Religion Islam: Fasting in the month of Ramadan
Sunday, 26. March 2006, 16:45:49
The word for ‘fasting' in Arabic comes from the three-letter root saad, waow, meem, which basically means to abstain, to stop or to hold oneself. Some of the derivatives are : sawm (fast) , saama (he fasted) , siyaam (fasts) , sayyaam (one who fasts a lot) , saaem (a male who fasts) , saaema (a female who fasts) , masaam (place to stop), etc. Some common usage of the expression is : saam al maa (the water stopped), saama ‘an en nikaah (he did not marry), saama an al kelaam (he abstained from speaking), etc.
Incidentally, in English the word used for this activity (fasting) is taken not for its meaning of speed but for another application of the word, i.e. to be strong and resilient as in acid- fast or stead fast.In the Quran, the regimen of fasting is dealt with in Chapter 2, Al-Baqara (The Cow);
» Fasting is made obligatory to you as it was obligatory to those before you, so that you may become law-abiding (self-resilient) - 2:183
» (It is for) Fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the number is (to be made up) from later days. For those who can do it with hardship, is a ransom – the feeding of one who is indigent ; but whoever will give more of his own volition, it is better for him ; and it is better for you all that you fast – if you only knew - 2:184
» The month of Ramadan is the one in which I sent down the Quran for guiding mankind, also clear (signs) for guidance and standards (of right and wrong), so whoever of you comes upon this month should fast. But if anyone is ill, or on a journey, the number (should be made up) from later days. Allah intends every facility for you and does not intend hardship for you, so that you can complete the number (of days), so that you can help prevail (over non-divine systems) what He has guided you with, so that you can be grateful (that your efforts have borne fruit) - 2:185
» Permitted to you on the night of the fasts is the approach to your women – they are your garments and you are their garments ; Allah Almighty knows what you used to secretly do among yourselves ; but He turned to you and forgave you (saved you from the ill effects of your misdeeds), so now associate with them (women) and seek what Allah has ordained for you – eat and drink until the white thread of dawn is distinct for you from the black thread (of dusk); complete the fast till night ; do not approach women while you are in retreat in the masjids. Those are the limits of Allah Almighty, so do not approach near those (limits). Thus God makes (His signs) clear to Man so that they may become law-abiding (self-controlling) - 2:187
Fasting Time
The duration of the daily fast, as we have seen in the Quran, is from sunrise to sunset. This is most obviously for the equatorial regions of the globe, which have a normal day of about 12 hours. These timings most certainly cannot be applied universally. It will be unthinkable to have a ‘normal' fast on the Moon where a day is equivalent to 14 Earth days. Even on Earth the polar regions present a real problem. It has been suggested, and in some cases even implemented, that such areas should liaise with Mecca in Saudi Arabia . This is one way to resolve the situation. Regardless of the merits of this solution, it does clearly accept the principle of amendment in the timings of a fast day. It accepts, inadvertently and grudgingly perhaps, that the duration mentioned in the Quran is bound by time and culture, as of course are a number of other things in this great book. It may be suggested that this very important question should be the exclusive privilege of the ultimate global Quranic government, whenever in the future it is established. Till then, Muslims should carry on fasting on a personal level, as they have so far been doing for nearly a millennium and a half, to the best of their intentions, knowledge and satisfaction.
Incidentally, in English the word used for this activity (fasting) is taken not for its meaning of speed but for another application of the word, i.e. to be strong and resilient as in acid- fast or stead fast.In the Quran, the regimen of fasting is dealt with in Chapter 2, Al-Baqara (The Cow);
» Fasting is made obligatory to you as it was obligatory to those before you, so that you may become law-abiding (self-resilient) - 2:183
» (It is for) Fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the number is (to be made up) from later days. For those who can do it with hardship, is a ransom – the feeding of one who is indigent ; but whoever will give more of his own volition, it is better for him ; and it is better for you all that you fast – if you only knew - 2:184
» The month of Ramadan is the one in which I sent down the Quran for guiding mankind, also clear (signs) for guidance and standards (of right and wrong), so whoever of you comes upon this month should fast. But if anyone is ill, or on a journey, the number (should be made up) from later days. Allah intends every facility for you and does not intend hardship for you, so that you can complete the number (of days), so that you can help prevail (over non-divine systems) what He has guided you with, so that you can be grateful (that your efforts have borne fruit) - 2:185
» Permitted to you on the night of the fasts is the approach to your women – they are your garments and you are their garments ; Allah Almighty knows what you used to secretly do among yourselves ; but He turned to you and forgave you (saved you from the ill effects of your misdeeds), so now associate with them (women) and seek what Allah has ordained for you – eat and drink until the white thread of dawn is distinct for you from the black thread (of dusk); complete the fast till night ; do not approach women while you are in retreat in the masjids. Those are the limits of Allah Almighty, so do not approach near those (limits). Thus God makes (His signs) clear to Man so that they may become law-abiding (self-controlling) - 2:187
Fasting Time
The duration of the daily fast, as we have seen in the Quran, is from sunrise to sunset. This is most obviously for the equatorial regions of the globe, which have a normal day of about 12 hours. These timings most certainly cannot be applied universally. It will be unthinkable to have a ‘normal' fast on the Moon where a day is equivalent to 14 Earth days. Even on Earth the polar regions present a real problem. It has been suggested, and in some cases even implemented, that such areas should liaise with Mecca in Saudi Arabia . This is one way to resolve the situation. Regardless of the merits of this solution, it does clearly accept the principle of amendment in the timings of a fast day. It accepts, inadvertently and grudgingly perhaps, that the duration mentioned in the Quran is bound by time and culture, as of course are a number of other things in this great book. It may be suggested that this very important question should be the exclusive privilege of the ultimate global Quranic government, whenever in the future it is established. Till then, Muslims should carry on fasting on a personal level, as they have so far been doing for nearly a millennium and a half, to the best of their intentions, knowledge and satisfaction.
