Ramadan The Month of Fasting and Qur'an

Towards Understanding Islam & Muslims RamadanThe Month of Fasting and Qur'an Compiled by Ahmad Sultan afsultan@yahoo.om AhmadSultan.com 2003-2004

AsSalamu Alaikum Peace be upon you Wa Alaikum AsSalam and upon you be peace Greetings of Islam

Outline • Basic terminology • Islam, Muslim, Allah, Worship • Islam as a System/Way of Life • Core Beliefs and Practices. • “Articles of Faith” • “Pillars of Islam” • Ramadan • Fasting, Breaking Fast, Night Prayers, Qur’an, Seclusion, End of Ramadan • Why do Muslims Fast? • Spiritual, Moral, Mental and Physical impacts of fasting • Conclusion

Terms for Better Understanding • All Arabic words have a three letter root without vowel sounds • SLM • SiLiM = safe, secure, sound • SALAM = peace • ISLAM = submission, surrender, obedience • MUSLIM = the person who acts in accordance with Islam

What is Islam? • Pronounced with “s” not “z” • ISLAM is related to one of the names of God (A-Salam: The Peace) • Islam means “attaining peace within oneself and with what’s around through submission to God” (The source of Peace) • Not named after a person/tribe, rather the Creator • It is the name of the religion.

What is Islam? • Not a new religion • goes back to the prophet and patriarch Abraham • It is a continuation, and confirmation of the primordial (original) monotheistic message from the time of Adam • A way of life: a system that addresses social, economical, and political arenas maintaining in focus the belief in One God, and following His commandments

Who is a Muslim? • Pronounced with short u/o, and “s” not “z” sound • Anyone/thing that submits to God and follows His Commandments/Laws • Legal definition • Whosoever declares: • “There is no god but God and Mohammed is his servant and Messenger” • anyone can be a Muslim regardless of race, nationality, ethnicity or color

Who Are Muslims? • 1.3 billion world wide • NOT ALL MUSLIMS ARE ARAB • NOT ALL ARABS ARE MUSLIM • 18-20% Muslims are from the Arab world • Indonesia Largest (220million) • 8 million in the U.S. • 450,000 in Chicagoland

Bible.O.T. Genesis. Arabic. 1821. Risius Allah (God) • Allah is a contraction of Al-Elah = The God • He is The Creator • It is the same word used for God, as well, for Arabic speaking Christians and Jews • Term does not imply gender; like god/goddess • Term cannot be pluralized; like gods/goddesses

AEBADA • ABD • A Slave, Obedience with Submission, Worship, … • AEBADA means • The functions of the slaves/servants in submission and obedience to the commands of their Lord in recognition of his greatness with heart filled with gratefulness to His bounties upon them • A comprehensive/collective name of all that Allah (God) likes and accepts in sayings and deeds whether apparent or concealed • In Islam, all aspects of life is AEBADA, with proper intention and conduct according to Islamic teaching • “Say: my Salat (Prayer), acts of Sacrifice, life and death is for Allah, the Lord of the world. In that I was commanded, and I am among those who submit (Muslims)

Islam a Way of Life • As a way of life, Islam provides systems of • Beliefs to free the minds, and encourages seeking knowledge • Worship to fulfill the spirit and increase the strength • Manners to grow personality and cooperation • Laws ensure rights, outline duties and guarantees justice for all

Core Beliefs and Practices • Articles of Faith • Pillars of Islam

What Do Muslims Believe In? • God (Allah)The One and only • Angels Other unseen creatures • BooksDivine revelation • Messengers Guides to mankind • Day of JudgmentLife After Death & Accountability Articles of Faith

Prayer (Salat) Alms Giving (Zakat) Fasting (Sawm) Pilgrimage (Hajj) Declaration of Faith (Shahada) How do Muslims Practice? Islam • Declaration of Faith (Shahada) • Prayer (Salah) • Alms Giving (Zakah) • Fasting Ramadan (Sawm) • Pilgrimage (Hajj) • Formal acts of AEBADA. The • Bedrock of Islam Ground Foundations Pillars of Islam

Ramadan • RAMADAN: derived from RMD means: heat, thirst and dehydration • Ninth month in Islamic calendar (Lunar) • Fasting Ramadan is the fourth obligatory pillar of Islam • Month of Qur’an • “The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for he guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong).” Qur’an 2:185 • Activities • Fasting (Siyam), Night Prayers (Qiyam), Seclusion (Aitikaf), Ends with celebration (Eid ulFitr) • Closeness to God, increasing the performance of good deeds and generosity

Siyam (Fasting) • SIYAM: derived from SAM means: Abstain (from doing something) • Abstaining from food, drink and intimate marital relations from dawn until sunset while having the inwardly intention of fasting • Obligatory at the age of puberty • Exempted are the travelers, the ill, the elderly and the pregnant, breastfeeding or menstruating woman • Not new to man • ”O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that you may (learn) self-restraint (piety)..." Qur'an 2: 183

Siyam (Fasting) (cont.) Fasting Regular activity NIGHT DAY DAWN SUNSET Break-Fast Meal Pre-Dawn Meal Community Iftar (Break-Fast Meal)

Voluntary (Qiyam) Night Prayers Qiyam (Night Prayer) Regular activity • QIYAM: QAM: Stand • “Verily, the rising by night is very hard and most potent and good for governing oneself, and most suitable for (understanding) the Word (of Allah)” Qur’an 73:6 Fasting Fasting NIGHT DAY SUNSET DAWN Break-Fast Meal Time of Qiyam Pre-Dawn Meal

Aitikaf (Seclusion) • AITIKAF: • AKF: Sticking to something and holding oneself on/within it • Staying in the Mosque or Mesjid (place of prostration) with the intention to getting closer to God In Columbus, Ohio, a Moroccan computer science student at Ohio State finds a quiet spot to read the Koran while waiting for evening prayer at the Omar Ibn Kahttab mosque. (AP/WWP)

Aitikaf (Seclusion) • Last ten days of Ramadan during which falls the night the Qur’an was first revelation to Prophet Muhammad • The Night of Decree/Power/Fate (Laylatu Al-Qadr) Muslim worshippers study at the Islamic Cultural Center of New York. (Jeff Christensen/REUTERS/TimePix)

The Night of Decree/Power/Fate(Laylatu Al-Qadr) In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful • We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power: • And what will explain to thee what the night of power is? • The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. • Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah.s permission, on every errand: • Peace!...This until the rise of morn! Qur’an 97

Qur’anThe First Source of Islam • 114 Chapters (Suras) • Each with a title, and start with “In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful” (113) • Not one word has changed over the centuries • Revealed over 23 years • First verses reveled in one of the last nights of Ramadan (Lailatul-Qadr) • The exact words revealedby God through the Angel Gabriel to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) • Memorized by Millions

The Qur’an • Its basic theme is the relationship between God and His creatures • It provides guidelines for a just society, proper human conduct and an equitable economic system Copy of the Qur’an of Caliph Uthman, kept in Tashkent

Charity of breaking the Fast (Zakatu Al-Fitr) Alms given prior to the end of the month of Ramadan to the needy Normally given in grain or the food of the locality It is different than one pays on wealth Everyone must pay Way of sharing the blessings End of Ramadan 1. Alms Giving (Zakatu Al-Fitr)

End of Ramadan2. Prayer and Sermon (SalatulEid and Khutba) • Eid prayer is strongly recommended and an important tradition in Islam: men, women and children participate. • Self Preparation for 'Id Prayer • It is a time for everyone to be in their best appearance • There is also a tradition that one should eat something, preferably dates, before going to the Eid al-Fitr prayer • Time: • The time for the Eid prayer is mid-morning • Followed by a community sermon or khutba • Place: • It is better to hold 'Id prayers in an open place or ground if there is no obstacle like rain or bad weather. Eid Prayer -Kashmir

End of Ramadan3. Feast (Eidu Al-Fitr) Egyptian women decorate their daughters with balloons after performing morning prayers of Eid al-Fitr, the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan. • Celebration that marks the end of Ramadan. • Visit family members • Enjoy meals together • Wear new clothes • Children receive gifts from relatives • Amusement rides for children are set up in the streets Eid Celebration – Amusement Ride Damascus

Eid Celebration – Eid Stamp USA President George W. Bush takes a small break to hear what Alexandria Hudome, 3, has to say as he reads a poem to Muslim children during Eid Al-Fitr at the White House December 17, 2001 The holy day of Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan. Members of the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Michigan, celebrate the day with prayers. (AP/WWP) End of Ramadan in America4. Feast (Edu Al-Fitr) cont.

Conclusion • Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic Lunar Calendar • During Ramadan • Muslims perform Siyam (Fasting), the third pillar of Islam is performed • Qur’an was revealed • Month to renew the spiritual and self disciplinary aspects through extra prayers at night, reciting the Qur’an, contemplation, acts of charity, and socialization

References • “The Nobel Qur’an”, Translations of the meanings by Yousef Ali, Picthal, and Shaker. • http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/ • “Fiqh as-Sunna”, As-Sayyed Sabiq • Islam in Your Life – Spirituality • http://www.masnet.org/spirit.asp?id=602 • “Fasting & Ramadan”, Dr. Jamal Badawi • “Rules of Siyam”, Sheikh Muhammad Al-Hanooti • “Ramadan, The Blessed Month”, Sheikh Muhammad Al-Hanooti • Why Do Muslims Break Their Fast with Dates? • “Seize the Ramadan Opportunity”, Safa Alshiraida • http://sol.as.arizona.edu/~dave/digital/images/newmoon_small.jpg • http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/muslimlife/ • http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/islam_in_the_us/52772 • www.whitehouse.gov/.../2001/12/images/20011217-4-1.html • http://usembassy.state.gov/tokyo/wwwhso0082.html

Ramadan The Month of Fasting and Qur'an