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THE
IMPORTANCE OF FASTING
The
fast is performed to learn discipline, self-restraint and
generosity,
while obeying God's commandments. Fasting (along with the
declaration of
faith, daily prayers, charity, and pilgrimage to Mecca) is one
of the "five
pillars" of Islam. Because Ramadan is a lunar month, it begins
about eleven
days earlier each year. The end of Ramadan will be marked by
communal
prayers called "Eid ul-Fitr," or Feast of the Fast-Breaking, on
December 6,
2002.
"Muslims look forward to Ramadan as a period of spiritual
reflection and
renewal. It is also a time when people of other faiths can
learn more about
Islam and the American Muslim community," said Omar Ahmad,
board chairman
of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a
Washington-based
Islamic civil rights and advocacy group.
The Quran, Islam's revealed text, states: "O ye who believe!
Fasting is
prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you,
that ye may
(learn) self-restraint...Ramadan is the (month) in which was
sent down the
Quran, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance
and judgment
(between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present
(at his home)
during that month should spend it in fasting..." (Chapter 2,
verses 183 and
185)
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) told his companions:
"God has
said: 'Fasting is like a shield. A person who fasts experiences
two joys.
He is joyful when he breaks his fast, and he is joyful when he
meets his
Lord.'" (Hadith Qudsi, Hadith 10)
Demographers say Islam is one of the fastest growing religions
in this
country and around the world. There are an estimated 7 million
Muslims in
America and some 1.2 billion worldwide.
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RAMADAN FACTS
WHO MUST FAST?
Fasting is compulsory for those who are mentally and physically
fit, past
the age of puberty, in a settled situation (not traveling), and
are sure
fasting is unlikely to cause real physical or mental injury.
EXEMPTIONS FROM FASTING (some exemptions are optional)
* Children under the age of puberty (Young children are
encouraged to fast
as much as they are able.)
* People who are mentally incapacitated or not responsible for
their actions
* The elderly
* The sick
* Travelers who are on journeys of more than about 50 miles
* Pregnant women and nursing mothers
* Women who are menstruating
* Those who are temporarily unable to fast must make up the
missed days at
another time or feed the poor.
SPECIAL EVENTS
* Special prayers, called taraweeh, are performed after the
daily nighttime
prayer.
* Lailat ul-Qadr ("Night of Power" or "Night of Destiny") marks
the
anniversary of the night on which the Prophet Muhammad first
began
receiving revelations from God, through the angel Gabriel.
Muslims believe
Lailat ul-Qadr is one of the last odd-numbered nights of
Ramadan.
TRADITIONAL PRACTICES
* Breaking the daily fast with a drink of water and dates
* Reading the entire Quran during Ramadan
* Social visits are encouraged.
EID UL-FITR ("FESTIVAL OF FAST-BREAKING") PRAYERS AT THE END OF
RAMADAN
* Eid begins with special morning prayers on the first day of
Shawwal, the
month following Ramadan on the Islamic lunar calendar.
* It is forbidden to perform an optional fast during Eid
because it is a
time for relaxation.
* During Eid Muslims greet each other with the phrase "taqabbalallah
ta'atakum," or "may God accept your deeds" and "Eid Mubarak"
(eed-moo-bar-ak), meaning "blessed Eid."
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