Verses related to fasting

Discussion: Tips on Telling Your Family and Friends Youre A Muslim Take it slow o Gauge your family o Dont bombard them with info Drop random tidbits Know what they know Establish common ground Be a source of info on Islam Be a good knowledge foundation Be a good example as a Muslimand as a person o People have to like you as a person before theyll like you as a Muslim Give them their space Choose the medium: face-to-face, writing, email, etc Be consistent Learn stigmas and counter arguments Find root cause of prejudice against Islam. Not always media, some people may have had a bad experience with Muslism. Let them know that Muslim does not equal Arab! But above all, let them know you are still their son/daughter/brother/sister/mother/father/friend

Verses of Fasting: Fasting was revealed in stages: 1. Verses 183-184 a. Allah is describing the first order to fast b. To the Muslim community in Medina c. This fast was optional d. Those who are fasting or sick dont have to, and those who do not want to fast, they can pay in lieu of fasting e. Their fasting was 23 hours. They only got to break their fast at Maghrib, then right after they had to start fasting again f. The Sahaba found this difficult (they had wives, you know). One of the Sahaba came home and was tired; his job was to climb up date trees and pick date clusters and come down. Theres no food in the house. His wife goes out looking, and Maghrib comes, and she comes home and her husband is totally passed out. She thought he was going to die. He almost died the next day, but continued fasting. But he never complained. He passed out on the job while climbing a tree. So Allah made things easier after this and said we could break our fast all night long.

2. Verse 185 a. The month of Ramadan is that in which the Quran was revealed. i. The first thing Allah says about Ramadan is its the month of the Quran, not the month of fasting ii. This is the most important thing about Ramadan; fasting is just a means for us to get closer to Allah and closer to the Quran. iii. Fasting protects us from desire and sins, so you can understand the Quran better b. Fasting became obligatory when this was revealed c. Allah establishes a whole month for the founding of the Muslim ummah (nation). i. The Quran is what differentiates us as a community from everyone else d. So whoever witnesses from amongst you the month then they must fast. (185) i. Significance of from amongst you is an acknowledgement that people will die before it, and that it will be difficult, and there will be people who wont do it, but the people who do it have been selected and honoured. ii. Henry V, St. Crispians Day speech: He that outlives this day (YouTube link) e. And whoever is sick or on a journey, the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. Allah wants for you ease, and He does not want difficulty for you. (185) i. Could have just Allah wants things to be easy for you. BUT when he says He does not want difficulty for you. ii. Its like saying look, I want this to be easy for you, not hard for you. Youre trying to convince someone that you care about them. iii. Notice how its easier to fast in Ramadan than at any other time of the year. f. But He wants you to finish the set number of days so that you will make Allah greater (in your life). (185) i. The purpose of fasting is to realize Allahs supremacy over us, our desires, our entire lives. Hence why we say Allahu Akbar on the Eid prayer ii. This will also make us grateful for Allahs blessings. g. And when my slaves ask you concerning me, indeed I am near; I respond to the call of him who calls, whenever he calls unto Me. Let them, then, respond unto Me, and believe in me, so that they might follow the right way. (186) i. Here Allah talks about His relationship with the believers ii. Allah talks about fasting, talks more about fasting, then switches to Allahs relationship with His servants. iii. Allah speaks directly to the individual who is asking. You dont need an intermediary. If a slave asks Allah, Allah is near. The significance of Allah saying I am near is that Allah is always close to you; if the servant is asking about Allah, they feel they are distant from Allah. Allah is saying He is not far, He is near. The person may feel hopeless; Allah is saying He is Near, He is close all the time, and He will not abandon you. The significance of Near as a name, is that it is permanent, and that Allah is not the one who turns away from people, but people turn away from Him.

iv. Once people realize this, they wont have doubts about Allah; theyll just start talking to Allah and asking Allah instead of others; and they dont disobey Him. v. I respond to the call of the caller when he calls. So let them respond unto Me, and believe in Me, so that they will be guided. The first thing Allah says is that he will answer. He will answer the single call of the caller; meaning you only have to ask once He doesnt specify the righteous person, the super-Muslim, or even the repenting person, or even a believer; He answer the call of the caller. a. As long as you call, He will answer He will answer the call of the caller when he calls. So let the people respond to His commands and believe in Him to be guided. Significance of our response to Allah, is that our response may take us time (not immediately responding, like Allah); it may take us time, but we are trying to answer. The first thing Allah said is that He will answer you. Then He says the people should obey Him. He put your needs first. vi. Significance of being a slave: Allah owns you, everything about you, He provided you with everything and taken care of you 3. If you really want to have your dua answered, make dua while fasting. But if you really want to have your dua answered ASAP, fast and read Quran, then make dua.

If youre sick, even if its a minor sickness, you are allowed to break your fast. If youre traveling, even if its a minor travel, you are allowed to break your fast. BUT your purpose has to be good, Islamically (visiting family, learn knowledge, business, etc.) And minimum distance is 91 km

Wudhu is only broken by 5 things: 1. Anything that goes out of your front or back passages (passing gas, urinating, defecating, ejaculation, catheter) 2. Sleep (not drowsy; like a full loss of consciousness) a. However, not if youre sitting straight up on a flat surface. 3. Intercourse (meaning penetration) 4. Intellect is removed by something (becoming intoxicated, high, or passing out) 5. Touching someone of the opposite sex and not a blood relative with romantic intentions (only the Shaafis, and not other schools) Vomiting doesnt break it, getting filthy stuff on you doesnt break your wudhu, nosebleeds

3 types of bodily fluids for men 1. Ejaculate (semen) a. Need to make ghusl (shower, bath) 2. Pre-ejaculate (not semen) a. Different ruling b. Doesnt break fast; but breaks wudhu c. Just wash it off 3. Prostate fluid a. Often comes out during physical strain b. Same as pre-ejaculate

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