[أبوسيف]

Fasting - What is it?
Fasting begins at the break of dawn and ends with sunset for a
month
1.
Physical Aspect:
•Refrain from food, drink, and intimacy during fasting hours Depending on ******** and season, it can vary from 12hrs to 17 hrs.
2.
Spiritual Aspect:
• Refrain from blameworthy thoughts and acts e.g. foul ********, vain talk, hurtful behavior, during all hours
Who fasts?
• All able Muslims except: children, unhealthy adults (mentally or physically), adults traveling long distances, and women who are in
post-childbirth care, menstruating, pregnant or breast-feeding

Fasting - Why?
1.
To attain taqwa “God consciousness
self-discipline Taqwa is anArabic word that comes from the root “wiqaya” which means prevention/protection
2.
Fasting person experiences some of the hardships of the poor and hungry
3.
Improves strength, endurance and self
discipline through physical abstentions
4.
Physiological effects include lowering of blood sugar, cholesterol and systolic blood pressure

Fasting - Why?
Spiritual objectives/benefits:
1.
Helps Muslims draw closer to Allah through increased recitation and reflection of the Qur’an and additional prayers/worship
2.
Aids in increase of iman (faith) and ihsan (sincerity and charity-giving)
3.
Aids in purification of the heart/soul and helps to improve one’s character
4.
Trains the person to do praise-worthy acts e.g. charity, kindness, generosity, patience, forgiveness