The month of Ramadan is celebrated around the globe by
the Muslims around the globe. Ramadan is the 9th month in the Muslim
calendar and holds an extremely important position in the Muslim society. In this month, Muslims fast for around a month.
Ramadan even holds a great respect among Muslim because the holy book of
Muslims ‘Quran’ was revealed to Prophet Muhammad during this month.
"The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a
guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion
(between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first
night of) the month (of Ramadan), he must fast that month, and whoever is ill
or on a journey, the same number (of days which one did not fast must be made
up) from other days.
Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things
difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days),
and that you must magnify Allah for having guided you so that you may be
grateful to Him" (2: 185).
DURATION OF FASTING?
Before
going towards the science of Fasting, let’s view the fasting schedule of
fasting in Ramadan. Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset which is around a fast
of 12-18 hours depending around different regions of the world. For instance, people
of Pakistan and India observe a fast of 16 hours, people of Australia and New
Zealand of 11.5 hours, UK 18.5 hours whereas Norway for 20 hours.
FASTING AND SCIENCE?
Many
recent scientific researches are backing the health benefits of fasting and the
positive impacts it asserts on our body. There is a global trend around since
2019 in regards to fitness and health known as ‘Intermittent fasting’ which
actually resembles a lot to the fast which Muslims practice in the month of
Ramadan.
Here
are some of the basic health benefits in fasting.
- HEALTHY HEART: Fasting may reduce the risk of heart attacks,
atherosclerosis and even reduce the fat percentage in human body.
- HEALTHY BRAIN: Intermittent fasting increases the brain functions,
helps in much sharp reflex response,
help in growth and maturation of new brain cells and even protect from many
diseases of brain such as ‘Alzheimer’s disease’ and dementia (memory loss).
- REDUCE
OBESITY: Fasting may play great role in reducing the
fat percentage and lowering the obesity in individual. Provided that people
refrain from eating junk food (Samosa, Pakora particularly in Indo-Pak society)
and instead eat healthy food, fruits, vegetables and limit the calorie intake.
After learning about all the benefits, the only one thing that resonates in one's heart is;
PEOPLE EXEMPTED FROM FASTING IN RAMADAN
People who are asked to refrain from
fasting in Ramadan include travelers, children who have not hit their puberty
yet, menstruating women, severely ill, some other medical condition, pregnant
women, and women who are breastfeeding.
Quran:
1; And whoever is ill or on
a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Sawm (fasts) must
be made up] from other days”
[Al-Baqarah 2:185]
2: But if the sickness is permanent and there is no hope of
recovery, then you have to feed one poor person for each day that you did not
fast in this Ramadaan and in the previous one, because Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
“And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man),
they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskeen (poor person) (for
every day)”
[Al-Baqarah 2:184]
Hadith;
Ibn ‘Abbas said: This
refers to the old man or old woman who cannot fast, so for each day they should
feed one poor person. This was narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4505. The sick person
who has no hope of recovery comes under the same ruling as the elderly.
For a detailed read on fasting, its’s
benefits and intermittent fasting click here
0 Comments