Transcript What is Fasting in Islam?

What is Fasting in Islam?
 Fasting
means to abstain
completely from foods, drinks,
intimate intercourse and smoking,
from sun rise to sunset during the
entire month of Ramadan which is
the ninth month of the Islamic year.
 It
is obligatory on every
responsible and fit Muslin.
Some explanations of spiritual
meaning of Islamic fasting:

It is for sincere love, love for God and who loves God
therefore knows what love is.

It creates strong conscience in oneself, because nobody
checks you and it is therefore the best way to cultivate
sound conscience in man.

Patience, and selflessness, feeling the pains of
deprivation but patiently. Great will power.

It teaches man with new ways of saving and an sound
budgeting.
Who Must Fast?

To be in sane and able, mentally and
physically fit. Be certain that fasting will
not cause you any harm, physical and
mental, other than the normal reactions
to hunger, thirst, etc.

The age of puberty, which is usually
about fourteen.

To be present at one’s permanent
settlement. This means not to be on a
journey fifty miles or more.
Exemptions from fasting:
 Under
the age of puberty, insane
people, old and feeble, sick people,
travellers, pregnant women,
women breast-feeding and women
in the period of menstruations.
Recommended practices during
Ramadan:
 To
observe the obligatory prayer known
as the Taraweeh
 Increase
humanitarian services, and visit
each other more frequently.
 Be
more patient and humble
 Be
careful of your tongue, abstain from
careless gossip.
 Double
your effort in the study and
recitation of the holy Qur’an.
My Focus Group: Masjid Gede
I have visited this mosque twice, one, to observe the Friday
prayers and two to break fast. I understand that there is
more people than usual because people are generally more
pious during Ramadan. At the time of breaking fast, over
one thousand people showed up. The food distribution was
very orderly and both Muslims as well as Christians were
served with no questions asked.
Does Ramadan affect
work hours?
 Government workers
work from 8:30am to
3:00pm. Where there is income loss, I was told
that Indonesians are very generous people and
tend to lend hands more to each other during
Ramadan. People are more friendly during
Ramadan, Stores open late, but some close late to
make up the difference.
Participant Observation
I
observe the obligatory prayer known
as the Taraweeh at a nearby Masjid
very regularly and came to know the
members fairly well. Taraweeh starts at
about 7:30pm and ends at about
8:10pm. My observation tells me that
the observers were the same people
from the beginning of Ramadan till
now. This is an indication about a
community holding together all the
Does holy month of
Ramadan made Muslims
more religious?
 An
Islam scholar who I interviewed,
confirm that it does. I also interviewed a
woman customer service officer at a
jilbab store if everyone is require to wear
a jilbab. She said that is company policy
for Ramandhan promotions.