Ramadhan Fasting

Definition of Ramadan Fasting

Ramadan fasting word in Arabic is " Shiyam or shaum ", both are forms of masdar, which means to hold. Whereas, in Islamic jurisprudence or Shari'a is a practice of worship performed by refraining from anything like eating, drinking, doing evil or refraining from abstaining from fasting from dawn to sunset accompanied by the intention of Allah Almighty, with the conditions and principles set by Allah Almighty.

Ramadan fasting is obligatory for Muslims. This has been explained in the word of Allah in QS Al-Baqarah verse 183 namely:

يَيأَهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُون

Meaning: O you who believe, are required of you to fast as you are required of people before you so that you will fear Allah.

The Word of God above explains that fasting in the month of Ramadan is obligatory, where it is a form of human accountability to its creator directly as well as activities involving hablum minallah.

Mandatory Fasting Requirements for Ramadan

As explained previously that carrying out Ramadan fasting is mandatory, but we know who is required to fast because there are also reasons that do not require someone to fast, as for those who are obliged to fast, namely:

1. Muslim

2. Already mature or have reached adulthood

3. Sensible

4. Physically & mentally healthy

5. Not a traveler or someone traveling long distances

6. Has been holy from menstruation and childbirth

7. Able or strong to do Ramadan fasting

The obligatory requirements for Ramadan fasting must indeed be met in order to carry out Ramadan fasting. Baligh or having reached adulthood is one of the conditions, but there is nothing wrong if we want to teach children to fast even if only half a day and more importantly to teach the practices in Ramadan fasting.

Pillars and Sunnah Fasting Ramadan

If we meet the mandatory requirements for fasting Ramadan, then we must carry out the pillars of fasting as follows:

1. Intention

Intention and prayer in the month of Ramadan is an important stage in carrying out Ramadan fasting. Which is the intention to do before running Ramadan fasting. The intention of Ramadan fasting is said before dawn arrives. There is also a hadith that explains also that the intention can be said the night before dawn or after tarawih prayer.

2. Refrain from things that cancel fasting such as eating, drinking, intercourse, and other things.

Sunnah in Ramadan Fasting

No less important if we do the sunna behind the obligations that we have to do in the month of Ramadan, As exemplified by the Prophet Muhammad which is the Sunnah. As for the sunna that Muhammad has exemplified, are:

1. Sahur

2. Immediately do iftar in accordance with the time.

3. Reading the prayer when you want to break the fast

4. Break the fast with sweet food or drinks

5. Feed the people who break the fast

6. Increase worship and donations, etc.

Makruh Things When Fasting

Makruh are things that we should not do, while things that are done when we are fasting, are:

1. Berbekam

2. Sucking or putting something in the mouth

3. Taste the food with the tongue, for example like tasting the taste of food

4. Wear excessive fragrance.

5. Cleansing or brushing your teeth when exposed to the sun or after entering the noon time.

6. Gargling outside of ablution

7. Imagine being sexually active or having sex.

Things that allow you to not fast / allow to cancel the fast

Ramadan fasting is indeed obligatory, but there are some things that allow us not to fast or allow us to cancel fasting. However, it is obligatory to issue fidya or replace the fast on another day.

1. Doing or traveling far away

2. People who are old or elderly

3. In a state of illness, the maxim if the pain is not possible for him to fast.

4. Lactating women and pregnant women.

Wisdom of Ramadan Fasting

There are so many benefits or lessons that we will get if we do fasting, among the many lessons below are some of the lessons that we can, are:

1. Practice patience

2. Make having akhlaqul karimah

3. Making physical conditions healthy

4. Giving rise to our gratitude to Allah.

5. Increase piety.

6. Cleanse yourself from sins

7. Familiarize yourself thrifty life and many more.