Saturday, 24. December 2005, 11:10:57
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 TimeThe 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.
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* Taaj al Uroos, as in Lughaat al Quran, by G A Pervez.
* Retreating in mosques in the Quranic sense is very different from the traditional ‘Islamic' practice of shutting oneself up inside a mosque in complete isolation for marathon personal prayer. Masjid is any place which is used to remember, follow, and uphold God's law as laid down in the Quran. Sajda (touching the ground with one's forehead) springs from sa ja da (to bow, to droop – as in nakhla saajeda (drooping date/palm). Figuratively, sajda is submitting oneself to the Divine law (the Quran). It is much more important than, as a matter of fact it takes precedence over, the physical ritual carried out in traditional prayer – It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards East or West, but righteousness is to be convinced of Allah Almighty (and His system and laws), the Last day, and tha angels, and the Book, and the Messengers ; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, for the ransom of slaves, to be steadfast in prayer, and give zakat, to fulfill the contracts which you have made, and to be firm and patient in pain (or suffering) and adversity and throughout the period of panic. Such are the people of truth , the law-abiding. ( Al-Baqara –The Cow – 2:177)
Aakefeen comes from ‘ aka fa (root : ‘aen-fa-ka ) meaning to hold something together, to stop from disintegrating, e.g. shar makoof (well-groomed hair); al-huda makoofen (gift animals held) in Al-mo;menoon (The Convinced – (48:25); also, in Taaha (20:91)‘aakefeen is used in the meanings of those who hold on to what is being done (steadfast). Therefore, ‘aakefeen means those who are held specially to help in the grand design of things in a Quranic society during the obligatory month of fasting in Ramadan.
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