One of our team members has kindly provided us with this article about fasting and why it is important!
Why Muslim people fast?
Muslim people fast during the Islamic Lunar calendar month, called Ramadan.
Fasting was commanded by Allah (God) for spiritual growth, self-discipline, character (moral) development, reflecting and practising gratitude.
If one’s health and well-being are good, Muslim people fast for 30 days; unwell, pregnant women, and menstruating women are exempt from fasting. Those who cannot fast because they are unwell, they give charity to feed the poor and orphans, putting humanity at the number one priority. Muslim people are also required to give a certain percentage of their wealth, including gold, to charities, which is called Zakat. This is paid in the month of Ramadan.
Fasting helps with:
- Strengthen the love for Allah (God), the Creator
- Increases prayers and reflection
- To help develop and enhance gratitude
- Helps with self-discipline, no gossiping, improves anger management and helps decrease negative behaviour. This helps with purifying the mind, body and character
- This encourages being humble, practising appreciation and gratitude
- Fasting reminds Muslims of people who live in poverty and hunger
- This reminder increases and encourages generosity and charity
- Increases community unity
- Many mosques, using the help from the community, provide food at Maghrib prayer (this is when Muslim people break fast), which can help those who need help without one coming upfront and saying they need food, etc
- This act reminds us to do things with humility and humbleness and not make one feel they are not worthy or cannot provide, and that’s why they are taking food
- It brings families together, breaking fast at sunset together
- Completing night prayers at the mosque or even at home, this increases mental peace, self-reflection, time to yourself, and increases clarity. This encourages good character and behaviour
Breaking fast
- Is called Iftar
- Breakfast with dates, water and milk
- Then we pray and eat food, encouraged not to overeat
- Islamically, Muslim people are recommended to keep 1/3 of their stomach empty
Closing fast:
- Is called Sehri
- This is when fasting restarts just before the sun rises
Health benefits:
- Fasting helps with regrowth mentally and physically
- Supports health conditions – blood sugar control
- Self-reflections and self-discipline can improve general health and well-being
- Fasting mode can help save energy
- Self-discipline helps to use energy positively
Eidul Fitur – Festival of breaking the fast
- Celebrating the good you have practised in the last 30 days with the aim of practicing good behaviour, self-discipline, self-reflection, appreciating, being humble, practising gratitude and giving charity where you can is called Eidul Fitur
- Ramadan and Eid remind us to love and care for all, no matter who they are and where they are from. This includes your friends and family, have unity and continue to grow spiritually and as a good human
- When we grow spiritually, everything above becomes a normal practice, which increases peace and gratitude
- When you have peace and gratitude, appreciation and good behaviour come naturally
