what is ramadan fast?

Answer 1

to refrain yourself from eating, to control yourself from lust, Mainly to teach you to have patience and appreciate others less fortunate

Answer 2

Fasting during the month of Ramadan, as laid down in the holy Quran (2:183-185), is the fourth pillar of the faith. According to the Quran, this entire month is ordained for fasting and abstinence by all adult Muslims. Fasting begins at daybreak and ends at sunset, and during the day eating, drinking, and smoking are forbidden.

A cloudy sky may delay or prolong the Ramadan fast. For, the the beginning and the end of the fast depends on the sighting of the crescent moon. It takes one trustworthy witness to testify before the authorities that the new moon has been sighted. And the Ramadan announcements are made accordingly.

According to Quran, for a person who is sick or on a journey, fasting may be postponed until "another equal number of days." The elderly and the incurably sick are exempted through the daily feeding of one poor person.

According to the Quran, the fast of Ramadan has been instituted so that believers may cultivate piety. The fast during Ramadan begins each day at dawn and ends immediately at sunset. During the fast period, Muslims are forbidden to eat, drink, smoke and make love. Before retiring for the night, special congregational prayers are offered in which long passages from the Quran are recited. The day after the end of Ramadan is Id-ul-Fitr, the festival that celebrates the breaking of the fast with special prayers and festivities.

In theQuran,the development of the Ramadan fast, which is one of the five Pillars, or basic institutions, of Islam, may be traced from the injunction to fast on 'Ashura' , the 10th of Muharram, probably once identical with the Jewish Day of Atonement. This injunction was abrogated by a command to fast during Ramadan (2:184).

Unlike the period of fasting observed in other major faiths, fast in Ramadan is seen less as an atonement and more as an obedient response to a command from God

Answer 3

Muslims celebrate Ramadan each year. Generally lasting a month. Right now it is Ramadan time in Japan. My husband is Muslim. So he is fasting. He wakes at 3:30am eats a good breakfast and then says pray. After Pray he will refrain from eating,drinking, wearing anything with scent and any sexual behavior til his fasting is over which is around 5:45pm. The time changes each night due to the sunsetting. At the end of Ramadan they celebrate Eid. Families and friends will celebrate with lots of foods. It is also common for them to offer goods to those less fortunate then themselves.

Answer 4

Ramadan is a month of charity. We deny food and water to ourselves not only to feel sympathy for those who go hungry out of need, but also by appreciating these blessings of the God that we normally take for granted.

Ramadan is a month of charity, where you share your wealth, hospitality with our fellow beings, beginning with our family, neighbors and those in need as a means to get closer to the Lord Most High.

In ancient times when people used to have slaves, it was customary for rich people to free slaves. The Prophet of Islam had taught that if one misses a fast, one should free a slave if one owns slaves or if one has no slaves of their own, then they should free slaves by buying them and giving them freedom.

Those who did not have the ability to free slaves, are required to feed sixty hungry people for every fast that one misses. It is a way of turning our sins into a benefit for the needy.

Ramadan fast is also a means to give your body a break from working continuously, especially the stomach.

The fast also helps people to lose weight.

As it is a month of prayers and supplications along with fasting, it gives people an opportunity to leave bad habbits that they may have acquired. Many people who are not being punctual in their daily prayers become punctual due to this holy month.

Many who have bad habbits, manage to break away from the routine and thus break habbits such as cigarette smoking, drinking or gambling and other bad habbits. It is thus an opportunity to turn away from wrong doing and a revival of spiritual development one more time.

It is ultimately a deep opportunity to connect with the Almighty at many levels. People become humbled due to their hunger, people become compassionate to those who go hungry or thirsty and it is the longest act of worship for one month, day after day plus six days more for those who have the capacity to continue with the fasting into the next month.

It is finally an opportunity at the end of the month of fasting to give fitrah or the poor due at the end of the month, which is to be given by each person to a person in need in person, if possible. This way relationships between the poor and the rich are re-established.

There are many other countless blessings that can not be enumerated by any one person.

May the Lord bless you for asking this question. Amen.

Answer 5

it is a ritual in Islam, when the month of ramadan comes (Arabic moon months) muslims "fast" (stop eating or drinking from dawn to sunset) everyday for the whole month.

Answer 6

The Ramadaan fast is to fast during the holy month of Ramadaan. Muslims fast from pre-dawn to sunset every day for 29 to 30 consecutive days.
We abstain from food, drink and sexual intercourse during the fast.

God legislated fasting for gaining Taqwa (Piety), "O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed upon you as it has been prescribed upon those before you, so that you may attain Taqwa." (meaning of Soraatul Baqarah (2):183)
You who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you-so that hopefully you will guard against evil-for a specified number of days.

Answer 7

[Sahih Bukhari : volume 3, Book 31, Number 118]

Narrated Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu): Allah's Apostle (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) said, "Fasting is a shield (or a screen or a shelter). So, the person observing fasting should avoid sexual relation with his wife and should not behave foolishly and impudently, and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should tell him twice, 'I am fasting." The Prophet added, "By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. (Allah says about the fasting person), 'He has left his food, drink and desires for My sake. The fast is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times."

[Sahih Bukhari : volume 3, Book 31, Number 120]

Narrated Sahl (Radi Allah Anhu): The Prophet Muhammad (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) said, "There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Raiyan, and those who observe fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection and none except them will enter through it. It will be said, 'Where are those who used to observe fasts?' They will get up, and none except them will enter through it. After their entry the gate will be closed and nobody will enter through it."

[Sahih Bukhari : volume 3, Book 31, Number 123]

Narrated Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu): Allah's Apostle (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) said, "When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained."

Answer 8

In Ramadan, Muslims fast for the whole month, here is how it goes:
we dont eat, drink, smoke, or have s**.
we have 5 prayers aday, fasting is not eating, drinking or smoking from fajr (sunrise) prayer till the prayer of Maghreb (sunset)
girls dont prefer to wear short skirts, sleevless tops..etc specially in this holly month.
men and women try to avoid anything that excites them, like nudity in movies and stuff like that.
muslims try not to fight and control their tempers in this month.
muslims keep giving zakah (money, food, clothes..etc) to poor people.
the main aim for fasting is to experience the poor helpless people's lives, as sometimes they dont eat, drink or have anything.
a very pure thoughtful idea

Answer 9

Ramadan (Arabic: رمضان, Ramadhan) is the ninth month of Hijri (Islamic) calendar since 638. It is considered the most venerated, blessed and holiest month. Prayers, fasting, self-accountability and charity have special association with Ramadan. The religious observances of Ramadan occur throughout the entire Islamic (Lunar) calendar month.

FASTING

The most prominent event of this month is the fasting practiced by all observant Muslims. The fasting during Ramadan has been so predominant in defining the month that some have been led to believe the name of this month, Ramadan, is the name of Islamic fasting, when in reality the Arabic term for fasting is sawm.
Ramadan Dinner known as Iftar
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Ramadan Dinner known as Iftar

Eating, drinking, sexual intercourse and smoking are not allowed between dawn (fajr), and sunset (maghrib). During Ramadan, Muslims are also expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam by refraining from violence, anger, envy, greed, lust, angry and sarcastic retorts, refrain from gambling and betting and gossip. Sexual intercourse during fasting in the day is not allowed but is permissible after the fast. All obscene and irreligious sights and sounds are to be avoided. Purity of both thought and action is important. The fast is an exacting act of deep personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised level of closeness to God. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. Properly observing the fast brings on a comfortable feeling of peace and calm.

Fasting during Ramadan is not obligatory for several groups for whom it would be excessively problematic. Children before the onset of puberty are not required to fast. However, if puberty is later than is normally expected, fasting becomes obligatory for males and females after a certain age. According to the Qur'an, if fasting would be dangerous to someone's health, such as a person with an illness or medical condition (this can include the elderly), that person is excused. For example, diabetics and nursing or pregnant women are not usually expected to fast; but they are encouraged to feed a needy person instead[1]. According to hadith, observing the Ramadan fast is not allowed during menstruation period for women; still they (women) must make up these days they didn't fast during their menstruation period. Other individuals for whom it is usually considered acceptable not to fast are those in battle and travelers who intend to spend fewer than ten days away from home. If one's condition preventing fasting is only temporary, one is required to make up for the days missed after the month of Ramadan is over and before the next Ramadan arrives. If one's condition is permanent or present for an extended period of time, one may make up for the fast by feeding a needy person for every day missed.

If one who does not fit into one of the exempt categories breaks the fast out of forgetfulness, the fast is still valid. If, however, one intentionally breaks the fast, that individual must continue fasting for the remainder of the day but then make up for the entire day later in addition to a "penalty" (kaffara) which can be in one of three forms: fasting for 60 consecutive days[citation needed], or feeding 60 people in need. If one breaks the fast through consensual sexual intercourse, the transgressor must make up for the day lost while also choosing one of the above penalties. It should be noted that if a person is required to break their fast because their life is in danger or they require medicine that they have to take at that particular time, ie, the person has a perfectly valid reason for breaking the fast and they can not keep it no matter what, they do not have to pay "compensation" in the event of breaking their fast.

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Answer 10

fasting, creates the heart to identify the people who dont have nothing to eat. the holy Quran revealed in this month. We pay moneies to the poor, read and pray as much as we can this month, take hatred out of outr hearts, respect everyone... u name all the good things, we do in this month.

Answer 11

ramadan is a holy month in islamic calender.in this month every muslim have to fast for the whole one month.its mainly a beginning or a sort of rehersal to b followed in the later coming months too.in this month a muslim is abstained from eating anything,besides he should dedicate himself fully to god without indulging in worldly and materialistic activities.its not just abstaining oneself from food,but also from bad deeds,bad conduct,bad thoughts,etc and moving far away for all bad things.