Before we started working on our changes, the month of Ramadan was already over. Huge mercies and blessings from the Almighty pledged this month, some of us used and some simply ignored.
What to do dear sisters if the true meaning of what Almighty Allah endowed us with we will see only in the next world. Therefore, many of us, as soon as the end is coming, begin to return to our old lives and to our old habits.
This is fundamentally wrong, because having acquired something useful in the month of Ramadan, in the future it is necessary to try to keep it. Otherwise, the whole point of our positive changes loses any meaning.
After all, if a person did not get rid of the bad qualities of his character during the month of Ramadan and did not try to change for the better, then we can assume that the chance that the Almighty gave him was wasted.
An-Nawwas bin Sam'an (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
البر حسن الخلق، والإثم ما حاك في صدرك وكرهت أن يطلع عليه الناس
« Piety is good manners, and sinful is what stirs in your soul, but you do not want people to know about it ". (Muslim 2553)
Following the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), we must understand dear sisters one simple thing: work on the eradication of one's own shortcomings is a necessary part of our religion and this should be done not only in the month of Ramadan.
Knowing how difficult it is sometimes to become a “different person”, we understand that one fast in the month of Ramadan is not enough for this. It is necessary that the mood that we had in the month of Ramadan is carried over to the following months, each of which has special benefits.
Today, dear sisters, I would like to tell you about one of these months. This month, which follows immediately after the month of Ramadan, is also a very desirable time for fasting.
The first of ashkhur al-hajj
The month of Shawwal is the first of three months referred to as ashkhur al-hajj(months of Hajj). As you know, the main rites of the Hajj are performed in the first ten days, but some of its elements can be performed precisely at the beginning of the month of Shawwal.
Of these rites, for example, tawaful kudum (welcome circumambulation of the Kaaba seven times), followed by "saʻyu" (seven times walking between the hills of Safa and Marwa).
This “saʻyu”, which is a rukn (component) of the Hajj, is not allowed to be performed until the month of Shawwal, but starting from the first day of Shawwal, you can enter the Hajj and, accordingly, perform saʻu on any day.
Also, any rite of the big Hajj will not be considered completed if it is performed before the onset of the month of Shawwal. This is the peculiarity of the month of Shawwal, that it is he who opens the period of the big Hajj, which lasts until the middle of the month of Zulhij.
About fasting in the month of Shawwal
Let's start with the fact, dear sisters, that fasting in Islam is one of the most effective methods of cultivating one's nafs and ennobling character.
Abu Umama (may Allah be pleased with him) said in a hadith narrated by An-Nasai:
قلت: يا رسول الله مرني بأمر آخذه عنك، قال: عليك بالصوم فإنه لا مثل له
"I said to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him):" O Messenger of Allah! teach me something". The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied: " Be diligent in fasting, nothing compares to it" ».
And fasting is one of the most beloved divine services, provided that a person observed it sincerely and with with a pure heart. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
قَالَ كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ إِلَّا الصَّوْمَ فَإِنَّهُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ
“Allah Almighty said: Every act of the son of Adam is performed by him for himself, except for fasting, verily, it is performed for Me, and I will repay for it (for a person fasts only for My sake) "". (Bukhari)
Regarding fasting in the month of Shawwal, the hadeeth of the noble Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), transmitted from Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him), says:
مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهُ سِتًّا مِنْ شَوَّالٍ، كَانَ كَصِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ
« The fast of a person who observes his month of Ramadan, adding to it six days in the month of Shawwal, is like an uninterrupted fast for a whole year ". (Imam Ahmad 5/417, Muslim 2/822, Abu Dawood 2433, Tirmizi 1164)
This is explained by the fact that Almighty Allah in the Holy Quran says that he will reward for any good deed tenfold. Following this, we can conclude that six fasts in the month of Shawwal are like 60, which in total (together with Ramadan) will equal 360 days.
Fasting the month of Shawwal dear sisters is Sunnah Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) which should not be missed without apparent reason. And although it is desirable to observe them in a row, you can keep the fast at intervals, if it is easier.
When we say that it is desirable to fast on the first six days of the month of Shawwal, this does not mean the day of the holiday itself, which falls on the first Shawwal. On holidays, it is forbidden to observe fasts (fard and sunnat).
Intention to fast in the month of Shawwal, you can do the following: “ I intend (a) to fast tomorrow in the month of Shawwal this year for the sake of Allah Almighty ».
Be sure to indicate in the intention which post you are going to observe, dear sisters: obligatory - debt or desirable. Despite the fact that fasting in the month of Shawwal is desirable, it is better for those who have debt fard fasts to compensate them.
How did we understand dear sisters The month of Shawwal is filled with great benefits that we can receive through fasting this month. Fasting is one of the best deeds that brings a slave closer to the mercy of his Creator.
In addition, the Almighty promised the forgiveness of sins to the fasting person and huge rewards in the next world. May Allah help us to follow His orders and give us tawfiq in doing what He has ordered.
Alfia Sinai
The month of Ramadan is the most honorable and important of the 12 months of the lunar calendar, according to which Muslims around the world live.
When does fasting start and how long does it last?
Ramadan (another name is Ramadan) is the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar, which is 10 or 11 days less than the solar year. For this reason, the days of Muslim religious holidays are shifted from the Gregorian calendar each year.
Accordingly, Ramadan, which lasts from 29 to 30 days, depending on the lunar calendar, falls on different dates every year. In 2017, Ramadan lasts 30 days.
At the Moscow cathedral mosque during the Muslim holiday of Ramadan, according to the Muslim calendar, days begin at sunset, and not at midnight, as in the Gregorian calendar.
Ramadan in 2017 begins on the evening of May 26 with sunset and ends on the evening of June 25, 2017, after which the Eid al-Fitr holiday (the Turkic name is Eid al-Fitr) will begin.
At the same time, in different Muslim countries, Ramadan can begin at different time, and it depends on the method of astronomical calculation or direct observation of the phases of the moon.
Ramadan is translated from Arabic as "hot", "scorching heat". Every devout Muslim this month proves the strength of his faith, thanks to the complete rejection of the most simple human needs during hot days. The faithful during this period must be freed from various thoughts that can defile a person.
Mosque of Hassan II in CasablancaMuslims believe that the spiritual and physical fasting of Ramadan can significantly improve the state of the human spirit. In the Turkic languages, this post is called uraza.
Fasting in Ramadan
During the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims are required to observe a number of strict rules, one of which is fasting, the purpose of which is to rethink life, cleanse the soul and body.
During fasting, you should pray a lot and confirm daily your intention (niyat) to participate in this holiday in the name of Allah. You should also refrain from evil thoughts and intentions, beware of discrediting deeds and impious people.
Fasting begins at dawn and ends after sunset.
During Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating and drinking during daylight hours, smoking, including hookah or other mixtures, and intimacy.
The Kul-Sharif Mosque in Kazan It is considered a violation of the fast to swallow any liquid, including water during bathing, as well as skipping niyat. At the same time, blood donation, bathing, kissing, and the introduction of drugs through injections are allowed.
The main meaning of such a post is to strengthen the faith of every believing Muslim, as well as to decide on life values and, of course, to be spiritually enriched by daily prayer and also abstaining from temptations. Practice shows that fasting has a healing effect on the body.
Ramadan is one of the pillars of Islam. It is obligatory for every adult Muslim to observe it. The exceptions are children, sick people, pregnant and lactating women, travelers, warriors and the elderly who are physically unable to fast. But it is obligatory to compensate for fasting in another, more favorable period.
If a Muslim has broken the fast, then he must pay the needy a certain amount of money or food, thus replenishing the fast.
With the onset of Ramadan, it is customary for Muslims to congratulate each other in words or in the form of postcards, because it was this holiday that laid the foundation for the birth of the holy book of the Koran, which plays special role in the life of every believer.
Pilgrims in Mecca Ramadan is a time to earn eternal Paradise, when many deeds can be worthy of a great reward. These include fasting, five times prayer, the Tarawih prayer, sincere supplication-du "a, iftar (breaking the fast), pre-dawn meal (sahur), donations and many other good deeds and deeds.
When was the Quran sent down
The first revelation of the Qur'an was sent down on the night of Laylat-al-Qadr or the Night of Power and Predestination. This is the most important night of the year for every Muslim.
Muhammad, when his prophetic mission began, was 40 years old.
Before the revelation of the Qur'an, the Prophet Mohammed often retired and prayed in the cave of Hira near Mecca, where the first sura of the Qur'an was revealed to him in 610.
By the order of Allah, one of the angels, Jabrail, came to the Prophet Muhammad and said to Him: “Read.” The word "read" means "Quran". With these words, the sending down of the Koran began - that night the angel Jabrail transmitted the first five verses from the Sura Clot.
The revealed QuranThe mission lasted until the death of Muhammad - the Great Quran was sent down to the prophet for 23 years.
According to sources, Laylat al-Qadr is the night when angels descend to earth and the prayer recited on this night is much more powerful than all the prayers in the year.
In the Quran, this Night is dedicated to the whole sura “Inna anzalnagu”, which says that the Night of Power is better than a thousand months in which it is not. This is the night when the fate of each person is predetermined in heaven, his life path, difficulties and trials to be passed, and if you spend this night in prayers, in understanding your deeds and possible mistakes, then Allah will forgive him his sins and be merciful.
Regarding the date of the night of Predestination, the Qur'an says that it falls on one of the last 10 nights of Ramadan. Therefore, it is considered most correct to dedicate all the last 10 nights of Ramadan to prayers. Some sources indicate that Laylat al-Qadr falls on the 27th of Ramadan, that is, on the night of June 21-22.
Tbilisi MosqueRespect for the ninth month of the lunar calendar is repeatedly mentioned in the Koran. Muslims call the fast "mubarak", that is, blessed. It is believed that the value of a good deed performed at this time increases several hundred times.
For example, a small pilgrimage (umrah) is equivalent in value to the hajj (visiting Mecca), and voluntary prayer is rewarded in the same way as mandatory. Ramadan received special status in 622.
What is celebrated after the fast of Ramadan
Ramadan ends with the second most important holiday - Eid al Fitr or the so-called Feast of Conversation. The holiday comes after sunset on the last day of Ramadan and lasts for three days.
The Feast of Conversation begins on the first day of the month of Shawwal, which comes at the end of the holy Ramadan. In 2017, Eid al Fitr will be celebrated from 26 to 28 June.
The holiday begins with the onset of evening prayer time - from this time it is advisable for all Muslims to read the takbir (the formula for exalting Allah). Takbir is read before the holiday prayer on the day of the holiday.
Tbilisi mosque in the historical center of the Georgian capital
Muslims at this time should indulge in reflection on spiritual values and rethink life during the period of fasting. This day is considered a holiday of salvation from hell, as well as a day of reconciliation, love and friendly handshakes. On this day, it is customary to visit the destitute and take care of the elderly.
It is advisable to spend the night of the holiday in vigil, in the all-night service to Allah. On the day of the holiday, it is advisable to put on clean clothes, put a silver ring on your finger, perfume yourself with incense and, after eating a little, go to the mosque early to perform the holiday prayer.
On this day, Muslims distribute alms to those in need, congratulate each other and wish the Almighty to accept fasting, visit relatives, neighbors, acquaintances, friends, receive guests.
The material was prepared on the basis of open sources.
is the month of spiritual cleansing. After the month of Ramadan comes the month of Shawwal, which also has a unique opportunity for Muslims to get even closer to Allah. It consists of observing six days of fasting. The importance of observing such a fast was emphasized by the Messenger of Allah himself.
Abu Ayub al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: “ For one day of fasting is it rewarded tenfold?” The response was: “Of course!»
The Wisdom of Fasting in Shawwala
The wisdom of fasting six days in Shawwal is the same as the wisdom of all the other additional pious deeds that Allah has established, so that through this the worship of the believer can become perfect. This is a manifestation of the infinite mercy of Allah.
Dignity of fasting
The desirability of observing a six-day additional fast in the month of Shawwal according to the Sunnah is mentioned in hadiths placed in the collections of Muslim, Abu Dawood, an-Nasai, Ibn-i Maj, Tabarani and other muhaddis (may Allah be merciful to them).
Abu Ayub al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet ﷺ said: The one who fasts in the month of Ramadan and after him fasts six days of Shawwal is equal to the one who fasted throughout the year" (Ahmad, No. 23533).
Ibn Khuzayma (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: For observing the fast of the month of Ramadan - a reward, as for ten ordinary months spent in fasting; keeping six days of fasting in the month of Shawwal is a reward like for two such months, and in general it is a reward like for keeping a fast throughout the year
Imam an-Nawawi (may Allah be pleased with him), explaining this hadith, said: And this is like a whole year, because for every one good deed, a tenfold reward is recorded for the month of Ramadan - ten months, and for six days - two months."(Shahru Ramadan shahru al-Hadi wal Furqan).
Calculation
Only Allah Almighty knows the true meaning of the six-day fast in the month of Shawwal. According to the assumption of some scholars, the goodness of this additional fast lies in the following. Allah Almighty said in the Holy Qur'an (meaning): "One good deed will be rewarded tenfold."
Therefore, for a thirty-day fast in the month of Ramadan, goodness will be given as for a three hundred-day fast! And for a six-day fast in the month of Shawwal - as for a sixty-day fast! Thus, as a result of observing these fasts, a Muslim will receive goodness as for fasting observed for three hundred and sixty days, that is, as for one year.
All this the Lord created for the good of people, in order to make it easier for us to achieve His Contentment.
Note
Whoever has missed fasts in the month of Ramadan is obligated to make up for them. When a person makes up for the obligatory missed days of fasting, he receives a reward for sunat fasting as well. That is, if you make up in the month of Shawwal for the missed days of the fast of the month of Ramadan, then for six of these days you will receive a reward for the sunat fasts of the month of Shawwal. At the same time, you make the intention to compensate for farz fasts. It is advisable to start fasting immediately after the holiday. Fasting in a row is optional, but desirable.
Intention to Fast in Shawwala
The intention is done like this: « I intend to fast in the month of Shawwal for the sake of Allah».
The pleasure of the Almighty is what we should strive for and hurry to earn it before the end of our life span. We don't know how long we have to live. Maybe just a month - don't miss the opportunity to earn a reward that would otherwise only come with a year of uninterrupted worship. After all, this year may not be. And if it does, you do not know how much you need to put on the scales of your good deeds so that they outweigh your sins and errors. Happy month of Shawwal!
In 2017, the holy month of Ramadan will last from the evening of May 26 to the evening of June 24. and will end with the onset of the month of Shaval with the feast of breaking the fast.
The month of Ramadan is the most important period of the year for Muslims. The Prophet Muhammad allegedly once said that when Ramadan begins, the gates of paradise open and the gates of hell close, and all the devils are immobilized by chains for this time. According to religious beliefs, it was during this month that God revealed the first verses of the Koran to Muhammad. It happened on the night known as the "Night of Power". During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. This is a time for strengthening spiritual discipline - deep reflection on your relationship with God, extra prayers, charity and generosity, as well as intensive study of the Qur'an. However, not everything is so boring, because Ramadan is also a time for celebration and joy, time spent with loved ones. A large three-day holiday called the "Festival of Breaking the Fast" concludes this month and is like a "Muslim version of Christmas" in the sense that it is a religious holiday during which people gather with relatives and friends at a large table and exchange gifts.
Muslim fasting during Ramadan
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with testimony of faith, prayer, charity, and the pilgrimage to Mecca. Of course, there are some relaxations of the rules for the sick, pregnant or lactating, for travelers, small children and the elderly.
Fasting in Ramadan has several spiritual and social purposes:
- remind people of human weakness and dependence on God;
- feel compassion for the poor and needy;
- reduce the weight of distractions so that the person can focus on their relationship with God.
Ramadan means abstaining from food and any liquids, smoking cigarettes, engaging in any sexual activity from sunrise to sunset. Chewing gum is also banned. If you "broke", this day does not count. Each missed day of fasting must either be “made up” later, or fed to a person in need.
Early in the morning, long before dawn, Muslims wake up to have breakfast, and in fact - to eat for the whole day. Therefore, they need to eat high-protein foods and drink as much as possible. more water until the sun comes up. Then follows morning prayer, after which many return to bed to sleep a little more. Nevertheless, no one canceled work and study, so everyone fulfills their duties in this holy month as well. True, in many Muslim countries, enterprises and educational establishments reduce their working hours.
Before the evening prayer, for which many go to the mosque, the followers of Muhammad can eat again. However, this is not yet a hearty dinner with several courses, but a light snack. Only after prayer do families gather together and have dinner before going to bed, and early in the morning everything starts all over again.
Why Ramadan Dates Change Every Year
In matters of religion, Muslims use the lunar calendar, whose 12 months add up to approximately 354 days. It is precisely because of the discrepancy between the number of days and the Gregorian calendar that Ramadan - the 9th lunar month - is shifted back by about 11 days every year. This factor significantly affects the course of the celebration: when Ramadan falls on winter time, fasting is much easier, since the days are short and you don’t have to endure hunger for a long time. In addition, due to the air temperature, the ban on drinking water is easier to bear.
Interestingly, in some European countries (Iceland, Norway, Sweden), fasting can last about 20 hours a day in the summer. For Muslims in the Arctic Circle, where the sun almost never sets below the horizon in summer, it is allowed to fast according to the time frame of the nearest Muslim country, or Saudi Arabia. By the way, in 2017, Ramadan will last from May 27 to June 25.
How do Sunnis and Shiites celebrate Ramadan?
The celebration of the holy month is practically no different between Sunnis and Shiites. However, there are some nuances: for example, Sunnis finish their daily fast when the sun has already hidden behind the horizon, while Shiites wait for complete darkness.
How to behave in Ramadan to adherents of other religions?
In some Muslim countries, eating in in public places during Ramadan is considered a crime, even if you are not a Muslim. Even if you do not live in such a country, out of a sense of solidarity, you can "fast" in the presence of friends or colleagues from the Muslim religion. At the same time, no one bothers you to eat a delicious-smelling cheeseburger, for example, in the break room. Try to forget for a while about your politeness and not offer those who are fasting to "bite off a piece." The same goes for parties: if you are going to invite Muslim friends, then try to organize events after sunset so that they can feel at ease. In addition, congratulations on such an important holiday for them will never be superfluous, but it will show how important these people are to you and how much you care about them.
For those who wish to receive a reward equal to the fast of a whole year
As we know, for a Muslim who strives for constancy in worship, diligence in cleansing the heart and the pleasure of Allah, there are additional types of worship in Sharia. When leaving worship, the servant of Allah moves away from inner purity, and the more a person worships, the more spiritually cleansed, and therefore pious people are soft, kind, hospitable.
Fast- this is worship that spiritually cleanses a person from vices, so the month Ramadan This is the month of spiritual cleansing. After the month of Ramadan comes the month of Shawwal, which also has a unique opportunity for Muslims to get closer to Allah. The opportunity lies in observing six days of fasting. The importance of observing such a fast was emphasized by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) himself. For minimal efforts, Allah promises numerous rewards - this is infinite mercy to us and an obvious sign that Allah is looking for the slightest opportunity to bring His servants closer to Himself. Of course, there is no fixed period for worship, a Muslim should try to worship all his life. One scholar was asked about people who worship and strive only in the month of Ramadan, to which he replied: “The worst people are those who truly know about Allah only in the month of Ramadan, the truly righteous are those who worship and strive all the years.”
The resumption of fasting after Ramadan is a sign of the acceptance by the Almighty of the fasts observed in Ramadan. Indeed, when Allah accepts a good deed of a slave, He gives him the opportunity to do other good deeds. Here's what some people in the know said: “The reward for good deeds is the opportunity to do more good deeds after the first one. Who will do good, and then another - this is a sign of acceptance of the first good deed. And whoever does good, then bad - this is a sign of rejection of a good deed.
This is the boundless mercy of Allah to us, and we should not forget to give praise for it. When some righteous ancestors spent the night in worship, the next day they fasted - by fasting they gave praise to the Almighty for the fact that Allah gave them the opportunity to worship at night. May Allah give us the opportunity to fast in the month of Shawwal.
The Wisdom of Fasting in Shawwala
The wisdom of fasting six days in Shawwal is the same as the wisdom of all the other additional desirable deeds that Allah has legitimized to supplement the obligatory deeds through this. A desirable fast is like nafl prayers performed after obligatory prayers to make up for the shortcomings that were allowed in the obligatory prayers. It is the mercy of Allah that He has established desirable deeds for obligatory deeds, through which fullness is achieved in obligatory deeds and by which omissions are made up.
The merit of such a post
We know from hadith that a person who observes these days of fasting after observing a monthly fast in Ramadan receives the reward of fasting for a whole year.
Abu Ayub al-Ansari reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“The one who fasts the month of Ramadan and after it fasts six days of Shawwal is equal to the one who fasted throughout the year” (Ahmad, No. 23533).
Ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“He who fasted in the month of Ramadan and then fasted for six days in Shawwal is cleansed from sins from the day of his birth” (Targib).
Ibn Khuzayma narrated :
“Fasting the month of Ramadan is a reward of ten more like it, observing six days of fasting is a reward of two months, and this is fasting a year” (Shahru Ramadan shahru al-Hadi wal Furqan).
Imam an-Nawawi, explaining this hadeeth, said:
“And this is like a whole year, because for every one good deed a reward is recorded - ten like it, for the month of Ramadan - ten months like it, and for six days - two months like it” (“Shahru Ramadan shahru al-Hadi wal Furqan”) .
Note:
Whoever has missed fasts in the month of Ramadan is obliged to make up for them. If you make an intention to compensate for the farz fast, then you can also receive a reward for the desired one. It is advisable to start fasting immediately after the holiday, it is not necessary to fast in a row, but it is desirable.
The intention is done like this: “I intend to fast in the month of Shawwal for the sake of Allah.”