The Ramadan Series: What is fasting?

Dear sisters,

Assalamoalaikum

When people ask us "What is fasting?" We usually tell them that we can't eat or drink from sunrise till sunset. We only tell them about what I like to call "The Tummy Fast" when really, an empty stomach is just one part of the bigger picture. Linguistically, fasting means "to abstain". Abstain not just from food and drink, but also from surrendering to our desires and committing sins.

I took notes while examining a few Ramadan specimens who claimed that they were fasting:

1) The sleep-inator
- wakes up for suhur, binges
- prays fajr and goes back to sleep at 4:30 a.m.
- ZZZZZZzzzzz
- wakes up at 4:30 p.m. and walks around in a confused state
- After realizing that it's not yet iftaar time, goes back to sleep
-ZZZZZ*yawn*ZZZZZ
- wakes up at iftaar time and eats
- prays maghrib at home, refuses to pray taraweeh and isha
- plays video games until 4 a.m.

 

Some people think they cannot deal with hunger and so, resort to sleeping. After all, sleeping is better than staying awake and sinning right? (wow, you seriously want to pull that excuse off in Ramadan!? *tsk tsk*) Have we forgotten that every good deed is multiplied by 70 in this awesome month? Why waste your time sleeping when you can stay awake and do good deeds to earn massive reward from Allah (swt)? Even if we don't do any good deeds, staying awake and bearing hunger and thirst for the sake of Allah (swt) itself is rewarding! Ramadan is no time to sleep in dude... wake up!

The prophet (saw) says: 'Allah (Swt) says "Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except for fasting; it is for Me and I shall reward for it." (Bukhari)

2) Ms. Salahphobic
- eats suhur and goes back to sleep, misses fajr intentionally
- wakes up at 11 a.m. and starts reading a mystery novel
- it's time for dhur, she is busy playing games
- goes out with friends to watch a movie. Time for dhur runs out
- intentionally misses asr
- rushes home for iftaar and after iftaar, goes to bed. Misses maghrib, isha, and taraweeh

It really bothers me when people miss their salah intentionally. Remember, there is no excuse to miss salah (if you're sane and in a conscious state). Whether you're at home, in a park, in school, at work, in an airplane, in a battlefield, on Mt. Everest, under water, in la-la-land, or anywhere else, you MUST offer salah.

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (saw) said: "Allah (mighty and sublime be He) says: 'The first of his actions for which a servant of Allah will be held accountable on the Day of Resurrection will be his prayers (salah).' If they are in order, then he will have prospered and succeeded; and if they are not in order, then he will have failed and lost." [At-Tirmidhi (also by Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah and Ahmad)]

3) Mr. Accidentist
- after suhur, "accidentally" falls asleep and misses fajr
- "accidentally" hits snooze 16 times and gets up late in the afternoon
- opens the fridge, "accidentally" takes out nihari and naan, "accidentally" warms it up, and "accidentally" eats it
- goes to the grocery store and "accidentally" bumps into 8 gorgeous ladies
- it's time to prepare for iftaar. "Accidentally" swallows bunches of grapes, apple slices, and banana slices while making fruit chaat
- "accidentally" breaks fast 5 minutes before maghrib
[Mr. Accidentist does not suffer from severe dementia]

 

Ya Rubb, save us all from these "accidents"! Mr. Accidentist is missing one crucial component of fasting: ikhlas (sincerity)... and without that, he's gonna miss out on loads of reward. Fasting is a pillar of Islam... and just like salah, it should be taken seriously.

4) The mouthy love bird
- helps mother prepare suhur
- eats with the right hand... texts boyfriend with the left
- naps
- wakes up, dresses up, tells mother she is going to the library
- goes to meet friends instead and gossips about her neighbours
- calls her boyfriend to complain about how long the fast is
- comes home and gets into an argument with mother, screams at the top of her lungs
- calls boyfriend again to give details about the fight
- goes on an iftaar date with her boyfriend

Wow, way to go sista! You not only nullified your own fast, but also attempted to ruin the fasts of people all around you. What was that? Everything is fair in love and war? Think again...

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (saw) said: "Fasting is not [abstaining] from eating and drinking only, but also from vain speech and foul language. If one of you is being cursed or annoyed, he should say: "I am fasting, I am fasting." [Ibn Khuzaimah, Ibn Hibban, and al-Hakim; Sahih].

He also reported the Prophet (saw) said: "Whoever does not abandon falsehood in word and action, then Allah Mighty and Majestic has no need that he should leave his food and drink". [Bukhari]

[Allah (swt) does not need anything from anyone, He is self-sufficient. The hadeeth implies that the purpose of fasting is to restrain and improve one's self, failure to do so makes the fasting meaningless]

In conclusion, we should refrain from ALL sin just as we refrain from food and drink. If we can prove to ourselves that we are strong enough to do this for one month, we can surely continue for the rest of the year inshallah.

Sincerely,
D.M.