Fasting in the month of Ramadan

The structure of Islam rests on the five pillars that are:

1) The oneness of Allah
2) Prayer
3) Fasting
4) Zakat
5) Pilgrimage


Fasting is a month of abstinence from food and drink accompanied by intense devotional activity for Muslims. It is in next importance to Prayer. As (we) Muslims know how important Prayer (Namaaz) is for us, if fasting is given next importance to Prayer, we can conceive the importance of fasting as well as all the 5 pillars of Islam. Islam is given the shape of more than one religion by the Muslims of this era themselves as Shia, Sunni, Ismaily, even though it is suppose to be in shape of only one religion (i.e. the teaching and the true believe in the only One Allah and His Messenger (The Holy Prophet (PBUH)). Since all the believers of the only one Allah ad His Prophet (SAW) are categorized differently and the way they virtue the only one God is different, but, do they all fulfill the five pillars of Islam? O they all pray five times a day? Do they al recite the Holy Quran and fulfill the instructions of Quran? Do they all Fast in the month of Ramadan?

Allah declares the month of Ramadan as: �Ramadan is the month in which was sent down the Quran as a guide to mankind��so everyone of you who is present at home during this month should spend it in Fasting, but if anyone is all, or on a journey, the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later� (2:185)

Every Muslim believes that there is a Heaven, a Hell and life after death in which every human of the earth is going to be asked of their account of the deeds that they have done before death. As we all know what Heaven and Hell is, in preference of Heaven and Hell The Holy Prophet (saw) has said: ( When the month of Ramadan come, the doors of Heavens are opened and the doors of Hells are closed�

Fasting has been a part of the law brought by previous Prophets. Thus the institution of Fasting is universal and existed in some form or the other, even before Islam. According to the Holy Quran: �O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you may (learn) self-restrain� (2:183)

This means that Allah wishes to teach self-restrain and to make us righteous and God fearing.

During Ramadan a Muslim should concentrate on their faith and spend less time on the concerns of the everyday lives. The good that is acquired through the Fast can be destroyed by the following things:

1) The telling of lie
2) Slandering
3) Backbiting
4) A false oath
5) Greed or covetousness

The keynote of the Fasting is self discipline and self control. By Fasting the rich undergo and experiences which makes them aware of the condition of the poor, hungry, and instills in them a desire to help the poor. And it also teaches one to be patient.


Najma Khalil
D/O, Dr. Mohammad Khalil Ullah
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada