Jahangir's World Times First Comprehensive Magazine for students/teachers of competitive exams and general readers as well.
Saum is an Arabic word and its literal meaning is to abstain or refrain from something. According to Islam it is a kind of obligatory worship prescribed for Muslims in which they abstain from eating, drinking and sexual intercourse from early in the morning to sunset during the 9th month of Islamic calendar year i.e. Ramadan. Like other tenets of Islam, Saum also inculcates spirituality and piety in Muslims. The basic objective of Saum is not only to abstain from eating, drinking and bodily pleasures but to protect all organs and instincts of human body from committing evils and vices. That’s why the Holy Prophet (PBUH) has declared Saum a shield against evils. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said, ‘Who does not give up telling lies and implementing over it during the month of Ramadan, then the Almighty Allah does not need his/her abstention from eating and drinking.’
Ramadan is a month of blessing for the Muslims. During this month the reward of each Fardh/Obligatory worship is enhanced seventy times by Allah Almighty and the reward of recommended worship or Nafal ibadat becomes equal to that of obligatory worship. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) has said, ‘The first ten days of Ramadan are blessing, 2nd ten days are forgiveness and last ten days are freedom from the blazing fire of hell.’
REVELATION OF THE QURAN: This month has a special connection with the Holy Quran, as it was in this month that the Holy Quran was revealed as explained by the Allah Almighty in verse No.185 of Surah Al-Baqara / Chapter the Cow which states, ‘During the month of Ramadan the Quran was sent down as a guidance to the people with clear signs of the true guidance and as the criterion (between right and wrong). So those of you who live to see that month should fast it, and whoever is sick or on a journey should fast the same number of other days instead. Allah wants ease and not hardship for you so that you may complete the number of days required, magnify Allah for what He has guided you to, and give thanks to Him’.
LAILAT UL QADR: The prestigious night of Power/destiny i.e. Lailat ul Qadr also falls on any one of last five odd nights of this month. The importance of this night can be judged from Surah Al-Qadr/Chapter the Power that states, ‘(1) Behold, We revealed this Quran on the Night of Power. (2) And what do you know what the Night of Power is? (3) The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. (4) The angles along with the Spirit descend in it by the permission of their Lord with all kinds of decrees. (5) All peace is that night until the rise of dawn’.
TARAAWIH: The Holy Prophet (PBUH) used to recite the whole of the Holy Quran before the Muslims during this month. During the last Ramadan of his life, he (PBUH) recited the whole of the Holy Quran twice before the Muslims. Following in the footsteps of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his great companions (May Allah be pleased with them), the Muslims also enhance recitation of Holy Quran in this month especially in this month’s special prayer of Taraawih that is offered daily during this month at night.
The worship of Fasting is a hidden one that is not manifest. That’s why the Almighty Allah says ‘Fasting is for Me and I shall give reward for it. ‘No one can do ypocrisy in performing fasting.
ITIKAAF: or Seclusion is another important spiritual aspect of Ramadan in which a Muslim retires to a mosque from a little before sunset on the 20th of Ramadan to the sunset of the 29th or 30th i.e. till the appearance of new moon. During this period he is required to spend as much as possible time in worship. It is a kind of worship which if offered by someone in the locality discharges the obligation of all the inmates of the locality.
CONCESSIONS: Those people who are ailing or undertaking a journey for less than 15 days are exempted from fasting; similarly the women who are experiencing their menstrual courses and after birth discharge are also exempted from fasting. However they have to keep the missed fasts later i.e. after recovery. A pregnant woman or one with a sucking baby may not fast for the fear to herself or baby and should keep the missed fasts later. If one is too old having no strength to fast, or is so ill that there is no hope of recovery, then he/she may not fast and for each fast he/she may give FIDYA (re compensation) equal to Sadaqatul-Fitr i.e.1.75kg of wheat to the poor or feed sufficiently a poor for two times. This aspect has been explained in verse No.184 of Surah Al-Baqara/Chapter the Cow which states, ‘Fasting is for a fixed number of days, and if one of you be sick, or if one of you be on a journey, you will fast the same number of other days later on. For those who are capable of fasting (but still do not fast) there is redemption: feeding a needy man for each day missed. Whoever voluntarily does more good than is required, will find it better for him; and that you should fast is better for you, if you only know’. The compensation (kaffara) of breaking a fast of Ramadan without a genuine excuse is to fast continuously for two months without any break, which clearly exhibits the value of the fasts of the month of Ramadan.
BENEFITS OF FASTING: Fasting is having a number of Social, Physical and spiritual benefits. Socially it makes a Muslim practically realize the pangs of hunger and thirst that in turn incites and enables him/her to help the poor and needy. On this account majority of the Muslims give their Zakat in this month.
