RAMADAN KAREEM to each and every one of you Dear Readers.
As it says in the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the Heaven are opened, and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained.”
The Holy Month is one of the best times to get closer to God, through the piety and righteousness of fasting!

“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint,” (Q 2:183)
As we know, Ramadan was the time when the Holy Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), providing clear guidance for the people. Fasting is the main focus of the message of this Holy Month and also one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
The Holy month of Ramadan follows the Lunar Calendar and therefore takes approximately 29.5 to 30 days to complete. Since a Lunar Month is on average one day shorter than a Solar Month, a Lunar year is ten to twelve days shorter than a solar year. Therefore the Holy Month of Ramadan comes about eleven days earlier each year.
All Believers know what is behind the Fasting during the Holy Month. However, there are a lot of foreigners among us who are nor really clear.

So, let’s start at the beginning.....why do we fast?
Fasting in Islam is a kind of worship. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, the fundamental obligations of a Muslim. The other pillars are the witness of the Oneness of God and the prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH), prayers five times a day, pilgrimage to Makkah and the payment of Zakat (charity).

Believers are commanded to fast in the following verse from the Holy Qur’an: “O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint,” (Q 2:183). As is understood from this verse of the Qur’an (Islam’s Holy Book), fasting is the will of God (Allah), i.e. it should be done to gain favor and blessings from Allah. In addition, fasting is part of the traditions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), who is the highest example for all Muslims.
So, how do we fast properly in accordance to the Holy Book?
Fasting in Islam means that Muslims do not eat, do not drink and refrain from sex in the time-frame from dawn to sunset. This is the “external” fasting. It also has an “internal” side.
Therefore, during Ramadan Muslims must also be careful not to commit any sins consciously, like using foul language and listening to or acting upon anything that could be considered sinful or leading to sinful actions. Fasting is to realize the fact that an individual can be dependent only on God and renounce dependence on others and worldly desires. When a Muslim fasts he/she is more able to engage and concentrate in other forms of worship, such as prayer and reading the Qur’an.

Most people will ask what the benefits of fasting are. Fasting can be considered as a direct form of communication between man and his Creator. It is a form of worship in which there must be no hypocrisy. The soul during fasting is purified and its relationship with God becomes healthier. If purification is not the goal, then fasting is irrelevant and done in vain.
A great benefit from the month of Ramadan is the charity provided to the poor and needy, also reaching a calm and concentrate state and enjoying only the essentials. Fasting increases and strengthens the resistance force of the conscience. Whoever fasts should continuously think about God, exercise noble love of neighbor, and allow God’s will be done to feel the boundless, healing love of God.
During this month Muslims are happy to be with their families and friends. That composure and denial of certain things also moves into other areas of human life and is probably the most practical use of the month. It is a physical and mental exercise. This is possible because for Muslims during Ramadan this is an opportunity to take stock of old and to take new decisions in the future.

Who must fast?
The obligation of fasting during Ramadan is truly mentally healthy. The Muslim man or woman who has reached puberty is ready to fast. Puberty is a sign of maturity in Islam. Children who are not yet in puberty should be encouraged to fast as many days as they can. In this way, with age, they can get used to this obligation.

Next logical question is...who is exempt from Fasting?
Only those who cannot perform the duties as prescribed in Islam as it can be physically harmful. The sick, frail and elderly, pregnant, nursing, women who are menstruating are exempt from fasting. Also, people whose health will obviously not improve in the future, for example chronically ill or frail elders who must take in nourishment. Those, whose health state is temporary, for example nursing mothers and pregnant women, need to make up for the missed days of fasting.

How does fasting affect us?
There are Muslims who by fasting achieve inner peace, which perhaps is lacking throughout the year. Often, after fasting in Ramadan, one feels like his/her body has healed. Everyone feels differently while fasting.

How to break the Fast?
Termination of fasting is usually done with a sip of water and a date or two which is then followed by the Magrib prayer. Some people refrain from eating heavily until after night prayers. During this month it is a tradition to read the entire Qur’an, as did Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). People visit each other for Iftar (breaking the fast). There is also Iftar in mosques, offered on a daily basis during Ramadan.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) gave detailed instructions for fasting but we will cite just four:
“Fasting is a protection. So the one who fasts should not speak ill and behave foolishly, and if someone is threatening or abusive must say two times “I am fasting.” I swear by Him in whose hands my soul breathes from the mouth of fasting is pleasing to Allah. Fasting is for me and I give reward for it. And the good work is rewarded ten times. “
“Whoever fasts in Ramadan with belief and hope of reward will find it easier to avoid sins, and whoever prays during Ramadan in the night in the belief and hope of reward, he will be forgiven all past sins.”
“If someone does not give up their mistakes in words and deeds, then for Allah is not important that he had abandoned eating and drinking.”

The spiritual benefits of Fasting in Ramadan are numerous, so I’ll mention just a few:
The word “Ramadan” comes from the Arabic root word for “parched thirst” and “sun-baked ground.” It is expressive of the hunger and thirst felt by those who spend the month in fasting. As opposed to other holidays, when people often indulge, Ramadan is by nature a time of sacrifice.
Through fasting, a Muslim experiences hunger and thirst, and sympathizes with those in the world who have little to eat and drink every day.
Through increased devotion, Muslims feel closer to their Creator, and recognize that everything we have in this life is a blessing from Him.
Through increased charity, Muslims develop feelings of generosity and good-will toward others. The Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) once said, “A man’s wealth is never diminished by charity.”

Through self-control, a Muslim practices good manners, good speech, and good habits.
There are psychological effects of fasting as well. There is a peace and tranquility for those who fast during the month of Ramadan. Personal hostility is at a minimum, and the crime rate decreases. This psychological improvement could be related to better stabilization of blood glucose during fasting as hypoglycemia after eating, aggravates behavior changes.
Through changing routines, Muslims have a chance to establish healthier lifestyle habits — particularly with regards to diet and smoking.
Through family and community gatherings, Muslims strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood, in their own communities and throughout the world.
Fasting in general has been used in medicine for medical reasons including weight management, to rest 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 is at or slightly below the national requirement guidelines. In addition, the fasting in Ramadan is voluntarily taken and is not a prescribed imposition from the physician.
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.
The physiological effect of fasting includes lowering of blood sugar, lowering of cholesterol and lowering of the systolic blood pressure. In fact, Ramadan fasting would be an ideal recommendation for treatment of mild to moderate, stable, non-insulin diabetes, obesity and essential hypertension.
As we can see, the Holy Fast during the Holy Month of Ramadan is a Blessing indeed.
Wishing you a truly Holy and Blessed Ramadan and may God accept your fasting.

By Dr Madlena Krusheva
MSc Spirituality