In Islam, fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, making it an essential act of worship for Muslims. This fasting is called Sawm, and when done during Ramadan, it is referred to as Fard Sawm, meaning obligatory fasting. Fard Sawm is a direct commandment from Allah and is compulsory for all Muslims who are physically able to fast.
حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ، إِلاَّ الصَّوْمَ فَإِنَّهُ لِي، وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ، وَلَخَلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ ".
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “(Allah said), ‘every good deed of Adam’s son is for him except fasting; it is for Me. and I shall reward (the fasting person) for it. Verily the smell of the mouth of a fasting person is better to Allah than the smell of musk.”(Sahih-al-Bukhari-5927)
Prepare For Ramadan
The Companions of the Prophet ﷺ used to prepare for Ramadan six months in advance. So, if we really want to make the best of this Ramadan, then we need to prepare for it now! As we know, fasting is more than just abstaining from food but from indecent speech and lustful desires as well. Fasting pushes us to be cognizant of our actions, to be patient and to be moral individuals, thereby increasing our taqwa (God-consciousness). Here are some ways we can improve on different aspects of our life so we can fully benefit from Ramadan, a time when deeds are multiplied.
Fast in Sha’ban:
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ثَابِتُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ أَبُو الْغُصْنِ، - شَيْخٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أُسَامَةُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَمْ أَرَكَ تَصُومُ شَهْرًا مِنَ الشُّهُورِ مَا تَصُومُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ . قَالَ " ذَلِكَ شَهْرٌ يَغْفُلُ النَّاسُ عَنْهُ بَيْنَ رَجَبٍ وَرَمَضَانَ وَهُوَ شَهْرٌ تُرْفَعُ فِيهِ الأَعْمَالُ إِلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ عَمَلِي وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ " .
Usamah ibn Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I said, ‘Oh Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting in any other month like you fast in Shaban.’ He said, ‘That is a month to which people do not pay attention, between Rajab and Ramadan, and it is a month in which deeds are lifted up to the Lord of the Worlds. I like for my deeds to be lifted up when I am fasting.’” (Sunan an-Nasa'i 2357)
The month of Sha’ban is a special time to prepare for the upcoming Ramadan. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to fast a lot in Sha’ban, as it is a time to spiritually prepare for the fasting in Ramadan. Fasting during this month helps build up discipline and also purifies the heart and soul.
Making up missed fasts from the previous Ramadan during Sha’ban is an excellent way to ensure that you're in a good place for the upcoming month of fasting. Additionally, fasting on Mondays and Thursdays and on the white days (13th, 14th, and 15th of each lunar month) are also acts of worship that bring great reward, as they were practices of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Recite and Reflect on the Qur’an regularly
Start now to reflect on portions of the Qur’an to get closer to Allah and understand your responsibilities. Every single time you read the Qur’an, you will uncover more depths of meaning and benefit in this world and the hereafter.
وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "الذي يقرأ القرآن وهو ماهر به مع السفرة الكرام البررة، والذي يقرأ القرآن ويتتعتع فيه وهو عليه شاق له أجران" ((متفق عليه)).
Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) related that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Indeed the one who recites the Qur’an beautifully, smoothly and precisely, will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels. As for the one who recites with difficulty, stammering or stumbling through its verses, then he will have twice that reward.” (Riyad as-Salihin 994)
Giving charity
Give charity in Sha'ban to help the poor gain energy to fast in Ramadan.
The Messenger ﷺ said, “Allah is in the aid of His servant as long as His aide is in the assistances of others.” (Muslim)
“Who is it that would loan Allah a goodly loan so He will multiply it for him and he will have a noble reward?” (Qur’an 57:11)
The Prophet ﷺ also said: “Give charity without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity.” (Al-Tirmidhi)
Key Practices during Ramadan
- Sawm (Fasting): Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, abstaining from eating, drinking, smoking, and other physical needs. The fast is broken with the Iftar meal at sunset, and the fast is started again at dawn with the Suhoor meal.
- Tarabeeh: Special prayers that are performed at night during Ramadan. These prayers are in addition to the usual obligatory prayers and are performed in congregation at the mosque.
- Reading the Qur'an: The Quran was revealed in the month of Ramadan, So Ramadan is seen as the month of the Qur'an, and Muslims are encouraged to read or listen to the Qur'an in its entirety during this month.
- Searching for Laylatul Qadr: It is the night when the Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and holds special significance as a night of immense mercy, forgiveness, and blessings from Allah.Laylatul Qadr falls during the last ten nights of Ramadan, but its exact date is not specified. However, it is widely believed to occur on one of the odd-numbered nights within the last ten nights.
- Zakat al-Fitr: It's obligatory for any Muslim who has more food than they need. Zakat al-Fitr is paid before the Eid al-Fitr prayer service.
Benefits of Sawm or fasting
- Spiritual benefits: Sawm can help Muslims strengthen their faith and piety, become more mindful of Allah, and seek forgiveness for their sins. It can also help Muslims appreciate Allah gifts and remember their spiritual connection to their bodies.
- Physical health benefits: Sawm can help improve insulin sensitivity, speed up metabolism, and burn fat cells without affecting muscle tissue.
- Mental health benefits: Sawm can improve brain function by increasing the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).
- Social benefits: Sawm can help Muslims become more grateful and conscious of Allah, and it can remind them of those who don't have adequate food, water, and shelter.
- Self-control benefits: Sawm can help Muslims learn self-control and gain a sense of control over their needs, desires, and distractions.