Fasting in Ramadan is one of the pillars of Islaam, and as such it is an important aspect in and of itself. The virtues and benefit Ramadan however goes beyond it being a pillar, there are numerous benefits that one acres by fasting in the month, praying in its nights and it contains a night better than a thousand months. This is more than eighty-three years. How many people even live up to eighty-three years these days .
So deriving the benefits of this night are worth more than a lifetime for some people. It is in view of the virtues of this month in mid that we have decided to touch on some of the important aspects of e month, so that we can be on the lookout and have a complete fast, The obligation It is obligatory on the believers as Allah says, "O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for those before you, as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become God conscious (Q2:183).
Exemptions: Some categories of people have however been exempted (temporarily-or as long as the condition for exemption exist). These are the traveller and the ill. Allah says: "and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Saum (fasts) must be made up] from other days. Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you" (Q2:155).
They are to make up the fast on days other than in Ramadan Also excused are those who have difficulty in fasting such as old men and women. Allah says: "And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. a old man, etc.), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskin (poor person) (for every day)" (Q2:184) . Breast feeding women and pregnant women have also been included as part of those who can fast with difficulty if it is established that its going to adversely affect their health or their babies; They can however feed a poor person for each day they missed .
Its rulings watching out for moon It is not the practice of the Muslims-to calculate when Ramadan is to start, rather we follow the instructions of the Rasul (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and we look for the moon (either we see it ourselves or we are informed of its sighting) or we count the month of Shabaan. If those in authority in our locality (in our case Nigeria) announce that the moon has been sighted, then we start fasting.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Fast when it moon) is seen and cease fasting when it is seen, so if it is concealed by clouds, then complete thirty days of Shabaan" (Bukhari) .. Don't lust on the day of doubt We should-not precede Ramadan by fasting a day or two before it unless it is the normal day that one is used to fasting. For example if someone usuallv. fasts. on Thursdays and that day happens to be the 29 /30 of Shabaan, he should still fast so far he does not have the intention of preceding Ramadan, thinking it is the first day of Ramadan. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Do not prompt Ramadan by fasting a day or two before it, except for a man fasting his usual fast then let him fast it" (Muslim).
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited