Whoop, the annual Ramadan month has kicked off today…happy Ramadan to all our Muslim kfbers…please, remember the KFB family in your prayers!
Ramadan is a special month in the Islamic calendar when Muslims show their respect for the time in which Allah revealed his teachings to the Prophet Mohammad.
Since the words heard by the Prophet are believed to make up the Islamic holy text, the Qur’an, the month is of huge importance across the Islamic world as a chance to show reverence to Allah and escape from the pace of everyday life.
It involves a focus on being one’s best possible self, with the hunger, thirst, frustration, irritation and sexual attraction felt by everyone all put to the test during of self-restraint followed by celebration.
Below are lists of essential Dos/Don’ts for Muslims fasting this period:
* Understand that “fasting” does not mean dieting- Some Muslims say the month is sometimes confused with a kind of dietary “detox”, but that this interpretation is a misinterpretation of its real scope.
* It involves abstinence from eating, drinking water, and smoking between the local sunrise and sunset times – and trying to abstain from sensual and sexual pleasures throughout the entire month.
*Be sensitive, avoid anger and foul language- Controlling anger and language (among other things) is much more challenging while fasting than anything else, because you might find yourself getting very cranky due to hunger and thirst, and controlling that takes some effort.
*Be a bit more patience, and try to avoid getting into arguments with anyone.
*In addition to not eating, drinking, smoking, avoid having sexual relations.
* Avoid blood cupping, blood withdrawal, and using ear drops or inhalers while fasting.
*Some scholars are of the opinion that, ideally, you should use siwak or a toothbrush and water for cleaning teeth, rather than toothpaste.
* Do not listen to music because your heart should be occupied with supplication, remembrance of Allah, and the Holy Qur’an, not with songs.
* Do not waste your time. The days and nights of Ramadan are too precious to be wasted away watching TV, going on shopping sprees, oversleeping, and cooking extravagant feasts.
* Do not engage in idle talk, gossip, lying, quarreling, cursing, or any form of speech that is unnecessary and has no benefit, especially if it is hurtful to someone else. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, Allah has no need of him giving up his food and drink.” (Al-Bukhari)
