Understanding the test of Ramadan
TIME flies, Ramadan is upon us once again. According to religiouspopulation.com, more than 2 billion Muslims or 23 percent of the global population around the globe are observing the holy month of Ramadan, which is a period of fasting.
For Muslims, Ramadan fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with the Muslim declaration of faith, daily prayer, charity and performing the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
This holy month is the month in which the first verses of the Quran, Islam’s holy book, were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad more than 1,400 years ago.
Through fasting, Muslims experience hunger and thirst, and sympathize with those in the world who have little to eat every day. It is expressive of the hunger and thirst felt by those who spend the month in fasting.
Ramadan is by nature a time of sacrifice and is also the month of reflection, devotion, generosity and sacrifice observed by the world Muslims. Fasting is not an act of penitence, but a method of self-purification, both physical and spiritual, as well as a way of showing solidarity with the needy. It is an asceticism that brings spiritual elevation and the collective affirmation of faith.
During this period of 29 to 30 days, Muslims are called upon to, among other things, fast from dawn until sunset. In practice, this fast means not eating or drinking.
It is accompanied by sexual abstinence, no lying, no insulting, chasing “impure” thoughts from your mind and in general, committing no bad actions.
Failing to respect these guidelines invalidates the fast or we called “Batal puasa” in Malaysia.
“Ramadan Mubarak” and “Ramadan Kareem” are common greetings exchanged during this period, wishing the recipient a “blessed” and generous Ramadan.
This year Ramadan starts on Saturday, the 27th of May and will continue for 30 days until Sunday, the 25th of June.
It begins with the appearance of the crescent moon, and is that of the year 1438 in Islamic calender. A semantic shift means that the word is now also used to refer to the month of fasting that accompanies it. This has led to expressions such as “doing Ramadan”, meaning “observing the fast of Ramadan”.
Note that in the Muslim calendar, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Muslims will celebrate Ramadan on the sunset of Friday, the 26th of May. Although Ramadan is always on the same day of the Islamic calendar, the date on the Gregorian calendar varies from year to year, since the Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar and the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar.
The word “Ramadan” derives from the Arabic root word for “parched thirst” and “sun baked ground”. It originally meant the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar, also known as “Hegira”. The starting point of this calendar, that’s to say the founding date of the Muslim era, marks the emigration – Hijri or Hegira – of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina, on September 13, 622.
Etymologically, the word “ramadhan”, which can also be given as a first or last name, comes from the Arabic root r-m-d.
While it can carry many meanings, they are all connected to heat, to burning, from the ashes of the fire or the furnaces of the summer.
Originally, this month fell in summer, because the lunar calendar included interim periods so as to make it fixed in relation to the solar calendar. But today, the Hegira calendar follows the lunar cycles and “gets earlier” every year by 10 or 11 days. As a result, Ramadan in 1438 is due to begin on 25 or 26 May 2017.
The holy month of fasting has a different atmosphere from the other months of the year when fasting is performed during the day, and to perform extra prayers, or tarawih.
It is the most important event during the nights of Ramadan and is performed together with the community.
The young and elderly and those who are healthy enough will normally attend to their prayer at the mosques and show great care and diligent to perform their obligation. Since this holy month is the time of fasting, it is believed that this month burns up the sins.
Also, the holy Quran began to be revealed during this month. Through increased devotion, Muslims feel closer to their Creator, and recognize that everything we have in this life is a blessing from Him.
Fasting in general has been used in medicine for medical reasons including weight management, for rest of the digestive tract and for lowering lipids.
There are many adverse effects of total fasting as well as so-called crash diets. Islamic fasting is different from such diet plans because in Ramadan fasting, there is no malnutrition or inadequate calorie intake.
The caloric intake of Muslims during Ramadan may be slightly below the national requirement guidelines.
In addition, the fasting in Ramadan is voluntarily taken and is not prescribed imposition from the physician. Ramadan is a month of self-regulation and selftraining, with the hope that this training will last beyond the end of Ramadan.
If the lessons learned during Ramadan, whether in terms of dietary intake or righteousness, are carried on after Ramadan, it is beneficial for one’s entire life.
Moreover, the type of food taken during Ramadan does not have any selective criteria of crash diets such as those which are protein only or fruit only type diets.
Everything that is permissible or Halal is taken in moderate quantities.
The only difference between Ramadan and total fasting is the timing of the food; during Ramadan. Muslims basically miss lunch and take an early breakfast known as Sahur and do not eat until dusk.
Abstinence from water during this period is not bad at all and in fact, it causes concentration of all fluids within the body, producing slight dehydration.
The body has its own water conservation mechanism; in fact, it has been shown that slight dehydration and water conservation, at least in plant life, improve their longevity.
Personally I am convinced that fasting can bring about countless health benefits. It is good for our digestive system, which is responsible for the metabolism process of food, to get some rest.
During the first week you will be surprised at how little food you actually need to be full. For some people it can lead to the whole new way of consuming food.
Fasting is seen as a way to physically and spiritually detoxify by kicking impulses like morning coffee, smoking and midday snacking.
The physiological effect of fasting includes lower of blood sugar; lowering of cholesterol and lowering of the systolic blood pressure and of course it is a chance to get your body in shape!
Wishing al my Muslim Brothers and sisters SELAMAT BERPUASA!