.
The month of Ramadan has a night that is worth more than a thousand months; whoever is deprived of its goodness is indeed deprived. A night in which God pours blessings to whosoever believes in him and worships him, sends forth his Angles from heaven by his permission to bless the righteous doers.
Also, the prophet PBUH made it known that the Almighty “Allah” says, “All the good deeds of sons of Adam (Mankind) are for them, except fasting, which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.”
These messages given have made it an important task that all Muslims in the world need to perform. Here are more ways to fast this ramadan
Is fasting harmful to health
Fasting is a great practice to seek forgiveness and blessings. One of the best ways to seek forgiveness is through fasting. Fasting is ordered to be fasted by healthy individuals.
It should not be indulged by those who are unhealthy, those who are facing serious health issues, and both pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, due to their condition.
It is likely for fast to cause some sudden change in the body system due to the absence of food, and water in the body, thus, causing hunger and dehydration and can lead to certain health difficulty which includes an increment in stress level, sleeplessness during the daytime hour, and can lead to a headache.
However, fasting is not harmful to health if practiced in the right way and following due procedures.
Alhamdulillah! Allah has surely made it easier on us, giving us the privilege to eat suhoor before fajr time and break fast(iftar) at sunset, which means we are given the chance to eat to gather nutrients that we need to take you through the day without feeling too famished and making it easy to break immediately the sun sets
Adapting for Ramadan
When the month of Ramadan approaches, there are certain preparations that you need to do so when the days of fasting finally come in, you are already prepared to be adapted to it. Below are a few things you can start doing in a few days or a few months before Ramadan, and also during Ramadan.
- Practicalizing Ramadan – You tend to go a few hours without eating so your body can adapt to the restrictions and absence of food.
- Preparing Iftar and Suhoor Menu ahead
- Eating high energy and slow-burn food for suhoor so you can have the strength to fast throughout the day
- Shopping ahead so you can limit and manage time for shopping
- Eating fruits that are high in antioxidants and fiber
- Taking regular breaks and not overworking yourself
Useful Resources:
Maintaining Physical health during Ramadan
Individuals with a series of health issues are exempted from fasting, however, if you still can’t do without fasting, you can meet your doctor for advice concerning your health. But most importantly, never force yourself too fast if you have a health problem.
Iftars at Home
There are some questions concerning if iftar (breaking of fast) can be done at home or necessarily at a masjid (mosque). Preparing your iftar is likely one of the best ways to break your fast because you can eat what your mind and body want.
Another good advantage of making iftar meals and breaking fast at home is that you will be able to feed and quench your thirst with organic meals. You will also be able to share with your family and friends.
Breaking your fast in the mosque is not bad either, while you break at the mosque, you are also prepared to pray the maghrib prayer as it happens to be observed at sunset which is the same time you break your fast. Here is a 30Day Ramadan Meal Planner you can follow during Ramadan season.
Donating and Volunteering
The act of donating from one’s wealth (not likely money), and volunteering is an act that is rewarding by the Almighty. Donating from your health never makes you lack as you know the saying “Givers never lack”.
In the month of Ramadan, make sure you spread love to friends, families, strangers, colleagues at work, Muslims, and even the non-Muslims around both inside and outside your society. It is a month in which giving out to the needy attracts high rewards.
Wherever you find yourself and help is needed and you know you are capable, please do not hesitate to help.
Also, make sure you donate and volunteer safely, if you are not capable of volunteering you don’t have to, but if you know deeply that you won’t be affected then do it.
Sharing Ramadan in Society
In the society we live in, there might be people who are fasting but don’t have much financially. If you are in the position to donate food items to the community you should.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Whoever feeds a fasting person will earn the same reward as him without diminishing in any way the reward of the fasting person.” This hadith encourages Muslims and non-Muslims to feed those who are in need of food, especially during Ramadan
Prayer Facilities: Advice for Mosques
It is advised for Mosques to provide food for those who are hungry, and those who don’t have anything to break their fast during the month of Ramadan.
Mosques should also hold prayer programs like Tarawih, Lay-lat’ul-Qadr, Tahajud, and more. Mosques should also preach sermons on the benefits of fasting in the month of Ramadan, rewards, dos and don’ts, and many others.
Mosques should also encourage and help the less privileged.
Advice for Employers/Managers
As an employer who is aware that you have Muslims on your team, there are certain ways in which you can help or contribute and also be rewarded by God. Helping people fast attracts great rewards if you are a Muslim employer or not.
You can provide your workers with a conducive environment free from impurities such as cigarettes or any kind of smoke, alcohol, noise, fight and arguments, and so on. You can also donate/contribute food provisions such as beverages, fruits, halal iftar meals, grains, custards, and many other food provisions.
An employer or manager can also set flexible work activities so your fasting workers don’t have to work so hard, exhausting their energy. You can also allow them to perform their daily salat at the nearest mosque. These are a few things you can contribute as a manager or employer.
Can I break my fast with a non-Halal product?
After a long day of fasting, it is best advised to break your fast using fluid most especially water, as this helps quench thirst and also circulate faster to supply the vein and the body to regain energy.
If you are to break your fast with any other food, be it fast food or homemade, it is best to use a halal product- permissible and adheres to the Islamic dietary law. You can also try organic fruits including date fruits, bananas, oranges, berries, and many others.
Can I pray the Taraweeh prayer at home?
Yes. The Taraweeh prayer can be observed at home with either your friends, family, or all by yourself. The prophet (PBUH) never prays any of his tarawih prayers in the masjid (mosque). Taraweeh prayer is not necessarily a congregational prayer, it can be performed alone, at home.
Best time to observe the Taraweeh prayer
Taraweeh prayer is to be observed after praying the isha prayer and before fajr. This means you can pray your tarawih prayer after the isha prayer and make sure you pray it before fajr time.
Is Taraweeh a must?
If you are wondering if the Taraweeh prayer is compulsory, the short answer is NO. However, according to Hadith, it is confirmed to be Sunnah which means it has a reward and past sins will be forgiven if prayed.
There is no reason for you as a Muslim to prevent yourself from the Sunnah of the Prophet, you can pray Tarawih throughout the Ramadan month whether at the mosque or home.
Is it safe to fast if I don’t wake for Suhoor?
Yes. Fasting can go on if you sleep past the suhur time. Although suhur is necessary because it carries its blessing and even on top of that, it also stands as an opportunity to eat something so you can have the strength to fast throughout the day. However, make sure you set an alarm if you are the type who enjoys sleep.
Is it safe if I don’t break on time?
In many scenarios, there is always a chance of fasting without having to break fast on time. It may be due to financial inability, inability to get what to break on time, being stuck in traffic with no provision of food, or other conditions.
If you have the chance to drink water then Alhamdulillah you’ve broken your fast. If you know that it is likely for you to get stuck without breaking fast, you can try to take a long date fruit, halal-chocolate bars, or candies.
If at all you can’t get what to break with then whenever you can break you should seek forgiveness, Allah sees your intentions and knows better, your situation at every moment.
If you happen to break your fast late intentionally/deliberately, know that there is no additional reward to that effect and you will also have to pay the price if you intentionally delay the break of your fast.
Why do you have to pay? Well, it is because such an act is like breaking an oath/promise. You must pay back with kaffarah(penalty), you can pay kafarrah in different ways, below are ways of paying kaffarah
- Fast consecutively for 60 days
- Providing a poor person with two meals(food) a day for straight two months
- Free a slave
Best time to perform Zakat
Zakat is one of the pillars of Islam alongside Shahada, Salat, Sawn, and Hajj. Zakat is a medium of giving out one’s wealth to charity and can be observed anytime but not more than once. However, most Muslims prefer to perform zakat during the month of Ramadan to receive a bigger reward.
How is Zakat calculated?
Zakat is calculated according to personal wealth (precisely; income and value of possession). You are to pay your zakat when your money has passed the Nisab threshold (minimum amount of wealth), over a full Islamic lunar year.
If your current asset falls below the threshold then you no longer have to pay. It is calculated by 2.5% of your wealth, which means if you earn $1,000 you are to pay $25, such a convenient amount to spare from your wealth.
Is it a necessity to attend Eid prayer after Ramadan?
According to some Islamic schools and some scholars like Hanafi, they said it is wajib; obligatory while according to Hanbali, it says it is Fard which means it is necessary.
On the other hand, the Maliki and Shafi’i, believe the Eid prayer to be Sunnah Al’Mu’akkadah, which means it is a Sunnah and a tradition that is never to be abandoned, but not mandatory.
Can non-Muslims fast in the month of Ramadan?
Yes, they can. Apart from being a spiritual practice, Ramadan fasting can also be adopted as a social practice amongst non-Muslims.
Can I kiss in the month of Ramadan?
With your spouse/partner, Yes. Kissing your partner during fasting can be done by couples but not a passionate kiss. It is advised not to even kiss during fasting hours. It should be done after iftar- after breaking the fast, or before the beginning of a new fast.
Is having sexual intercourse possible during Ramadan?
The urge of having intercourse is likely to happen during one month of fasting. It is permissible to have sex during the month of Ramadan but this practice only applies to couples who are legally married, i.e Husband and Wife.
During the day, couples are only allowed to kiss, hug, and cuddle but must not have sex. Sexual intercourse among couples can only be done after breaking the fast or before the beginning of another fast.
No girlfriend, No fiance. Only couples are permitted to have sex.
Also, both couples should bath Janabah (A act of bathing off impurity caused by contact with semen) before the beginning of a new fast as well as to keep back holy
Can I swallow headache pills while fasting?
Fasting requires not drinking water and not taking food, so if you swallow a pill it is considered as not fasting as you have already broken your fast before sunset.
There is nothing wrong with breaking your fast if the day is still long as long as it is for medical and health purposes. God is a merciful, understandable, and forgiving God and he will always forgive you when you break your fast for a unique reason.
Does taking an injection breakfast?
It is okay if you take an injection while your fast is ongoing, as long as it is for health purposes.
If you take an injection that provides nourishment that takes the place of food, then it breaks the fast because it is like breaking the oath of not eating and drinking. However, if the injection is for medical/health purposes, it does not break the fast.
Watching TV/Streaming Music
You can do whatever you like as far as you are not eating, drinking, fornicating, fighting, or doing other things that are prohibited while fasting. Also, it is advised to read and listen to the Quran instead of watching movies.
Ramadan is the month of the Quran and should be kept holy, seeking God’s blessing, favor, and forgiveness. Every minute should be utilized by rehearsing the Quran (the word of God)
Streaming sensitive movies/videos
Seeing sensitive movies or videos, especially adult themes or romance is prohibited while fasting.
Your mind and heart should be kept holy and restricted from impurities that can lead to thinking or committing sin during the month of Ramadan.
Can I watch football during Ramadan?
There is no evidence in the Quran and Hadith that it is said not to see a football match during Ramadan. As long as it does not depict you from the daily salat and other obligatory in Islam then you are free to see your favorite football games.
Fasting while on a Menstrual Cycle
It is not acceptable for women to fast during their monthly cycle. Once you discover that it’s your time of the month, be prepared to get all the necessary tools needed including sanitary pads.
Menstruating women are strictly restricted from fasting during the month of Ramadan. Remember Islam is all about cleanliness and for an important practice like Ramadan fasting, you should not fast if you are on your period and also you should not observe your daily solat till you are done with your monthly flow.
It is also said to return the fast which you missed while you were on your monthly cycle after the end of Ramadan and before the next Ramadan comes in.
Performing social activity while fasting
Verily, it is acceptable to take part in social activities, as long as it is not something haram and does not affect the obligations of Islam. Also, if your profession requires you to take part in some social activities like football, gymnastics, and so on, you can fast.
Can I continue fast if I mistakenly swallow/taste food or water
The short answer is YES. If you unintentionally swallow food; it doesn’t break your fast. Your fasting still holds but if you intentionally taste food and try to act like it was a mistake; then your fasting no longer holds.
Can I taste my iftar food while cooking during Ramadan
When preparing iftar and there is no non-Muslim or someone who is not fasting around to help you taste it if it is sweet or salty. You can taste the food with the tip of your tongue but make sure you never swallow or allow any of the food content to pass through your throat.
Can I brush my teeth while fasting?
Cleanliness is a major practice in Islam. According to many Islamic scholars, brushing the teeth or using mouthwash to make sure the mouth does not stink is allowed and does not spoil the fast, as long as you are not swallowing the toothpaste.
Also, make sure you rinse your tongue very well till you no longer have the taste of the food on your tongue.
For a nursing mother, if you need to chew food for your baby, it is totally permissible but never swallows the food. You are to rinse your tongue immediately after you are done.
Bottom Line
This guidance is compiled and carefully answered to help both newly converted and pre-existing Muslims and the non-Muslims who have been questioning.
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