Ramadan fasting is done to please Allah. This is purely considered to be a spiritual fast and the health benefits are not taken into consideration. Fasting is compulsory for every Muslim, in the month of Ramadan. The word ‘Swam’ means refraining. The Islamic meaning for this term is refraining from food. Fasting in the month of Ramadan doesn’t just mean abstinence from food, it also asks for control on immoral behavior and a controlled attitude. Fasting for Ramadan starts at the break of dawn. And it ends at sunset.
Rules Followed During the Fast: There are a written set of rules which are to be followed during the fast of Ramadan. They are:
- Abstaining from edibles, liquids or any sexual activity from break of dawn to sunset.
- The intention of fast must be made everyday. It is not necessary to make the intention only in the day but it can also be done in the night before going to sleep. The intention can also be made before the break of dawn.
- Suhoor is the food taken before the fasting is started every morning. The intention of fasting is taken even in the Suhoor time.
- The fast can be broken soon after the sunset. Breaking the fast with dates and water is the tradition the Prophet used to follow.
If the fast is broken for some reason then the days which are missed are called Qada. These invalidate the fast and also have some rules and conditions which have to be fulfilled.
The following aspects are considered for Qada:
- Consumption of food or liquids intentionally.
- Deliberately vomiting.
- Having menstrual cycles even before sunset. Or having post-child birth bleeding.
- Ejaculation for reasons which are other than intercourse.
- Contemplating to break the fast even before sunset.
- Eating, drinking or doing any of the forbidden activities assuming that it is dawn or sunset.
