The month of Ramadan is a month full of blessings and grace and is looked forward to as an annual plan to restore one's physical and spiritual relationship with Allah SWT. The coming of Ramadan can give Muslims the opportunity to make up for their past mistakes while doubling the rewards and rewards to be used as supplies in the afterlife.

Fasting

Fasting is a common thing that is widely observed annually by the Muslim community around the world. Among the reasons for fasting include religious demands, health conservation and spiritual purification. Furthermore, there are various methods of fasting including abstaining from food and drink for several hours or months. For Muslims, fasting means refraining from putting anything into the body cavity and from doing something that can invalidate the fast starting from sunrise (Subh) until sunset (Maghreeb), which is approximately 14 hours a day. Fasting is actually the third pillar of Islam and Allah SWT has confirmed the importance of fasting in the Quran, especially in Al-Baqarah Verses which outlines the main purpose of fasting:

 

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ (١٨٣)

“O people who believe! You are required to fast as it was required of those before you, so that you may be righteous.” (Al Baqarah:183)

 

Every Muslim who has attained puberty is required to fast. However, the nutritional needs of the body during fasting remain the same and need to be met. The difference is the time of the food intake. Fasting can form a person's discipline to take food at a certain rate and at a certain time only.

The Descent of The Quran

Ramadan is the ninth month according to the Islamic hijri calendar which is also considered a special month by all Muslims around the world as a month full of rewards. This month is also the beginning of the revelation of the holy book Al-Quran which was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad SAW through Jibril AS as Allah SWT said in Al-Qadr Verses:

 

إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ (١)

“Verily We sent down the Qur'an on the night of Qadar.” (Al-Qadr: 1)

 

The day of the descent of the Qur'an (Nuzul Qur'an) is considered to be the night of the beginning of the descent of the Qur'an from Baitul 'Izzah (the sky of the world) to the Prophet SAW in stages. In addition, the night of 'Lailatulqadar' also revealed the Qur'an according to its own level. As for the revelation of the Qur'an on the night of 'Lailatulqadar', it is the event that the Al-Quran was revealed from luh mahfuz to Baitul 'izzah simultaneously (30 juzuk).

Ramadan is a time to increase worship and spiritual offerings. Muslims perform a variety of additional circumcision worship, such as taraweeh prayer, tadarus Qur'an, 'qiamullail' and many more. This worship offers an opportunity to all Muslims to ask for forgiveness, guidance, and blessings with full humility from Allah SWT when the gates of heaven are wide open in the month of Ramadan.

 

 

Zakat

In this month also lies the obligation according to the 4th pillar of Islam which is zakat. The meaning of zakat from a language point of view is blessing, purity, development and goodness. While from the point of view of shariah, it is a certain portion of property that has been made obligatory by Allah SWT to be given to those who have the right to receive it. Zakat is of great importance in the eyes of Islam because it is able to improve the position of society from a moral point of view as it can also cleanse the soul from stinginess and miserliness.

Eid al-Fitr

The peak of the month of Ramadan is marked by the presence of the month of Syawal which is synonymous with Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Hari Raya Aidilfitri also marks the end of fasting and the renewal of spiritual growth and social bonds in the Muslim community as a whole. Among the activities that are often the duty and practice of Muslims on the 1st of Syawal are Eid prayers, takbeer, visiting family and friends and others.

In conclusion, fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the pillars of Islam. Every moment throughout the month of Ramadan is the best time and day on this earth. Allah SWT has given many advantages to the month of Ramadan compared to other months. However, we should not focus on worship only in the month of Ramadan, there are even various acts of worship that can be performed to increase faith in Allah SWT at other times. The month of Ramadan is also a period of spiritual growth, self-discipline, and increased devotion in addition to fostering a sense of unity, compassion, and social responsibility among believers to strengthen the values and principles of Islam in the mind and soul.

Date of Input: 03/04/2024 | Updated: 03/04/2024 | naterah