Ramadan: Everything you need to know! How to read the intention in Ramadan? What to say while fasting

Suhoor and Iftar times (the latter corresponds to Maghrib prayer times) for Russian cities for the current year are presented in a table available for download.

Fasting (uraza, ruza) is one of the pillars of Islam, so its observance is mandatory for Muslims.

Usually, a layman understands Muslim fasting as abstinence from eating and drinking during daylight hours. In fact, this concept is much broader: it includes a voluntary refusal not only from eating, but also from committing any sins committed by the eyes, hands and tongue, as well as from certain actions. Being in a state of holding an uraza, the believer must be clearly aware that he is doing this for the sake of his Creator, and not have any other intentions.

In Islamic doctrine, depending on the time of observance and significance, two types of fasting are distinguished: obligatory (fard) and desirable (sunnat).

The first is massively observed by Muslims during the Holy month of Ramadan, which has an incomparable blessing for people. In His Scripture, Allah guides us:

“In the month of Ramadan, the Qur'an was sent down - the right guidance for the people, clear evidence of the right guidance and discernment. Whoever of you finds this month must fast" (2:185)

Muslims who adhere to the Uraza in the blessed month will receive a huge reward, and for leaving it, without a good reason, severe punishment will certainly follow. The proof of this is the following statement of the Mercy of the worlds of Muhammad (s.g.v.): “Whoever fasts during Ramadan with faith and hope for the reward of the Almighty, his former sins will be forgiven” (the hadith is cited by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

However, the Lord made obligatory observance of the Uraza not for all people.

Who does not need to keep a post:

1. Non-Muslims

An important condition for observing the Uraza is the practice of Islam by a person. For others, posting is optional. At the same time, this does not mean that for the days spent without fasting during the months of Ramadan, every person, regardless of his religion, will not have to answer to the Almighty on the Day of the Great Judgment.

2. Minors

Uraza is imputed as mandatory for adults. At the same time, it is necessary to understand that adulthood is meant from an Islamic point of view, which does not occur at 18, as is customary in most countries of the world, but during puberty, which occurs differently for each person.

3. Mentally disabled

Mental capacity is listed among the conditions of obligatory fasting. In other words, a person who is not of sound mind has the right to refrain from observing this pillar of Islam.

4. Everyone who is on the road

Keeping an eye is not necessary for those people who are on the road, that is, travelers. It should be noted that, according to Sharia, travelers are considered to be people who have traveled more than 83 km from home and their journey lasts no more than 15 days.

5. Physically ill people

People who suffer from any disease that requires constant medication, or threatens with severe ailments and pains, up to a threat to life in case of observance of the uraza, are exempted from its need.

6. Pregnant

Women who are carrying a child and fear for the life of their future child have the right not to fast in the month of Ramadan.

7. Breastfeeding women

Women who are breastfeeding babies may not fast as well.

8. Women on the days of menstruation and bleeding caused by childbirth

In the menstrual period and during postpartum bleeding, women, according to Sharia, are in a position of ritual defilement, which is why non-compliance with the uraza is allowed and, moreover, necessary. If pregnant and lactating women have the right to fast, then these days it is better for women to abstain.

9. People who are unconscious

Believers who remain in an unconscious state for a long time, for example, in a coma state, for obvious reasons, are also freed from uraza.

In situations where a person misses one or more days of fasting for the reasons listed above, he should make up for them later, when the reason that gives the right to non-observance of fasting is eliminated, for example, when the traveler returns home or the person comes out of a coma. Believers who are not able to keep uraza during the year, for example, due to illness, should feed one needy for each of the missed days. If this is also difficult for a person in material terms, because he himself is among the needy, then he is completely freed from this obligation.

Desired post- this is one whose observance is desirable, but not imputed to Muslims as mandatory. The believer is rewarded for observing such a fast, but there is no sin for leaving him.

Days when it is desirable to keep uraza:

Day of Araf- for fasting on this day, the Lord can forgive a person for the sins committed by him for 2 years. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) explained: “Fasting on the Day of Arafah serves as atonement for sins committed in the past and future years” (hadith from Ibn Maji and Nasai).

Day of Ashura- For those who fast on the tenth day of the month of Muharram, all sins for the previous 12 months are erased. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) admonished his ummah: “Fasting serves as an atonement for the sins of the past year” (Muslim cites the hadith). However, Shiite theologians assure that it is undesirable to hold the uraza on this day, since on this date the grandson of the Final Prophet (S.G.V.) - Imam Hussein, who is especially revered by Shiite Muslims, was martyred.

First 9 days of Zul Hijah- this can be found mentioned in the hadith: “Fasting in the first days of the month of Zul-Hijja is equivalent to one year of fasting” (Ibn Maja).

Month of Muharram- Uraza in this forbidden month is considered Sunnat. After all, the Prophet Muhammad himself once said: “After Ramadan, the best month for fasting is the month of Allah - Muharram” (Muslim cites the hadith).

Month of Shaaban- Another month during which it is desirable to fast. In the lunar calendar, it comes before Ramadan. In the hadiths from Bukhari there is a mention that the Final Messenger of the Almighty (s.g.v.) was zealous in observing Uraza in the month of Shaaban, except for some days.

6 days of Shawwal- also desirable for the post. Shawwal follows the holy month of Ramadan. “If someone completed the fast in Ramadan and added to it six days of fasting in the month of Shawwal, he will receive such a reward as if he had fasted all year” (hadith from Muslim).

Uraza in a day, or the fast of the Prophet Daoud (a.s.), who held uraza every other day and which, as the Grace of the Worlds Muhammad (s.g.v.) said, “is the most beloved fast for Allah” (in accordance with the hadith from Muslim).

3 days in the middle of each month- The Prophet (S.G.V.) instructed: “If you want to fast in the middle of the month, then fast on the 13th, 14th and 15th days” (at-Tirmidhi).

Every Monday and Thursday- it was during these days that the Messenger of the Almighty (s.g.v.) regularly observed uraza. “The deeds of the people are presented to Allah on Monday and Thursday,” he said. “And I want my deeds to be presented while I am fasting” (hadith quoted by at-Tirmidhi).

Fasting times in Islam

It is known that in Islam, fasting is observed during daylight hours. The countdown starts at dawn. In the Holy Book of Muslims you can find the verse:

“Eat and drink until you can tell the white thread at dawn from the black, and then fast until night” (2:187)

The fasting person should stop the morning meal (suhoor) before the time of Fajr prayer (usually 30 minutes).

Once one of the ascetics asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) about what time interval should be between suhoor and azan for morning prayer, to which he replied: “As much as is necessary to read fifty verses” (hadith from Bukhari and Muslim).

The end of the time of fasting (iftar) comes at sunset and coincides with the time of the evening prayer. In this case, after fasting, the believer should first break his fast, and then proceed to prayer.

At the end of the suhoor, the following dua is read (niyat):

نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أَصُومَ صَوْمَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ إِلَى الْمَغْرِبِ خَالِصًا لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى

Transcription:“Nahuatu an-assumma sauma shahri Ramadaan min al-fajri il al-maghribi haalisan lil Layakhi tya’aala”

Translation:“I have determined to fast the month of Ramadan from dawn to dusk sincerely for the sake of Allah.”

Immediately after breaking the fast - at iftar - they say dua:

اللَهُمَّ لَكَ صُمْتُ وَ بِكَ آمَنْتُ وَ عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَلْت وَ عَلَى رِزْقِكَ اَفْطَرْتُ فَاغْفِرْلِى يَا غَفَّارُ مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَ مَأ اَخَّرْتُ

Transcription:“Allahumma lakaya sumtu wa bikya amantu wa alaikya tavakkaltu wa ‘ala rizkykya aftartu faqfirli ya gaffaru ma kaddyamtu wa ma akhhartu”

Translation:“O Allah! For Your sake, I kept a fast, I believed in You, and I only trust in You, I break my fast with what You sent me. Forgive me, O Forgiver of my sins, past and future!”

Actions that violate the mind

1. Deliberate receptionm of food and smoking

If a fasting person consciously ate or drank something, lit a cigarette, then his uraza that day will not be accepted. But if he ate something unintentionally, for example, out of forgetfulness, then in this case the person should stop eating or drinking as soon as he remembered his fast, and he can continue to keep the fast - such a fast will be considered valid.

2. Intimacy

After sexual intercourse, fasting is broken. Lip-to-lip kissing and ejaculation due to conscious stimulation (masturbation) have similar effects.

3. Instillation of medicine into the nose and ears

Uraza becomes invalid as soon as a person uses special drugs used for instillation into the nose and auditory canal if they enter the larynx. At the same time, injections that are made into a vein or muscle, as well as eye drops, do not break the fast.

4. Swallowing liquid when gargling

When observing a fast, care must be taken when gargling for medicinal purposes or just to moisten - getting water inside will invalidate your fast. Swimming in a pond and taking a bath in a state of uraza is permissible, but one should beware of the penetration of liquid through the sinuses, pharynx and ears.

5. Use of medical inhalers

During fasting, the use of inhalers should be avoided whenever possible.

6. Intentionally inducing vomiting

If the person holding the uraza intentionally caused vomiting, then his fast is considered violated. If vomiting did not occur by the will of the person, then the fast remains valid.

7. Menstruation

In a situation where a woman has a seizure during daylight hours, she should stop fasting. She will need to make up this day after the end of her period.

Benefits of fasting

This pillar of Islam has many virtues for the believers who follow it.

Firstly, uraza is able to lead a person into the Gardens of Eden, which can be confirmed in the biography of the Prophet (s.g.v.): “Verily, in Paradise there is a gate called Ar-Rayyan, through which the Day of Judgment will enter fasting. And no one will enter through this gate except them ”(hadith from Bukhari and Muslim).

Secondly, fasting will serve as an intercessor for a Muslim on the Day of Judgment: “Fasting and the Koran on the Day of Judgment will intercede for the servant of Allah” (hadith from Ahmad).

Thirdly, uraza entails, as was said earlier.

In addition, all the requests of a believer who fasts will be accepted by the Almighty. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “A dua is never rejected by a fasting person during breaking the fast” (Ibn Maja).

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Content

The ninth month of the Muslim calendar, Ramadan, is one of the four holy months of the year. Men and women at this time hold a strict fast of Uraz, which is one of the main pillars of Islam. The main specificity of this fasting is that the quantitative composition of food is not regulated - everything is allowed to eat, and only the time of eating plays an important role. Let's figure out how to properly hold Uraza for a woman so that long-term abstinence benefits the body. After all, in addition to spiritual purification, Muslims fast to improve the body.

Why keep Uraza in the month of Ramadan

Fasting in Uraza contributes to the expiation of sins that were committed during the year. Ramadan is 30 or 29 days (depending on the lunar month) of strict fasting. During this period, Muslims should set aside time for donations, almsgiving, reflection, contemplation and all sorts of good deeds. However, the main task of every believer is not to drink water and not eat food from dawn to dusk. Unlike the Orthodox fast (Assumption or Great), in which it is forbidden to eat meat, fish, eggs and dairy products, during Uraza it is allowed to eat any food in moderation.

The main activity of Muslims in Ramadan is prayer. Before sunrise, each believer makes a niyat (intention) to observe Uraza, and then eats 30 minutes before dawn and prays. Namaz during the holy month are held in mosques, where Muslims come with their children or at home with relatives and neighbors. If a believer in the month of Ramadan is in other latitudes, then, according to the Hanafi madhhab (teaching), he reads the obligatory morning prayer according to Meccan time.

How to hold Uraza for a woman

During Uraza, Muslim women, like men, are prohibited from intimate life during daylight hours, and some especially believers prefer complete abstinence from sexual contact throughout the entire thirty-day fast. Traditionally, after sunset, believers gather in large families to eat dishes after a day's fast. Women prepare meals during the daytime, so they are allowed to taste the food while it is being prepared. Men are strictly forbidden.

How to eat properly

In the first days of Ramadan, you have to starve for about 20 hours, so imams (Muslim priests) advise eating foods with a lot of fiber: oats, millet, barley, lentils, unpolished rice, wholemeal flour, millet, legumes. The morning menu of a Muslim woman must necessarily consist of fruits, berries, vegetables, meat, fish, bread and dairy products.

It is better not to complicate your Ramadan menu with culinary delights, but to give preference to light salads seasoned with yogurt or vegetable oil. Such food does not irritate the stomach, improving digestion. To make fasting easier, broths made from lean beef, chicken, lean fish, or vegetables are helpful. In Ramadan, women should refrain from fried foods, completely replacing them with steamed or stewed foods. In the process of cooking, you need to dose the following products that stimulate the production of hydrochloric acid, which irritates the walls of the stomach:

spices;
garlic;
caraway;
cilantro;
mustard.

For dinner, Muslims are advised to cook low-calorie meals and not get too carried away with meat. During the day during Uraza it is forbidden to drink water, but after sunset it is advisable to drink from 2 to 3 liters of water to replenish the water balance. Nutritionists, while observing Uraza, urge to exclude carbonated drinks, replacing them with natural juices, mineral water, herbal teas.

Prayer

The obligatory prayer for all Muslims who hold Uraza is the Tarawih prayer. Its time comes after the night prayer of Isha and ends shortly before the appearance of dawn. Namaz Tarawih is better to read together with other believers, but if this is not possible, then it is permissible to read the prayer individually. In general, Islam is a religion that welcomed the attendance of collective prayers, and the mosque promotes communication when joint prayers are performed that praise Allah and the Prophet Muhammad while reading the Koran.

What not to do - prohibitions

Prohibitions during the period of Uraza are divided into strict and undesirable. Strict prohibitions are classified as actions that break the fast, and require mandatory compensation for one day of Ramadan 60 days of continuous fasting at any other time. These include: intentional eating, vomiting, and sexual intercourse. Also, during Uraza, you can not take potions, capsules, tablets, make injections, drink alcohol and smoke. Undesirable actions in Ramadan that require only replenishment (1 day of fasting for one violation) include:

Eating out of forgetfulness.
Involuntary vomiting.
Swallowing something that is not medicine or food.
Touching the husband, kisses that do not lead to sexual intercourse.

At what age do girls start fasting?

The girl begins to keep the post from her adulthood. A Muslim child reaches puberty when he reaches 15 years of age. Girls are allowed to fast even earlier if menstruation has come or if they have their own desire. If all of the above signs are absent, then according to Muslim customs, the girl should not fast.

It is difficult now to overestimate the importance of a 30-day fast for human health. Even science has proven that when starving, the human body is cleansed of excess weight, salts, bile, under-oxidized metabolic products, breathing normalizes. The experience of centuries shows that Uraza is the most effective method to get rid of various chronic diseases: allergies, gallstones, osteochondrosis and migraine. During fasting, defense mechanisms are increased, the immune system is stimulated, and the aging process is delayed.

Beginners need to know that all sorts of excesses are excluded this month, and there are special rules for eating and drinking. Immediately after sunset, the fasting person eats only light food, and a couple of hours before dawn - solid food. Such food is considered pleasing to God, therefore it serves the forgiveness of sins. At the evening meal, it is desirable that a mullah or a person who knows the Koran well be present, he will read suras and talk about the deeds of the Lord. Secular conversations are not prohibited during the evening conversation.

Can pregnant and lactating women fast?

Women in the postpartum period or during menstruation do not observe Uraza - this is confirmed by the relevant Sunnahs. As for pregnant and lactating mothers, they can completely or selectively refuse fasting at their discretion, especially if they are afraid for their or their child's health. As for making up for the missed fast, the woman makes such a decision on her own.

Without full ablution

Sometimes, for some independent reason, a woman does not have a full ablution, and fasting has already begun. For example, menstruation ended at night, or marital intimacy took place, or spouses overslept the morning meal. This should not bother a woman in any way, because complete ablution and observance of Uraza are in no way interconnected with each other. Ritual purity is needed only for prayer.

When do menses come

According to the rules of Islam, during menstruation, Uraza must be interrupted in any case, regardless of marital status and age. Prayer prayers are not performed either, since a woman does not have ritual purity. According to the rules, the missed days of fasting at the end of Ramadan must be made up one by one in a row or in a breakdown at the discretion of the Muslim woman. But the woman does not make up for the missed prayers.

What to do if it's hard to keep Uraza in the heat

When the month of Ramadan falls in the summer heat, it is very difficult for Muslims to keep Uraza, because thirst increases on hot days, and refusal of water can negatively affect human health. Moreover, during a 30-day fast, it is forbidden not only to drink, but even to rinse your mouth, because drops of water can get into the stomach. In this case, Islam gives some relief for pregnant women, children, travelers, the elderly and seriously ill people.

Fasting one day or intermittently every other day

If a Muslim woman has serious illnesses, for example, diabetes mellitus, pancreatitis and others, then she can keep Uraza not every day, but every other day. Fasting is not so much abstinence from food and water, but the promotion of spiritual growth, the purification of thoughts. But if a woman can keep Uraza with such diseases, then she should eat fresh raw vegetables, fruits, nuts, do not overeat, do not attack food at the Uraz-Bayram holiday, when Ramadan ends.

Video

When a woman holds Uraza for the first time, long before the onset of Ramadan, she needs to set herself up for the fact that this is not a hunger strike, but a great joyful holiday, so that there is a feeling of a fun event. It should be remembered that the fasting person receives a reward, which in Ramadan multiplies all the good deeds of a person. And for violating Uraza without a good reason, a Muslim woman will have to pay a certain amount to the needy and make up for the missed day with any day of fasting. See in the video tips for women starting to hold Uraza:

Fasting for Muslim women and men in 2019

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, the date of which changes every year. In 2019, Muslims begin to hold it on May 16, and on June 15, Muslim men and women around the world celebrate the greatest holiday of Eid al-Fitr. On this day, they give alms, remember relatives and friends, visit the graves of deceased relatives.

Schedule

The time of the predawn meal (suhoor) ends before the onset of the morning prayer (Fajr) 10 minutes in advance. At the end of the evening prayer (Maghrib), one should break the fast, preferably with water and dates, after pronouncing an appeal to Allah. The night prayer is Isha, after which 20 rak'ahs (cycles) of Tarawih prayer are performed for men, followed by Witr prayer.

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During the holy month of the Muslim calendar, which is called Ramadan in Arabic, or Ramadan in Turkish, Muslims are required to observe a strict fast - limit yourself to drinking, eating and intimacy.

Following the rules of Ramadan, mature people give up their passions. This is how they get rid of negativity.

The post ends with the great holiday of Uraza-Bayram.

Features and Traditions of Ramadan Fasting - What Are Iftar and Suhoor?

fasting believers test the strength of the human spirit. Compliance with the rules of Ramadan makes a person comprehend his way of life, helps to determine the main values in life.

During Ramadan, a Muslim must restrict yourself not only in food, but also carnal satisfaction of their needs, as well as other addictions - for example, smoking. He must learn control yourself, your emotions.

Observing simple fasting rules, every believing Muslim should feel poor and starving, since the available benefits are often perceived as ordinary.

It is forbidden to swear in Ramadan. There is an opportunity to help the needy, the sick and the poor. Muslims believe that prayers and monthly abstinence will enrich everyone who follows the tenets of Islam.

There are two main prescriptions for fasting:

Follow the rules of fasting sincerely from dawn to dusk
Completely refrain from your passions and needs

And here are a few conditions for what a fasting person should be:

Over 18 years old
Muslim
not insane
Healthy physically

There are those for whom fasting is contraindicated, and they have the right not to observe it. These are minor children, the elderly and pregnant women, as well as those women who are menstruating or going through the time of postpartum cleansing.

Fasting Ramadan has several traditions

We list the most important:

Suhoor

Throughout Ramadan Muslims eat early in the morning, even before dawn. They believe that Allah will greatly reward such an action.

During the traditional suhoor don't overeat but you should eat enough food. Suhoor gives strength for the whole day. It helps Muslims to stay sane and not be angry, as hunger often causes anger.

If a believer does not perform suhoor, then his day of fasting remains in force, but he does not receive any reward.

Iftar

Iftar is evening meal, which is also performed during fasting. You need to start breaking the fast immediately after sunset, that is after the last day(or the fourth, penultimate prayer on that day). After Iftar follows Isha - night prayer of Muslims(the last of the five obligatory daily prayers).

What you can not eat in the post of Ramadan - all the rules and prohibitions

What to eat during Suhoor:

Doctors recommend eating complex carbohydrates in the morning - cereal dishes, sprouted grain bread, vegetable salad. Complex carbohydrates provide the body with energy, despite the fact that they are digested for a long time.
Dried fruits - dates, nuts - almonds and fruits - are also suitable.

What not to eat during Suhoor

Avoid protein foods. It takes a long time to digest, but loads the liver, which works without interruption during fasting.
Should not be consumed
You can not eat fried, smoked, fatty foods in the morning. They will cause unnecessary stress on the liver and kidneys.
Refrain from eating fish during Suhoor. After it you want to drink

What not to eat in the evening after adhan

Fatty and fried foods. It will harm health - cause heartburn, deposit extra pounds.
Eliminate from food fast food- various cereals in bags or noodles. You won’t get enough of them and literally in an hour or two you will want to have a meal again. In addition, such products will cause appetite even more, as they contain salt and other spices.
You can't eat sausage and sausages. It is better to exclude them from your diet during the fast of Ramadan. Sausages affect the kidneys and liver, satisfy hunger for only a few hours, and are also able to develop thirst.

Despite prohibitions and strict rules, there are benefits from fasting.:

Rejection of carnal passions
A person must understand that he is not a slave of his body. Fasting is a serious reason to give up intimacy. Only by refraining from sinful things can a person preserve his purity of soul.
Self improvement
By observing fasting, the believer is more attentive to himself. He gives birth to new character traits, such as humility, tolerance, obedience. Feeling poverty and deprivation, he becomes more resilient, gets rid of fear, more and more begins to believe and learn what was previously hidden.
Gratitude
Having gone through the refusal of food, a Muslim becomes closer to his Creator. He realizes that the innumerable blessings that Allah sends are given to man for a reason. The believer gains a sense of gratitude for the gifts sent.
An Opportunity to Experience Mercy
Fasting reminds people of the poor, and also calls to be merciful and help those in need. Having gone through this test, the believer remembers kindness and humanity, as well as the fact that everyone is equal before God.
frugality
Fasting teaches people to be economical, limit themselves and curb their desires.
Strengthens health
The benefit to the physical state of human health is manifested in the fact that the digestive system is resting. In a month, the intestines are completely cleansed of toxins, toxins and harmful substances.

Holy Ramadan timetable until 2020 - when does Ramadan fast start and end?

AT 2015 Ramadan will begin on June 18 and end on July 17.

Here are the dates of Holy Ramadan:

2016– from June 6 to July 5.
2017– from May 26 to June 25.
2018- from May 17 to June 16.
2019- from May 6 to June 5.
2020 from April 23rd to May 22nd.

Breaking the Ramadan Fast - Actions Breaking the Muslim Ramadan Fast and Punishments

It is worth noting that the rules of fasting Ramadan are valid only during the daytime. Some acts committed during fasting are considered forbidden.

Actions that interrupt the Muslim Ramadan include:

Special or intentional meal
Unspoken intention to fast
Masturbation or intercourse
Smoking
Spontaneous vomiting
Administration of rectal or vaginal medications

However condescension towards similar actions. Despite their similarities, they do not break the post.

They include:

Unintentional meal
Administration of drugs through injections
kisses
Petting, if they do not lead to ejaculation
Teeth cleaning
blood donation
Period
involuntary vomiting
Failure to perform prayers

Punishments for breaking the Ramadan fast:

Those who unintentionally who broke the fast due to illness, must on any other day spend the missed day of fasting.

For sexual intercourse performed during daylight hours, the believer is obliged to defend another 60 days of fasting, or to feed 60 needy.

If a skipping the fast is allowed by shariah need to do repentance.

The month of Ramadan is a time of spiritual purification and improvement of Muslims. Allah Almighty in the Holy Quran says: “O believers, it is obligatory for you to fast, as it was obligatory for those who were before you, so that you were God-fearing.”

The Islamic calendar is tied to the lunar cycle, so the beginning and end of fasting in the month of Ramadan falls on different dates every year. In 2020, Ramadan will begin at dawn on April 24, immediately after the morning prayer, and end on the evening of May 23, after the evening prayer. Thus, the duration of fasting in 2020 will be exactly 30 days.

According to tradition, Muslims pronounce the words of intention for fasting in the month of Ramadan. The following hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) testifies to the obligation of intention: “Deeds are accepted and evaluated according to their intention ...” (“Sahih al-Bukhari”, No. 1; “Sahih Muslim”, No. 1907).

How is fasting observed in the month of Ramadan?

During this holy month, Muslims are required to observe many precepts. From dawn until sunset, believers should not eat or drink, and they should also abstain from marital intimacy.

These bans are lifted only at night. During this period, halal products that do not contain parts of pork carcasses can be included in the diet, and the slaughter of animals must be carried out in accordance with the prescriptions of Islam.

It is believed that the introduction of medicines through injections (shots), blood donation and bloodletting (hijama), performing a full bath, taking a shower, a short stay in the bath, inhaling incense, as well as some other actions do not break the fast.

Only sick and elderly people, travelers, children, lactating and pregnant women can not observe fasting (Urazu).

Elderly and terminally ill people for each missed day of fasting should be given alms sufficient to feed one person. The rest of the believers need to subsequently make up for all the missed days of fasting.

Why are such restrictions introduced? Restriction in food, sexual abstinence contribute to the liberation of believers from the domination of animal needs, allow them to indulge in reflections on spiritual values.

Compliance with all prescriptions helps people to better control their thoughts, emotions and actions, change their habits, as well as strengthen faith and become richer spiritually.

Please note that if a person observes only dietary restrictions, but his deeds and thoughts are unclean and not pleasing to God, then fasting is considered invalid, because "Allah does not need to refrain from eating and drinking the one who has not left a lie."

During the entire fast, believers are forbidden to smoke; you can not lie, slander anyone, conflict with people and use foul language. But the main thing at this time is spiritual perfection: Muslims need not only to refrain from sins, but to do as many good deeds as possible.

Before starting a fast, certain rules must be observed. According to tradition, on the eve of Ramadan, believers need to get up before sunset, take a bath and eat; at the same time, the menu includes, as a rule, high-calorie, that is, satisfying food.

How to pronounce niyat for fasting Ramadan?

The month of Ramadan should begin with the words of the intention to fast, which Muslims do not have to, but it is advisable to say aloud. If the believer did not announce the intention, then abstinence in food, which he will adhere to, will not be considered fasting in the name of Allah.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The fast of one who does not determine it [heart intention] before dawn is invalid.”

So, it is with niyat, performed primarily in the heart, that the morning of the first day of fasting should begin. Also, the words of intention should be pronounced separately for each subsequent day of fasting - in the evening or in the morning before dawn, before the time for morning prayer, otherwise the fast will be considered invalid, because one intention for the whole month for all fasts is not enough.

How to read the intention in Ramadan?

You must say whether this intention is the usual observance of fasting prescriptions or making up for a fast that was missed earlier.

Words of intent might sound like this:
“Navyatu an asuuma savma shakhri Ramadaan min al-fajri ilal-maghribi haalisan lillyahi ta’aala.”

Niyat for the post of Ramadan in Russian:
“I have determined to fast the month of Ramadan from dawn to dusk sincerely for the sake of Allah Almighty.”

Let's say a few words about the diet and diet these days. Breakfast should end half an hour before dawn. This meal, called suhoor, can include fruits or dairy products on the menu.

After eating, the obligatory morning prayer, Fajra, follows. The next meal takes place after the evening Maghrib prayer. It is believed that at this time it is best to include dates in the diet.

If any of the believers forgot to pronounce the intention to fast Ramadan before dawn, then his fast on that day will not be considered observed. Nevertheless, Muslims should observe all the necessary restrictions on this day out of respect for Ramadan.

For a desirable fast, it is enough to pronounce the intention before dinner, since it is not a condition for it to pronounce the intention at night.

If someone intends to make up for the previously missed fast of two months of Ramadan, then the niyyat should include the words "...reimbursing the fast of Ramadan" - and this will be enough. At the same time, there is no need to indicate which particular Ramadan you are fasting.

Also, one who observes the fast of various kaffarat (expiation for committing a sin, including breaking the fast) can say "... observe the fast of kaffarat", without specifying which particular kaffarat.

Also, in addition to the usual five prayers, every night you need to perform an additional prayer provided only for this month, which is called tarawih. It is believed that after the completion of Ramadan, people are renewed and receive a blessing from above if they perform all the prayers prescribed by Islam.

Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam on which faith in Allah is based. Keep in mind that during this period, both the rewards for good deeds and the punishment for bad deeds increase many times over.

The Prophet Mohammed, according to legend, had an unfavorable attitude towards asceticism, and in hadiths (stories about the life and deeds of the prophet) his words are transmitted: “There is no asceticism in Islam.” Nevertheless, the Muslim fasting of Ramadan was introduced by Muhammad himself. The meaning of fasting among Muslims is to test the will for the sake of triumph of the spirit over the desires of the flesh, concentration of attention on one’s inner world in order to identify and destroy sinful inclinations and repentance for committed sins, fight with one’s pride for the sake of humility with the will of the Creator. During the fasting period, Muslims daily from sunrise to sunset refuse to eat, drink, have sexual intercourse, etc. Interestingly, over time, prohibitions were added to what the prophet could not foresee in his time: smoking and chewing gum. Post specifics in Islam lies precisely in the fact that it is not the composition of food that is limited, but time of adoption(as in early Christianity). Note, however, that according to the norms of Islam, alcohol Anytime prohibited not only for consumption, but also for production and distribution. The ban also applies to the consumption of pork and blood.

There are two types of fasting in Islam: required in a month Ramadan(established according to Shariah in 624, became one of the obligatory canons) and recommended. Ramadan or ramadan (tur.) – comes in 9th month Muslim lunar calendar. The lunar calendar is 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, so every year Ramadan starts earlier than the previous year. In accordance with one of the five pillars of Islam, during the month of Ramadan, devout Muslims must fast from the morning prayer (Fajr, coming at dawn) to the evening prayer (Maghrib, coming at sunset). Fasting is also called Ramadan, just like the name of the month. In Turkic languages, the name is more common Uraza.

Why is it the ninth month for Muslims to fast? Because the prophet Muhammad on one of the days of Ramadan (more precisely, on the night of the twenty-seventh) received the first revelation from the Lord through the angel Gabriel. Divine revelations made up the sacred scripture of Muslims over time – the uncreated book of the Quran. The night when Jabrayil first ordered Muhammad to read the fiery tablets on the rock became known as "night of doom"; on this night, Allah is especially favorable to the prayers and requests of the believers.

According to the book by A. M. Tahmaz “Hanafi fiqh in a new guise”, “ moment of dawn or sunset fasting must determine, based on the calculation of the time of the place where he is. In areas near the North or South Pole, where dawn may appear at sunset or so short after that the fasting person does not have time to eat enough food to maintain his strength, people should decide for themselves the duration of the fast.

recommendation posts are: every Monday and Thursday; 13th, 14th and 15th of each lunar month (full moon days); the first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah; 9, 10, 11 of the month of Muharram; 6 days of the month of Shawwal.

Ramadan is considered, unlike Great Lent among Christians, not a time of sorrow, but great holiday. Muslims around the world are preparing for Ramadan long before its onset: women are stocking up on food and groceries, men are busy buying clothes and gifts to celebrate the holiday. Muslims believe that Allah can forgive the sins of a person if he spends time in reading prayers and performs pious deeds, for example, helps those in need, donates funds to charitable causes. It is the duty of every Muslim to make a small contribution, called zakat-ul-fitr, before the end of Ramadan. The money collected goes the most the poor and the needy so that they, like everyone else, can take part in the festivities.

In the month of Ramadan, according to hadith and the Koran, doing good deeds is considered especially important. According to the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, Allah increases the significance of each of them 700 times, and the devil is chained this month, therefore doing good for Muslims becomes much easier than in other months. In addition, a number of hadiths also say that a devout Muslim must be pious during fasting, for example: “If (a person) does not stop lying and acting in a lie, Allah will not need him to refuse his food and drink."

During Ramadan, Muslims also devote most of their time to reading the Quran and remembrance of Allah, they try more often pray sometimes at night – before or after the pre-dawn meal. In Ramadan, many believers undertake pilgrimage to Mecca.

Prior to the start of the day's fast, Muslims take the pre-dawn breakfast of suhoor. As the sun sets, believers immediately break their fast. As a rule, the meal during iftar (breaking the fast at sunset) is quite a small portion of food – according to the Sunnah, this is an odd number of dates. Then the Maghreb evening prayer is performed, after which it is the turn for a complete meal. Stalik Khankishiev, the famous culinary specialist and author of the book “Kazan, barbecue and other male pleasures,” said that during Ramadan every day (or rather, night) is considered a holiday, and therefore the whole month, after dark, begins not just satisfying hunger, but real feast. In every house they cook and serve all the most delicious, be sure to pilaf, a lot of different sweets. Any devout Muslim during the month of Ramadan must have a big dinner party at least once. The treats are so plentiful that the guest, as a rule, is not only able to get up, but even to move. But you have to - before dawn you need to have time to eat and drink the last sip of water, after which the time of abstinence again comes.

At breaking the fast during Ramadan, the believer should repent and fast later. Swimming is discouraged during this time, as it is possible to accidentally swallow water, which is prohibited. However, accidental swallowing of water during ablution and other unintentional actions do not break the fast. Muslims believe that if a believer fasted throughout Ramadan, then Allah will grant him mercy in heaven.

Muslims follow the clear instructions of the holy book of the Koran: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, just as it was prescribed for your predecessors - perhaps you will be afraid. You should fast a counted number of days. And if any of you is sick or on a journey, then let him fast the same number of days at another time. And those who are able to fast with difficulty should, in expiation, feed the poor. And whoever does a good deed voluntarily, so much the better for him. But you'd better fast if you only knew!... You are allowed to have intercourse with your wives on fasting night. Your wives are your garment, and you are their garment. Allah knows that you betray yourselves (disobey Allah and have sexual intercourse with your wives at night during fasting in Ramadan), and therefore He accepted your repentance and forgave you. From now on, enter into intimacy with them and strive for what Allah has prescribed for you. Eat and drink until you can tell the white thread of dawn from the black and then fast until night…” (2:183-187).

There are many things that are considered unclean and therefore break fasting, including menstruation, postpartum hemorrhage, vomiting, and bloodletting. Taking medications, pills, injections (other than those required for replacement therapy, such as insulin), and even blood transfusions are formally considered food. From the post in full released menstruating women, the mentally ill, and children (before puberty). The sick, travelers, pregnant and lactating women may also not fast, but they replenish him after the disappearance of the reason temporarily releasing them from the duty of fasting. The elderly, as well as the terminally ill who cannot fast, must feed the poor. Islam prohibits condemnation those who could not keep the fast for appropriate reasons.

Celebrating the end of Ramadan which takes place on the first day of the month of Shawwal is called Eid al-Fitr or Eid al Adha. The festivities of Eid include prayer and preaching together, often followed by various celebrations: children take part in various games, distributed to everyone sweets, performs on the streets theatre and songs and joyful exclamations are heard everywhere.