General Advice For All Fasting Patients
A preRamadan medical assessment and education to all Muslim patients, who are willing to fast, would be helpful to achieve safe fasting. Avoiding dehydration during fasting should be emphasized, especially when Ramadan occurs in hot seasons, by drinking ample amount of fluids between iftar and suhoor. It is also highly recommended to maintain a well-balanced, healthy diet that is rich in fibers and low in salt and glycemic index. People who would like to exercise are encouraged to do so after iftar time. Although some fasting Muslims lose weight, regaining weight is commonly seen few weeks after Ramadan. Therefore, individuals should be encouraged to have structured and consistent lifestyle modifications in order to avoid rapid weight gain after Ramadan.
The Fourth Pillar Of Islam: Sawm
Ramadan fasting is one of the great pillars of Islam, according to the Prophet
Islam is built on five: testifying that there is no god but God, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God, establishing prayer, paying zakat, fasting Ramadan, and pilgrimage to the Sacred House.
As for the meaning of fasting, it is devotion to God Almighty by abandoning the things that break the fast from dawn to sunset.
There is no specific number of hours for fasting, but it is determined through fasting Ramadan timetable.
What Is The Correct Mushhadah For Fajr
Muslim astronomers as early as Mohammed ibn Jabir ibn Sinan, famously known as Albategnius , confirmed that Fajr and Ish Shar signs are visible when the sun is 18 degrees below the horizon. Other scholars stated that there is a consensus in regards to this conclusion. Among the very last conferences at which this issue was discussed thoroughly was the one organized by the Fiqh Council of the Muslim World League in 1986 where scholars and astronomers from various backgrounds and schools of thought confirmed that Fajr appears when the sun is at 18 degrees below the horizon in the east. They also confirmed that Ish time appears when the sun is at 17 degrees below the horizon from the west. This decision was reiterated by the same fiqh council in 2007 in response to a query sent to the council by the central Mosque in Belgium.
The following table shows the various institutes that are referred to for the Fajr and Ish times currently in use in many countries:
* ISNA traditionally held the latest Fajr time due to an adopted angle of 15 degrees. But in September 2011 they revised their position to 17.5 degrees which is more or less in line with the rest of the World.
As you may see from the timetable, most of these institutes consider 18 degrees as the minimum degree for calculating Fajr time.
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What Are The Rules On Fasting In Ramadan
The most commonly accepted rule is that you must not eat or drink anything during hours of daylight, and must also abstain from sexual activity. Even water should not be drunk during the fast.
You are exempt from fasting if you are:
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Very ill
- Travelling long distances
During Ramadan, Muslims are also expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam by refraining from things like violence, anger, envy, greed and lust, and trying harder to get along with everybody.
Many Muslims will wake up before sunrise each day and eat a large meal, called the Sahoor. They then engage in the days first session of prayer, known as the Fajr.
The fast is broken with the Iftar meal after sunset, which precedes the Maghrib, the fourth prayer of the day.
Devout Muslims always pray five times a day, and these prayers take on added significance during Ramadan.
More on Ramadan
What Are The 2022 Ramadan Fasting Times
Both the Central London Mosque and the East London Mosque have compiled Ramadan timetables, which give worshippers in the capital all the information they need to observe the fast correctly.
Here are the key timings day-by-day for Fajr and Maghrib when the fast begins and ends in London for the Muslim holy month.
The start and end dates are contingent on the moon sighting which signifies when Ramadan begins, which was this year expected to be Monday 12 April, while the timings apply to London:
- Sat 2 April: 4.59am, 7.38pm
- Sun 3 April: 4.57am, 7.40pm
- Mon 4 April: 4.55am, 7.42pm
- Tue 5 April: 4.52am, 7.44pm
- Wed 6 April: 4.50am, 7.45pm
- Thu 7 April: 4.48am, 7.47pm
- Fri 8 April: 4.46am, 7.49pm
- Sat 9 April: 4.43am, 7.50pm
- Sun 10 April: 4.41am, 7.52pm
- Mon 11 April: 4.39am, 7.54pm
- Tue 12 April: 4.37am, 7.55pm
- Wed 13 April: 4.35am, 7.57pm
- Thu 14 April: 4.32am, 7.59pm
- Fri 15 April: 4.30am, 8.00pm
- Sat 16 April: 4.28am, 8.02pm
- Sun 17 April: 4.26am, 8.04pm
- Mon 18 April: 4.23am, 8.05pm
- Tue 19 April: 4.21am, 8.07pm
- Wed 20 April: 4.19am, 8.09pm
- Thu 21 April: 4.16am, 8.10pm
- Fri 22 April: 4.14am, 8.12pm
- Sat 23 April: 4.11am, 8.14pm
- Sun 24 April: 4.08am, 8.15pm
- Mon 25 April: 4.06am, 8.17pm
- Tue 26 April: 4.04am, 8.19pm
- Wed 27 April: 4.01am, 8.20pm
- Thu 28 April: 4.00am, 8.22pm
- Fri 29 April: 3.58am, 8.24pm
- Sat 30 April: 3.55am, 8.25pm
- Sun 1 May: 3.52am, 8.27pm
Fortunately, the charity Muslim Hands offers this following helpful guide to adjust the fasting timetable to apply to where you are:
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When Does Ramadan 2022 End
Muslims anticipate Ramadan to finish on Sunday, May 1, which will immediately precedes Eid, which begins on the evening of Monday, May 2.
Eid al-Fitr, which is also known as the Feast of Breaking the Fast, or simply Eid, celebrates the end of a month of fasting.
Eid dates differ around the world, but they are usually within one or two days of each other.
A few months later comes the most important day on the Islamic calendar: Eil al-Adha.
How Can I Support A Friend Who Is Fasting
The best thing you can do to help a Muslim friend through this month of fasting is to simply be respectful. Avoid asking them questions that you can easily find the answers to yourself online. Also, try to remember not to offer them food throughout the day. If you would like to meet up with your Muslim friends during this month, try to be flexible and offer to meet in the evening instead. Remember that iftar is also often a family event so try not to be offended if a friend cannot make it.
An important thing to remember is also to not be nosy. If you see a Muslim friend not fasting, remember that there are many reasons why they may not be fasting that day and that it is not polite to question them on it.
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How Do Muslims Prepare For Ramadan
Every family prepares for Ramadan differently. It is often a time for family and friends to get together.
Many will host iftars – the meal which breaks the fast at the end of the day at home and invite friends. Mosques typically host open iftars when anybody can come by and eat.
Many Muslims try to break bad habits before the start of Ramadan, to ease themselves into the month, prepare spiritually and take part in more charitable acts.
What Happens After Ramadan
After the fasting, comes the feasting.
Ending a month of fasting, Muslims celebrate with a three-day festival called Eid al-Fitr, or Festival of Breaking the Fast, and wish each other “Eid Mubarak” meaning: “Have a blessed Eid”.
During Eid, Muslims have family, friends and neighbours over, indulging them in a feast and eating traditional foods only made during this time.
“My favourite thing about Ramadan is breaking fast together and celebrating Eid at the end of the month,” Zathia said.
“We get to wear cultural clothing, exchange gifts and be around family.”
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What Happens On A Typical Day During Ramadan
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims will wake before the sun rises to eat a pre-dawn meal called suhoor.
They will then not eat or drink until sunset, when they will have iftar.
Iftar is followed by optional nightly prayers, known as tarawih, which go on into the night, if not into the early hours of the morning.
Prayers usually take place at the mosque in large congregations but Muslims have the option to pray at home, too.
Degrees Below The Horizon For Fajr And Either 17 Or 18 Degrees For Ish
It is with this in mind that we may conclude that an individuals Mushhadah for prayer times must not negate the accepted criterion that was originated by global and widespread mushhadah established in different countries and throughout the centuries. That criterion is the basis for the decision of both Muslim jurists and astronomers that Fajr should be calculated when the sun is at 18 degrees below the horizon for Fajr, and either 17 or 18 degrees for Ish. It should be noted that the slight choice offered for Ish times is insignificant and thus there is no need to discuss it here.
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What Is A Typical Day Like During Ramadan
During Ramadan, Muslims wake up well before dawn to eat the first meal of the day, which has to last until sunset. This means eating lots of high-protein foods and drinking as much water as possible right up until dawn, after which you can’t eat or drink anything.
At dawn, we perform the morning prayer. Since it’s usually still pretty early, many go back to sleep for a bit before waking up again to get ready for the day .
Muslims are not supposed to avoid work or school or any other normal duties during the day just because we are fasting. In many Muslim countries, however, businesses and schools may reduce their hours during the day or close entirely. For the most part, though, Muslims go about their daily business as we normally would, despite not being able to eat or drink anything the whole day.
When the evening call to prayer is finally made , we break the day’s fast with a light meal really more of a snack called an iftar, before performing the evening prayer. Many people also go to the mosque for the evening prayer, followed by a special prayer that is only recited during Ramadan.
This is usually followed by a larger meal a bit later in the evening, which is often shared with family and friends in one another’s homes throughout the month. Then it’s off to bed for a few hours of sleep before it’s time to wake up and start all over again.
What Time Is Ramadan Fasting
The timings of fasting are known circumstances, determined by the Sharia, related to the worship of fasting
They include: the time of the months entry and exit, the time of the days entry and exit, the time of sahur, the time of abstaining, the time of breaking the fast
The known fasting Ramadan timetable has been mentioned in the Noble Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet, specified by Sharia, where fasting begins from after the dawn prayer until the sunset prayer
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What Time Does Fasting Start And Finish
Fasting lasts between the hours of sunrise and sunset. This means the fasting hours are shorter this year than a year when Ramadan falls in the summer months of the Gregorian calendar.
In early April, sunrise takes place at around 6:30am, while sunset is around 7:30pm. By early May, the daylight hours are even longer a typical sunrise is at 5.30am while sunset is closer to 8:30pm.
What Is The Significance Of Charity During Ramadan
Zakat is a charity that Muslims give, which is a fixed percentage of income. Muslims believe that good deeds are multiplied during Ramadan more than at any other time of the year. Therefore many donate a larger portion or all their yearly charity during this month. Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam.
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Why Does The Date Of Ramadan Change Each Year
The lunar calendar, which is followed by Islam, is 10 to 11 days shorter than the modern-day Gregorian calendar, which is based on the Earths rotation around the sun. This difference means Ramadan begins on a different day each year. This year it will begin at the start of April in 10 years time it will begin in mid-January.
What Happens During Ramadan
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims won’t eat or drink during the hours of daylight and they perform additional religious duties and prayers.
You cannot drink water or the fast is invalid and vaping or smoking is also not permitted which is why many use this time of year to try and quit.
The fast is from sunrise to sunset which means that during the autumn and winter period the fast is shorter whilst in the summer the fast lasts longer.
Sahur is the time in the morning when Muslims will eat and Iftaar is the time in the evening when the fast is broken.
There are exceptions for children and those who have medical conditions.
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What Is Hag Al Leylah
In the UAE, the 14th day Shaaban is known as Hag Al Leylah, a unique Khaleeji children’s holiday. The annual event, Hag Al Leylah, which means ‘For this Night’, is one of the Emirati traditional celebrations in the middle of Shaaban which is the eighth month of the Hijri calendar. Children across the UAE take to the streets of their neighbourhoods at night knocking on doors and calling out “Atoona Hag Al Laila”, which means “Give us sweets for tonight”. This tradition dates back over a hundred years to mark the arrival of Ramadan. Children don traditional clothes, and head out to collect sweets, nuts, and coins in special cloth bags, while singing traditional songs.
What Does Ramadan Commemorate
As mentioned, Ramadan commemorates Muhammads first revelation. The story goes like this. Before becoming the prophet and messenger of God, Muhammad used to meditate at the top of the mountain Hira looking for solitude for about a month. One good year, when he was 40 years old, around 610, he set foot on his accustomed retirement, some weeks into his retreat, an angel appear before him commanding him to read. However, like many of the population, Muhammad didnt know how to read, so the angel hold him tight and commanded him to read one more time. This happened three times, and suddenly the first five verses of the Quran were revealed to him.
Read in the name of your Lord who created humans from a piece of flesh. Read, for your Lord is Most Generous. Who taught humans with the pen. Who taught humans what they do not know.
Though he didnt know how he managed to read, he grasped all the words, and soon the book of the Universe was revealed to him allowing the prophet to understand the purpose of the creator. This episode marks the beginning of Islam as well as Muhammads mission in life as a prophet and messenger of God. Two decades later, in 624, Muslims migrated to Medina to escape from religious persecution. The migration led them to declare Ramadan a holy festivity and Fasting was instituted following the scriptures of the Quran.
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Can You Drink Water During Ramadan
Sharia has specified the number of hours of fasting This is according to fasting Ramadan timetable for each region
and it has been ratified by the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet.
Where the hours of fasting are determined from sunrise to sunset, or from the dawn prayer to the sunset call to prayer
during which the Muslim must abstain from physical and sexual desires as he abstains from food and drink.
And if the Muslim is a recent entry to the Islamic religion and does not know all the rulings related to fasting
and he drank water without knowing, then in this case he completes his fast and does not have to do anything.
But if he intentionally drinks water and he knows that this invalidates his fast, in this case his fast is invalidated and he has to repeat that day by fasting for two consecutive months
As for the one who drinks water and does not remember his fast, in this case he completes his fast
and does not have to do anything because he did not intentionally break the fast in this case
Therefore, every Muslim must respect the fasting Ramadan timetable without violating the rules
What Does Fasting Do To Your Body
During fasting, meal schedules, fluid intake, and sleep and wake times are altered. This causes physiological, biochemical and metabolic changes in the body. The adaptability to these changes depends on the types and quantity of foods and drinks that are consumed during the month.
Initially individuals may experience headaches, dizziness and nausea because they are sleeping less and taking in less caffeine. In the second week the body is used to the changes and the digestive system is able to rest. The size of the stomach changes and the amount of food a person is able to eat at each meal also decreases.
During Ramadan, as at any other time, a person should eat a balanced diet. A balanced meal approach consisting of lean proteins, whole grain starches, vegetables, fruits, and heart healthy fats will allow individuals to experience a reduction in body weight, body fat, blood pressure and anxiety levels. A reduction in inflammation and blood lipid levels is good for heart health. A balanced diet is a healthy, non-pharmacological way of minimising risk factors such as indigestion, dehydration and constipation but still improving health.
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