Fasting

PILLARS OF ISLAM
FA S T I N G
FASTING
• “ Fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for

those before you so that you may restrain against sins”. (2:
183)
• Saum literally means to abstain from something whereas in

Shariah it mean to abstain from eating, drinking and sexual
relations from dawn till dusk.
• Fasting is enjoined on Muslims in the month of Ramadan

which is the 9th Month of Islamic Calendar.
IMPORTANCE OF FASTING
Moral Benefits:
• A believer abstains from worldly pleasures in obedience to the
command of Allah seeking His pleasure.
• Helps in building moral character
• Teaches self control
• “whoever does not give up foul speech and evil actions; Allah
is not in need of his leaving his food and drink.” (Sahih
Bukhari)
Social Benefits:
• Muslims become aware of the conditions of poor and needy

and become generous.
• Fasting brings rich closer to poor
• Awakens sympathy.
Physical Benefits:
• Beneficial for health
• Gives rest to stomach
• The whole system is cleansed of undesirable material
• Body gets rid of cholesterol, fats and other toxic matters.
Spiritual Benefits:
• Brings man closer to Allah
• Allah says, “ Fasting is for me and I give reward for it”.
(Hadith e Qudsi)
• It strengthens spiritual powers of believers and protects him
from all temptations.
• The reward of good deeds is multiplied by 10 to 700 times.
• Sins of a person are forgiven.
Economic Benefits:
• It brings economic benefits for Muslim community.
• Rich spend generously on poor and seek Allah’s blessings.
• Enables poor to fulfill their needs
• The old and permanently sick people give fidya generously to
feed the poor and needy.
HOW MUSLIMS OBSERVE THEIR FAST
DURING RAMADAN
• Introduction
• Sehri
• Do’s and Don’t’s
• Aftar
• Tarawih
• Night of Power
• Itekaf
• Sadqat ul Fitr
OBSERVING THE FASTS
• It starts with sighting of Ramadan moon.
• Intention (Niyyat): Make the intention in your heart for

observing the fast and yourself throughout the day that you are
fasting and be sincere in your intentions.
• Observe the Prophet’s sunnah in fasting e.g. take a small meal

(sahur/sehri) before dawn and end your fast at sunset, with the
adhan for Maghrib prayers.
OBSERVING THE FAST
• The quran specifies the time as; ‘And eat and drink until the
white thread of dawn appears to you distinct from its black
thread, then complete your fast till night appears” (2:187)
• The supplication to be recited at the time of ending the fast is:

‘O Allah! I have observed the fast for Your sake and I believe
in You, and I put my trust in You and (have) broken it with the
provision You have bestowed upon me.’ (Abu Daud)
RULES OF FASTING
• Avoiding anything haram or makruh: Keeping your mind

and body clean by avoiding wasting time in useless activities,
by being conscious of eating only halal foods at sehri and iftar
and to keep ones tongue free of all verbal sins like gossiping,
lying and swearing.
• Violence and Anger: display of anger, aggression and
violence is forbidden during fasting. One should show
patience and forbearance towards others and control one’s
temper and tongue.
RULES OF FASTING
• Reading of Quran: More time should be spent in recitation of

Quran, trying to complete the whole Quran at least once
during this month. According to a hadith “everything has a
best season and the best season of the Quran is Ramadan”.
• Prayer, Supplication and Remembrance of Allah: Being
punctual regarding Salah, making an effort to attend tarawih
prayers, and spending as much time as possible in worship is
recommended. One should keep busy in dhikr of Allah,
practice taubah (repentance) and seek Allah’s forgiveness.
Praying during the nights of Qadr for oneself and others.
RULES OF FASTING
• Zakat, charity & generosity: Be very charitable and

generous, help the needy and the poor, participate in social and
community welfare projects.
• Good Relations and Behavior: Maintain cordial relations
with all. Forget your quarrels and reconcile your differences in
this month, do not get involved in backbiting or anything that
is unlawful.
• Reflection: Ramadan is a month of reflection; think, reflect,
and plan to improve your moral and spiritual conduct. Think
how you can be a better Muslim and convert those thoughts
into actions.
THINGS THAT MAKES FAST VOID
• Intentionally eating, drinking, smoking, taking or injecting

medicine
• Indulging in sexual relations
• If a person vomits at least a mouthful or excessive bleeding.

PEOPLE WHO ARE EXEMPTED OF FASTING
• Children under the age of puberty.

• Insane people who are unaccountable for their actions; no
compensation or any other substitute is enjoined on these two
categories.
• Men and women who are too old or feeble to undertake the
obligations of fasting are exempt. However they have to give
Fidya which is feeding a poor person twice a day or to give
grain or its equivalent in cash to the needy.
PEOPLE WHO CAN DELAY THEIR FASTS
• Sick people whose health is likely to deteriorate by fasting; they

may postpone the fast for as long as they are ill and then make up
for it at a later date, a day for a day.
• Travellers may be exempt during their travel but should make up
for the missed fasts later on.
• Expecting mothers/Feeding mothers may also not fast if their
health or infant’s health would be at risk by doing so. They too
need to make up for the missed fasts later.
• Women at the time of their Menstruation or confinement after
childbirth, must postpone the fasts and make up for them later.
• Muslims participating in Jihad
TARAWIH PRAYERS
• Offered in the month of Ramadan

• Can be offered individually as well as in congregation.
• Prophet prayed Tarawih in congregation but then discontinued
• Hz. Umer made it mandatory to offer tarawih in congregation.
• Tarawih are prayed in 20 or 8 rakkahs, after 2 post fard sunnah
of Isha. Witr prayers are performed after Tarawih.
• One Quran is completed usually by 27.
ITIKAF
• Spending last 10 days & nights in a mosque in remembrance

of Allah (minimum 1 day & night).
• The Prophet also practiced it in his mosque.
• It is a Sunnah Muakkadah Al Kifaya (If one person performs
this religious duty it will suffice for all.
• Itikaf begins after Fajr or Maghrib prayers and ends after
maghrib once the moon of shawal is sighted.
• A person can not go out of mosque in itekaf except for toilet.
SUNNAH FASTS
There are certain days in which the Prophet fasted

• Six days of Shawal
• 1 to 9 Dhul Hajj specially the day of Arafah for those who are
not performing Hajj
• 7 to 9 of Muharram
• 13 to 15 of every month.
• Fasts of Monday and Thursday.
• Hz. Ayesha reported that Prophet mostly fasted the month of
Sha’ban
UNDESIRABLE FASTS
• On eid days
• 11 to 13 of Hajj
• Friday
• To fast continuous without a break
EID UL FITR
• It’s a Muslim festival which takes place on 1st of Shawal and

marks the completion of fasting during the month of
Ramadan.
• It is sunnah and participation of men women and children is
recommended.
• To bathe and perfume oneself and wear one’s best clothes for
this prayer is desirable. (Method of Eid prayers and details of
sermon to be mentioned.)
• Before Eid prayers the head of household is supposed to pay
the required amount of Sadqat ul Fitr to the needy for all the
family members.
EID UL FITR
• After prayers Muslims go to see their friends and relatives and

invite them at their house to celebrate the event.
• Special food is prepared and shared with friends, relatives,
neighbors and needy.
• It promotes the concept of caring and sharing between Muslim
brothers and sisters.
SAMPLE 1
a)Describe how Muslims observe the fast of Ramadan and how

this month should be spent. [10]
b) What is the purpose of fasting during the month of Ramadan?
May/21/19
SAMPLE 2
(a) What are the benefits to individuals and the community of

fasting in the month of Ramadan? [10]
(b) Are ‘Id al-Fitr and ‘Id al-Adha more than just celebrations?
Give reasons for your answer. [4]
Oct/21/2016
SAMPLE 3
a) What are the moral, spiritual and other benefits of fasting in

Ramadan? [10]
(b) Choose any one benefit of the Ramadan fast you have
written about in Part (a) and say why you think it is most useful.
[4]
Oct/21/2014

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PILLARS OF ISLAM

• “ Fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for

• Saum literally means to abstain from something whereas in

• Fasting is enjoined on Muslims in the month of Ramadan

• Muslims become aware of the conditions of poor and needy

• It starts with sighting of Ramadan moon.

• Intention (Niyyat): Make the intention in your heart for

• Observe the Prophet’s sunnah in fasting e.g. take a small meal

• The supplication to be recited at the time of ending the fast is:

• Avoiding anything haram or makruh: Keeping your mind

• Reading of Quran: More time should be spent in recitation of

• Zakat, charity & generosity: Be very charitable and

• Intentionally eating, drinking, smoking, taking or injecting

• Indulging in sexual relations

• If a person vomits at least a mouthful or excessive bleeding.

• Children under the age of puberty.

• Sick people whose health is likely to deteriorate by fasting; they

• Offered in the month of Ramadan

• Spending last 10 days & nights in a mosque in remembrance

There are certain days in which the Prophet fasted

• It’s a Muslim festival which takes place on 1st of Shawal and

• After prayers Muslims go to see their friends and relatives and

a)Describe how Muslims observe the fast of Ramadan and how

b) What is the purpose of fasting during the month of Ramadan?

(a) What are the benefits to individuals and the community of

a) What are the moral, spiritual and other benefits of fasting in

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