ΠALLAH (I) SAYS IN THE QURAN:
§ (البقرة:183)(يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ)
(O YOU WHO BELIEVE, FASTING IS PRESCRIBED TO YOU AS IT WAS PRESCRIBED TO THOSE BEFORE YOU THAT YOU MAY ACHIEVE TAQWA)
(AL-BAQARAH (2):183)
DEFINITION OF FASTING (SIYAM):
§ SIYAM IS A WAY OF WORSHIPING ALLAH BY INTENTIONALY ABSTAINING FROM FOOD, DRINK, SEXUAL INTERCOURSE AND OTHER THINGS THAT
BREAK ONES FAST; FROM DAWN TO SUNDOWN.
Ž MERITS OF FASTING:
§ ABU-HURAYRAH REPORTED THAT THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH (r) SAID:
"كل عمل ابن آدم يضاعف الحسنة عشر أمثالها إلى سبعمائة ضعف قال الله عز وجل إلا الصوم فإنه لي وأنا أجزي به يدع شهوته وطعامه من أجلي للصائم فرحتان فرحة عند فطره وفرحة عند لقاء ربه ولخلوف فيه
أطيب عند الله من ريح المسك" (رواه البخاري ومسلم)
"EVERY GOOD DEED OF THE SON OF ADAM IS MULTIPLIED IN REWARD
10 TO 700 TIMES (DEPENDING ON ONE'S INTENTION AND SINCERITY), ALLAH (I) PROCLAIMS:
'EXCEPT FOR FASTING, FOR IT IS FOR ME AND I WILL GRANT THE
REWARD FOR IT. HE LEAVES HIS PASSIONS AND HIS FOOD FOR MY
SAKE.' THE FASTING PERSON HAS TWO MOMENTS OF JOY; ONE
WHEN HE BREAKS HIS FAST AND THE OTHER WHEN HE MEETS HIS
LORD. AND THE SMELL THAT COMES FROM THE MOUTH OF THE
FASTING PERSON IS MORE PLEASANT TO ALLAH THAN THE SMELL
OF MUSK." (COLLECTED BY BUKHARI & MUSLIM)
BENEFITS OF FASTING:
ABOVE ALL IT IS AN ACT OF OBEDIENCE TO ALLAH.
‚ TRAINS BELIEVERS IN TAQWA (BEING MINDFUL OF ALLAH & FEARING HIM BY DOING ALL THAT HE ORDERED & AVOIDING ALL THAT HE FORBADE).
ƒ TEACHES PATIENCE AND SINCERITY.
ACTS WHICH INVALIDATE (BREAK) FASTING:
EATING, DRINKING, SMOKING OR ANYTHING THE SAME.
‚ INTENTIONALY VOMITING.
ƒ TAKING OUT BLOOD IN LARGE AMOUNT.
„ MENSTRUATION OR POST-BIRTH BLEEDING.
… SEXUAL INTERCOURSE OR SEXUAL DISCHARGE.
‘ ZAKAT UL-FITR:
ONE SA'A (4 HANDFULS) APPROXIMATELY 2.5 kg. OF BASIC FOOD OF
A COUNTRY (ex. WHEAT, RICE, CORN, etc..)
‚ GIVEN BY EVERY MUSLIM TO THE POOR AND NEEDY.
ƒ ONE OR TWO DAYS BEFORE 'EID PRAYER.
