Ramadan The Month of Fasting and Qur'an

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RamadanThe Month of Fasting and Qur'an
Towards Understanding Islam Muslims

• Compiled by

Ahmad Sultan
afsultan_at_yahoo.om
2003-2004
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Greetings of Islam

• AsSalamu Alaikum
• Peace be upon you
• Wa Alaikum AsSalam
• and upon you be peace

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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, Quran,
  Seclusion, End of Ramadan
• Why do Muslims Fast?
• Spiritual, Moral, Mental and Physical impacts of
  fasting
• Conclusion

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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

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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 whats 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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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)

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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

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Core Beliefs and Practices

• Articles of Faith
• Pillars of Islam

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What Do Muslims Believe In?

• God (Allah) The One and only
• Angels Other unseen creatures
• Books Divine revelation
• Messengers Guides to mankind
• Day of Judgment Life After Death Accountability

Articles of Faith
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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
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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 Quran
• The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the
  Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs
  for he guidance and the criterion (between right
  and wrong). Quran 2185
• Activities
• Fasting (Siyam), Night Prayers (Qiyam), Seclusion
  (Aitikaf), Ends with celebration (Eid ulFitr)
• Closeness to God, increasing the performance of
  good deeds and generosity

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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

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

• 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) Quran 736

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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)
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Aitikaf (Seclusion)

• Last ten days of Ramadan during which falls the
  night the Quran 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/Tim
ePix)
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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!

Quran 97
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QuranThe 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

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The Quran

• 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 Quran of Caliph Uthman, kept in
Tashkent
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End of Ramadan 1. Alms Giving (Zakatu Al-Fitr)

• 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

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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
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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
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End of Ramadan in America4. Feast (Edu Al-Fitr)
cont.
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Conclusion

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

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References

• The Nobel Quran, 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?id602
• 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/new
  moon_small.jpg
• http//usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/muslimlife/
  
• http//www.suite101.com/article.cfm/islam_in_the_u
  s/52772
• www.whitehouse.gov/.../2001/12/images/20011217-4-1
  .html
• http//usembassy.state.gov/tokyo/wwwhso0082.html