Summer Ramadans Demand More of Us

As we move into the summer Ramadans in North America with 15 to 16 hour days and 90-plus degree temperatures, some of us will discover that  fasting is about more than just abstaining from food and drink during the day, it is also about what we do when we break our fasts. In order to stay hydrated, we need roughly 5 cups of water at night and 3 at suhoor to account for the 7-8 cups of water our bodies need on a daily basis.  In order to drink that much means cutting down on food intake—there’s only so much the stomach can hold at one time.

Staying up late in order to eat more is not an option for many of us.  Staying up late only makes increases the possiblity of sleeping through suhoor in the morning.  Increasing the length of the fast by missing suhoor is something most of us want to avoid.

Many of us are also finding that what we eat affects our fast and our health.  We are less able to fast, especially as we get older or if we have any health issues already, to tolerate a diet that contains junk food or foods with a lot of salt or sugar–both of which dehydrate to body.  One sister found that even though she was drinking a lot of water, the popcorn, potato chips and french fries she ate at iftars during the first week of Ramadan left her in a dehydrated condition, with a urinary tract infection .  Getting  treatment caused her to miss a couple of days of fasting.

Many of us are learning  that  summer Ramadan means being conscientious about taking care of ourselves, of what we eat and drink at night in order to maintain our ability to fast during the day.

Use Vacation Time to Make Ramadan Easier

Ramadan starts in August this year.  We can expect long, hot days of fasting.  Some of us have never fasted in the summer, some of us are thirty years older than the last time we had to fast during the summer.  Young and new Muslims may be wondering how to fast in summer.  Older Muslims who fasted during summer Ramadans of the 1970’s may be wondering how their aging bodies are going to hold up (Muslims living in the southern hemisphere are undoubtedly having the same concerns about fasting during the harsh winter seasons they are now facing).

One thing many of us can do to make it easier on ourselves is to schedule some vacation time during Ramadan.  You can take a week or two off at the end, when you can expect to be getting tired. You may prefer taking time off in the middle of Ramadan in order to break the month up.  You may even want to take the time off in the beginning so you can more easily get adjusted to fasting during the summer.

If you can’t take a lot of time off, how about just one day mid-week, so you don’t have to work more than 2 or 3 days at a time without getting a break? It makes it a lot easier mentally to get through Monday and Tuesday for example, if you know that you will be off on Wednesday.  And it’s easier to get through Thursday and Friday knowing you will have the weekend free.   Or you may want to take Friday off each week and go to Friday prayer while enjoying the benefit of a whole month of 3-day weekends.

If you are looking for more information on fasting, you can find tips on how to fast year round.  You can also read an excellent article on the physiology of fasting by Dr. Suriya Osman.

One final note: you may also find that if you try fasting before Ramadan begins, you will be able to figure out what works best for you when fasting during this time of year.  Not having to go through a prolonged trial-and-error period at the beginning of Ramadan will make that fast that much easier.

Fasting and Prayer for Gaza

This is the text of a call from Islamictube:

(According to moonsighting.com, the 9th and 10th of Muharram will be on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 6th and 7th.)

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
 

Assalamu Alaikum waRahmatullahi waBarakatuh
 

We are all aware of the suffering our brothers and sisters in Palestine have endured over the last 60 years.  The situation has now escalated to crisis point, and over 400 have been killed, not to mention the thousands who have been injured both physically and mentally with the unjust torture they have witnessed.  We’ve conducted rally’s, wrote to the organisations that are in positions of power, and signed endless petitions….Unfortunately, our efforts demanding justice have been ignored.
 

As Muslims we are aware that only Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) can help us in times of need, when we have been ignored by organisations that can make changes, when our efforts are fruitless, what do we do? We turn to Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala!!)
 

This is a plea to all Muslims out there, to unite, to stand together and pray for our brothers and sisters in Palestine.  We cannot disregard the power of dua, and in times like this, when we feel we have little or no control, we can turn to The One who has All Control and Power.  
 

We have decided to call for the following campaign, to coincide with the current month of Muharram that we are in and the day of Ashura.  This campaign will require two days of your time and for all who can participate, here are the requirements: 

To fast for the 9th and 10th of Muharram

To stand in Qiyam ul Layl (Night Prayer) on the night of the 9th and 10th of Muharram

If you cannot do the full two days, then please do what you can, even if it’s just an hour of ‘Ibadah.  We must remember that our fasting and praying (as with all forms of ‘Ibadah) are done for the pleasure of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) and for Him alone.  However, the virtues of the dua of a fasting person, and the dua of one who has forsaken their sleep have been highlighted in the following hadith:

The Messenger of Allah (sallahu alayhi wa sallam) said; Three supplications will not be rejected (by Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala)), the supplication of the parent for his child, the supplication of the one who is fasting, and the supplication of the traveler. [al-Bayhaqi, at-Tirmidhi - Sahih]
 

Abu Hurairah (radiuallahu anhu) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (sallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘In the last third of every night our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) (Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) descends to the lower-most heaven and says; “Who is calling Me, so that I may answer him? Who is asking Me so that may I grant him? Who is seeking forgiveness from Me so that I may forgive him?”‘ [Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith Qudsi]
 

We sincerely ask for the Ummah to do what they can, there are many of us, and together we CAN make a difference, we can make a CHANGE.  Let’s show others how we conduct ourselves in hard times, how we show patience and perseverance, and most importantly, how we unite in times of hardship.  
 

The Messenger of Allah (sallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Believers are like a structure, parts of which support one another. The believers, in regard to mutual love, affection, fellow-feeling is that of one body; when any limb of it aches, the whole body aches, because of sleeplessness and fever.” [Sahih al-Bukhari & Muslim]
 

Please circulate this email to your friends, family, to local Masjids, College/Universities, and Community Centre’s etc…  Let’s make this a collective effort.
 

Insha’Allah we are successful in our efforts.  May Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) help all the Muslims who are suffering around the world, may He listen to our sincere duas and forgive us of our sins. Ameen.

More info can be found at

 
http://justquraan.wordpress.com/2009/01/02/gaza-in-need/
 
JazakAllahu khairan

Wa Salamu Alaikum
 

 

IslamicTube.net is a non-profit  Dawah Project aimed to provide an alternative on the Web.

How Ramadan Helps Us Prepare for Hajj

This post comes from Footsteps to Hajj:

 

Some of the qualities of a good Muslim character are patience, restraint, humility, gratitude and trust in Allah.  Muslims need to develop these and other good qualities in order to try to please Allah during Ramadan and at hajj.  Ramadan offers Muslims the opportunity to develop these aspects of good character even as we fast and pray for forgiveness during this sacred month. The benefit is that we are then able to draw upon these qualities as we need them during hajj.

Preparing for Ramadan

Shaban is an important month.  With Ramadan less than a month away, it is your last chance to make up any days missed from last Ramadan.  You cannot, however, fast until the end of the month and continue into Ramadan without a break.

As far as the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is concerned, we’re told by `Aishah, the Mother of the believers (may Allah be please with her) that the Prophet “used to fast most of the days of Sha`ban, but he stopped fasting when he got close to the month of Ramadan.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Based on this, it is considered highly recommended to fast in the early part of Sha`ban and stop fasting the last few days of the month. (Islamonline.net)

The etiquette of fasting demand patience and an even temper, even when someone is trying to start an argument with you:

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Allah the Exalted and Majestic said: Every act of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting. It is (exclusively) meant for Me and I (alone) will reward it. Fasting is a shield. When any one of you is fasting on a day, he should neither indulge in obscene language, nor raise the voice; or if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him he should say: I am a person fasting. By Him, in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammad, the breath of the observer of fast is sweeter to Allah on the Day of judgment than the fragrance of musk. The one who fasts has two (occasions) of joy, one when he breaks the fast he is glad with the breaking of (the fast) and one when he meets his Lord he is glad with his fast. Emphasis added (Sahih Muslim)

You will also find that fasting before Ramadan helps your body to adjust to fasting more quickly once Ramadan starts.  To find tips on fasting click here.  For more on preparing spiritually for Ramadan click here.

 

A Ramadan Story

I spoke to a woman who told me this:

She wanted to divorce her husband.  He was not what you call a bad man, but he was irresponsible.  He’d abandoned his university education while she’d finished hers.  He was sometimes out of work.  He brought in money when he just had to.   But he loved her, though, and his children.  As the years passed it was her professional career that bought the house they lived in. As the years passed, she grew tired of his passivity and of his presence. 

TIPS FOR FASTING YEAR ROUND

By Umm Umar

You will be eating less, so spend the grocery money on quality—fresh fruits: melons, grapes, real fruit juices, honey instead of sugar, whole grain products, fresh or frozen vegetables instead of canned.  Many of us eat a more healthy diet during Ramadan than we do at any other time of the year.   Sad, but true.
 
You cannot fast and live primarily on junk food.  You will make yourself sick and be unable to continue.  Not fasting because of genuine illness is excused.  If you sabotage your fast by not taking care of your health, it may be that Allah will hold you accountable.  Don’t put yourself in that position.
 
Stay hydrated.  In the morning particularly, eat fruits, vegetables, unsweetened juice (not juice drinks with sugar) tea with honey (not sugar), water, water, water.