How to fast in Islam?

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

How is Islam different from other religions? Fasting Ramadan for Muslims is the most sacred time of the year. They refrain from all pleasures in order to test the power of will over carnal desires, to repent of sins, to overcome pride in the name of the forgiveness of the Almighty. What is the correct way to fast in Islam? This will be discussed in the article.

General information

During the Islamic fast - uraza, fasting during the day should not take any food. They are not allowed to drink alcoholic beverages, to have intimate relationships. At present, bans have appeared on smoking cigarettes and chewing gum (and, as you know, they did not exist at the time of the prophet). And drinking alcohol in Islam is forbidden not only in the holy month of Ramadan, but, in general, throughout the year. Moreover, their sale is unacceptable. Unlike Christianity, fasting in Islam allows the adoption of any food: both meat and fried. At the same time, it is limited in time. It is permissible to eat only at night. It must be taken into account that Islam does not allow eating the meat of certain animals. For example,pork is a big ban.

Not only the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims is fasting time. Islam divides it into two types. The first post is required. It must be observed in the holy month of Ramadan (ninth in the Muslim calendar). The second one is recommended. In Islam, the calendar is not the same as the Gregorian. It is shorter by 11 days. And that is why every year the month of Ramadan comes ten days earlier. And the following days of fasting in Islam are recommended: every Monday and Thursday; 9th, 10th, 11th of the month of Muharram; the first six days of Shawwal. In addition to refusing food and carnal pleasures, fasting people are required to pray (pray). Eating should be done before the morning prayer (Fajr) and after the evening prayer (Maghrib). It is generally accepted that during this month, the Almighty (Allah) is more favorable to prayers and increases the significance of good deeds.

Unlike the Christian fast, fasting in Islam is not sad, but festive. For true Muslims, it is the greatest holiday. They prepare for it in advance: they buy food and gifts, since the Almighty forgives sins and answers the prayers of not only those who fast, but also those who help those in need, and simply do charity work. After all, even the most disadvantaged should take food with the onset of the dark time of the day, participate in the holiday. Therefore, at the end of sacred time, it is customary to collect money (zakat) for the poor. In addition to charitable deeds, you need to try not to deceive anyone. Otherwise, it is generally accepted that the Almighty will not accept either fasting or prayers.

Lent time

Islam, as the reader already knows, calls all Muslims to fast in the holy month of Ramadan. What date his offensive will fall on depends on the lunar calendar. For every year it falls on a new date. During Uraza, it is customary to get up even before the morning prayer in order to eat breakfast. This procedure of eating before sunrise is called suhoor. The holy prophet ordered the faithful not to neglect him, because he would give a lot of strength to perform prayer (prayer). Therefore, waking up an hour earlier should not be difficult for believers. And it is recommended to complete the suhoor before the completion of the morning prayer - fajra, so as not to be late for the time of fasting.

Throughout the day, until dusk, the fasting person is obliged to spend in complete restriction, without food and water. He is obliged to interrupt it before the evening prayer. You need to open iftar with a sip of fresh water and a date. It is recommended to break the fast on time, without putting it off for later. After taking water and dates, you do not need to immediately eat. First you need to perform the evening prayer, and only then you are allowed to start dinner - iftar. It is forbidden to eat to satiety and overeat. You need to take just enough to satisfy the feeling of hunger. Otherwise, the post will lose its meaning. And, as you know, he is needed to cultivate bodily lust.

Activities that devastate the body

What breaks fasting in Islam? These actions are of two kinds: that which empties a person, and that which fills him. The first are those in the processwhich certain fluids come out of the body. As you know, this can be intentional vomiting (if it was not intentional, fasting is not considered violated) or bloodletting. Just as mentioned above, it is forbidden to have intimate relationships. And as you know, during this process, both men and women release sexual genetic material. Since the action is intentional, it is considered a violation.

In general, even without the release of genetic material, intimate contact breaks the fast. Even if it happens between legal spouses. If the release occurred without intimate contact, but intentionally (masturbation), then this is also a violation, since in Islam such an action is considered a sin. However, if a man deliberately decided to do this, but there was no release of sexual fluid, then the fast is not considered violated. It is also not a violation of unintentional release in both men and women.

In Islam, this violation is the most serious. If a person has repented, then he can atone for his guilt in two ways: either free the slave (in the civilized world this is difficult and actually inaccessible), or fast for the next two months. Even if, without just cause, he violates or interrupts the restriction that he maintains on the occasion of repentance for adultery, he must begin anew a two-month abstinence.

Hugging and kissing while fasting is allowed. But these actions should not lead to sexual arousal, so that something that breaks the fast does not happen. If spouses know how to control themselves, thencan easily kiss each other. If there is no confidence in yourself or in your soul mates, then you need to give up hugs. Sometimes it happens that the release of genetic material occurred in a dream. And as you know, a person does not control his actions at this time. Therefore, the post is not broken. In this case, there is no need to reimburse him. And sodomy and bestiality in Islam are always grave sins, and not only in the month of Ramadan.

Bleeding while fasting

Donating blood is also a violation. It is believed that in this way a person becomes weaker. Feeling unwell while fasting is unacceptable. This means that a person should not become a donor. Even in case of emergency, it is a violation. However, the fasting person can make up for it on another day. If the blood went unintentionally, then the restriction is not violated. It also does not apply to him and donating blood for analysis. Indeed, in this case, little liquid is surrendered, so the person does not experience weakness. In addition, fasting during the menstrual cycle (also bloodletting in its own way) is not allowed. As you know, the fair sex during this period experience weakness and soreness. And, as stated above, fasting is unacceptable at such a time.

Nausea while fasting

If a fasting person has stomach problems, then he does not have to control vomiting, fearing that this may break the fast. When a Muslim deliberately called her, then for this action there will be no punishment. If athe fasting person involuntarily emptied the stomach of its contents, this will not affect the observance of the fast. So, it is not necessary to restrain the urge to vomit. But calling them is intentionally forbidden.

Activities that fill the body

Filling actions are those during which the human body is filled. This is food and drink. And as you know, they are unacceptable during daylight hours. In addition to them, taking medications, infusion of blood, injections are also considered violations. If the medicines are taken as a rinse and not swallowed, then this is acceptable. Therefore, it is necessary to drink pills and other medicines in the dark. Also, the fast is not considered broken if the blood is re-infused after it has been purified and saturated with the necessary nutrients. In addition, eye and ear drops or enemas are also not forbidden in uraza. Even the extraction of teeth is acceptable, despite the probable discharge of blood from the wounds. If a fasting person uses oxygen pillows (including asthmatics), then fasting is also not violated. Because air is not food and drink, but a gas that enters the lungs.

Any Muslim who intentionally eats or drinks has committed a major sin. Therefore, he is obliged to repent, to compensate for the violation on another day. And it is a double sin to accept what Islam forbids on any day, and not just in fasting - alcohol and pork. If a person simply forgot about the restriction (and this is often observed in the first days of the Uraza), then fasting is not considered.violated. It is not necessary to reimburse it. A person should thank the Almighty for sending him food (and there are many starving people in the world). If a Muslim sees that someone else is reaching for food, he is obliged to stop him and remind him of fasting. Swallowing saliva or food stuck between the teeth is also not a violation.

What actions do not break the fast?

How to fast in Islam? What actions will not break it? In addition to the cases mentioned above, they include the following manipulations: applying antimony to the eyes (as is known, this is true for Muslim women); brushing your teeth with a special brush (miswak) or a regular brush without paste. The use of the latter is not prohibited. The main thing is not to swallow the remedy, even partially. Other hygiene procedures are also allowed: rinsing the nose, mouth, taking a shower. Swimming is also allowed, but on the condition that a person does not dive with his head, as this can lead to water ingestion.

Also does not break the fast of a Muslim who involuntarily swallowed tobacco smoke or dust. Inhalation of aromas is also allowed (even intentionally). If women (and sometimes men) cook food, then tasting them is acceptable. But it is forbidden to swallow it. Treatment of wounds with ointments, iodine, brilliant green solution is acceptable. Women can have their hair cut and dyed. The same applies to men. In addition, the fair sex is allowed to use cosmetics. But many during Ramadan from herrefuse.

Smoking while fasting

Smoking during Uraza also breaks the fast. In general, this process is undesirable in Islam, because it harms the body and mind, and devastates the wallet. And also due to uselessness. Therefore, intentionally swallowing tobacco smoke (as opposed to involuntary) breaks the fast. But many people who hold uraza do not enjoy cigarettes only during daylight hours. It is not right. Because smoking not only cigarettes, but also a hookah is prohibited for the entire month of fasting in Islam. It often happens that after the end of Ramadan, many give up this addiction.

Fasting during pregnancy and lactation

How to fast during pregnancy in Islam? The expectant mother, if she feels well, there is no threat to either her or the child, is obliged to comply with the restrictions. If there is a possibility of a miscarriage, then fasting is optional. The same applies to breastfeeding mothers. Therefore, before the onset of holy fasting, the above women should consult a doctor. And pass the necessary tests.

If they are not recommended to fast on the occasion of a difficult pregnancy or for other reasons, then they are obliged to compensate for fasting at another time. Preferably before next Ramadan. In addition, such a young lady needs to give alms to the needy (both money and food). However, if a woman cannot make up the fast due to the fact that she is again carrying the baby under her heart or continues to feed, then it is quite enough for herhelp the poor.

The fasting of a pregnant woman in Islam is not too strict. It is not necessary to observe it for all thirty days in a row. Violations are allowed every second day. Sometimes you can take a break for a week. The main thing is to keep thirty days in total. Since fasting days in winter are much shorter than summer ones (in the cold season it dawns late and gets dark early), it is allowed for young mothers to make up the fast on these days, even if Ramadan was in summer.

Fasting during critical days

Can I fast during my period? Islam forbids a devout Muslim woman not only to observe restrictions, but also to perform namaz. If a woman does not do this on critical days, then there is no need to compensate. All this is due to the fact that these days the ladies are not clean. And as you know, the observance of the most important Islamic rituals is allowed only with the utmost hygiene.

If a woman is fasting, and suddenly she begins to discharge, then it is considered violated. the girl will have to make up for it. But if it happened after dusk, then there was no violation. The next day, you need to refrain from restrictions until the end of the monthly cycle. In a word, fasting should be for the benefit of those who are fasting, and not to their detriment. And with a feeling of weakness of the body, you can get more negative from the uraza than positive moments.