RAMADHAN IS COMING, MARHABAN YA RAMADHAN

"O you who believe fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you can learn Taqwa." (Al Quran Al Baqarah (2):183).

Time goes by so fast, could not believe that 1 Ramadhan 1431 is a head coming. Few more weeks, that is on August 11, 2010. Yupps. 1 Ramadhan 2010 will come again.

Ramadhan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, which is based on the orbiting of the moon (lunar calendar), rather than the orbiting of the earth (solar calendar). It was in the month of Ramadan in which the Quran (Holy Book for Muslims) was first revealed.

In Ramadhan, Muslims are obligated to fasting. Fasting is that Muslims should refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and conjugal relations. This means that no substitute should be introduced into the body, which could be considered as providing nourishment to the body (e.g., a nutritional injection). Fasting also involves abstaining from evil intentions and desires. The length of the Fasting is from dawn to sunset, every day of the month of Ramadhan, the 9th month of the Islamic calendar.

Fasting is obligatory upon every Muslim male and female who has reached the age of puberty, excluded:

• Men and women who are too old and feeble to undertake the obligation of fasting.
• Sick people whose health may be worsened by fasting.
• Pregnant women if according to a doctor's advice they should refrain from fasting.
• Breast-feeding mothers if their child does not receive a sufficient quantity of milk because of their mother's fast.
• Women in the period of menstruation and after childbirth (up to a maximum of 40 days).
• Children under the age of puberty.
• Insane people who are not accountable for their deeds.
• A traveling Muslim.

All the above people (with the exception of children who are underage and the insane people and the feeble elderly) must make up the number of fasts they have missed on account of their exemption, after the month of Ramadan.

After Ramadhan Muslims will celebrate a feast called Eid-ul-Fitr or Lebaran, a day of thanks giving and happiness celebrates the end of Ramadan. On this day, Muslims offer special prayers in congregation and thank Allah for His blessings and mercy. In conclusion, it is imperative to judge a religion by its teachings and not by people who claim to be its followers.

Actually there some benefit from fasting, that's why fasting is obligated for all Muslims. Fasting teaches us many things. It helps us become a better Muslim. It's not easy! We feel hungry, thirsty, sleepy and so on. But these are seeds we plant in the Garden of Ramadhan. We will harvest the beautiful tasty fruits of Jannah (Heaven). In each of the fruits below, write one benefit we will get from fasting. We can choose some from the list as following Taqwa, Self-control, Goodness, Charity, Kindness, Nearness to Allah (SWT), Strength, Sympathy, Empathy, Sincerity, Forgiveness, Blessings, and many good and sweet fruits.

HAPPY FASTING, MARHABAN YA RAMADHAN