How is Islam different from other religions? Ramadan fasting for Muslims is the most sacred time of the year. They refrain from all comforts in order to test willpower over carnal desires, repent of sins, overcome pride in the name of the forgiveness of the Almighty. How to keep a post in Islam? This will be discussed in the article.
General information
During Islamic fasting - Uraza, fasting should not take any food during the day. They are not allowed to drink alcoholic beverages, engage in intimate relationships. Currently, there are bans on smoking cigarettes and chewing gum (and, as you know, they did not exist at the time of the prophet). And drinking alcohol in Islam is forbidden not only in the holy month of Ramadan, but, in general, throughout the whole year. Moreover, their sale is also unacceptable. Unlike Christianity, fasting in Islam allows the adoption of any food: meat and fried. At the same time, it is limited in time. It is permissible to have a meal only in the dark. It should be borne in mind that Islam does not allow the meat of some animals. For example, pork is under a great ban.
Not only the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims is fasting time. Islam divides it into two types. The first post is required. It must be observed in the holy month of Ramadan (ninth in the Muslim calendar). The second is recommended. In Islam, the calendar is not the same as the Gregorian calendar. It is shorter by 11 days. And that is why every year the month of Ramadan comes ten days earlier. And the advisory days are fasting days in Islam: every Monday and Thursday; 9th, 10th, 11th of the month of Muharram; the first six days of Chavval. In addition to refusing food and carnal pleasures, fasting people are obliged to pray (perform prayers). Meal should be performed before the morning prayer (Fajr) and after the evening (Maghrib). It is generally accepted that this month the Most High (Allah) is more favorable to prayers and increases the importance of good deeds.
Unlike Christianity, fasting in Islam is not sad, but festive. For the faithful Muslims, it is the greatest holiday. They prepare for it in advance: they buy food and gifts, because the Almighty forgives sins and answers the prayers of not only fasting people, but also helping those in need, and just doing charity work. After all, even the most disadvantaged should take food with the onset of the dark, to participate in the holiday. Therefore, at the end of the holy time, it is customary to collect money (zakat) for the poor. In addition to charitable deeds, you need to try not to deceive anyone. Otherwise, it is generally accepted that the Almighty will not accept either fasting or prayers.
Fasting time
Islam, as the reader already knows, calls on all Muslims to fast in the holy month of Ramadan. The date on which its advance falls depends on the lunar calendar. For every year he falls on a new date. During a Uraza, it is customary to get up even before the morning prayer to eat breakfast. This procedure of eating before sunrise is called Suhur. The holy prophet ordered the faithful not to neglect him, because he would give a lot of strength to perform prayers (prayers). Therefore, waking up an hour earlier should not be any work for believers. And it is recommended to complete Suhur before the morning prayer - Fajra, so as not to be late by the time of fasting.
Throughout the day, before dusk, the fasting is obliged to carry out in complete restriction, without food and water. He must interrupt it before evening prayer. Iftar must be opened with a sip of fresh water and a date. It is recommended to interrupt the post on time, not postponing it for later. After taking water and dates, you do not need to eat food immediately. First, it is necessary to perform the evening prayer, and only then it is allowed to proceed to the Iftar dinner. It is forbidden to eat to the dump and overeat. You need to take just enough to satisfy the feeling of hunger. Indeed, otherwise the post will lose its meaning. And, as you know, he is needed for the education of bodily lust.
Actions devastating the body
What violates fasting in Islam? These actions are of two kinds: that which devastates a person, and that which fills him. The first include those in the process of which certain fluids leave the body. As you know, this can be deliberate vomiting (if it was not intentional, the post is not considered violated) or bloodletting. As mentioned above, it is forbidden to enter into intimate relationships. And as you know, during this process, both men and women release sexual genetic material. Since the action is intentional, it refers to violations.
In general, even without the release of genetic material, intimate contact disrupts fasting. Even if it occurs between legal spouses. If the release occurred without intimate contact, but intentionally (masturbation), then this is also a violation, since in Islam such an act is considered a sin. However, if a man intentionally decided to do this, but the release of sexual fluid did not occur, then the post is not considered violated. Also, an unintentional release in both men and women is not a violation.
In Islam, this violation is the most serious. If a person has repented, then he can atone for guilt in two ways: either to free the slave (in the civilized world it is difficult and virtually inaccessible), or to fast for the next two months. Even if, for no good reason, he violates or breaks the restriction that he withstands on the occasion of remorse for adultery, he must again begin a two-month abstinence.
Hugging and kissing during fasting is allowed. But these actions should not lead to sexual arousal, so as not to happen that violates the post. If the spouses know how to control themselves, then they can calmly kiss each other. If you do not have confidence in yourself or in your soul mates, then you need to give up hugs. Sometimes it happens that the release of genetic material occurred in a dream. And as you know, a person does not control his actions at this time. Therefore, the post is not violated. In this case, there is no need to reimburse it. And sodomy and bestiality in Islam are always serious sins, and not just in the month of Ramadan.
Bloodletting during fasting
Donating blood is also a violation. It is believed that in this way a person weakens. And feeling unwell during fasting is unacceptable. This means that a person should not become a donor. Even in case of emergency, this is a violation. However, the fasting person may refund it on another day. If the blood went unintentionally, then the restriction is not violated. Also, blood donation for analysis does not apply to him. Indeed, in this case, little fluid is surrendered, so a person does not experience weakness. In addition, fasting during the menstrual cycle is also not allowed (also a kind of bloodletting). As you know, the fair sex during this period experience weakness and soreness. And, as stated above, fasting is unacceptable at such a time.
Fasting Nausea
If the fasting person has problems with the stomach, then he does not have to restrain vomiting, fearing that it may interfere with fasting. When a Muslim deliberately called her, then for this action there will be no punishment. If the fasting person involuntarily freed the stomach from its contents, this will not affect fasting. This means that it is not necessary to restrain vomiting. But calling them is deliberately prohibited.
Activities that fill the body
Filling actions include those in which the human body is filled. This is a meal and drink. And as you know, they are unacceptable in the daytime. In addition to them, taking medications, blood infusion, injections are also considered violations. If medicines are taken to rinse and are not swallowed, then this is acceptable. Therefore, it is necessary to drink pills and other medicines in the dark. Also, fasting is not considered violated if the blood is re-infused after it has been cleaned and saturated with the necessary nutrients. In addition, drops for the eyes and ears or enemas, too, are not forbidden with uraza. Removal of teeth is even permissible, despite the probable discharge of blood from the wounds. If fasting uses oxygen pillows (including asthmatics), then fasting is also not violated. Since air is not food and drink, but gas entering the lungs.
Any Muslim who intentionally eat or drink has committed a great sin. Therefore, he must commit repentance, compensate the violation on another day. A double sin is the acceptance of what Islam forbids on any day, and not just in fasting - alcohol and pork. If a person simply forgot about the restriction (and this is often observed in the early days of Uraza), then the post is not considered violated. Reimbursing it is optional. A person should thank the Almighty for sending him food (and there are many starving people in the world). If a Muslim sees that someone else is reaching for food, he is obliged to stop him and remind him of fasting. Ingestion of saliva or the rest of the food stuck between the teeth is also not a violation.
What actions do not break the post?
How to keep a post in Islam? What actions will not violate it? In addition to the cases described above, the following manipulations can be attributed to them: application of antimony to the eyes (as is known, this is important for Muslim women); brushing your teeth with a special brush (miswak) or a regular brush without paste. The use of the latter is not prohibited. The main thing is not to swallow the product, even partially. Other hygiene procedures are allowed: rinsing the nose, mouth, taking a shower. Swimming is also allowed, but provided that the person does not dive headlong, as this can lead to water entering the body.
Also, a Muslim who involuntarily swallowed tobacco smoke or dust does not break the post. Inhalation of aromas is allowed (even intentional). If women (and sometimes men) cook food, then tasting them is permissible. But it is forbidden to swallow it. Treatment of wounds by means of ointments, iodine, a solution of greenery is acceptable. Women can have their hair cut and dyed. The same goes for men. In addition, the fair sex is permissible to use cosmetics. But many reject it during Ramadan.
Fasting smoking
Smoking during uraza also disturbs fasting. In general, this process in Islam is undesirable, since it harms the body and mind, empties the wallet. And also due to the futility. Therefore, intentional ingestion of tobacco smoke (as opposed to involuntary) violates the fast. But many people who hold the abode do not enjoy cigarettes only during daylight hours. It is not right. Because smoking is not only cigarettes, but also hookah is prohibited the entire month of fasting in Islam. It often happens that after the end of Ramadan, many abandon this addiction.
Fasting during pregnancy and lactation
How to keep fasting during pregnancy in Islam? A future mother, if she feels well, there is no threat to her or to her child, is obliged to abide by the restrictions. If there is the possibility of a miscarriage, then fasting is optional. The same applies to nursing mothers. Therefore, before the onset of holy fasting, the above women should consult with a doctor. And pass the necessary tests.
If they are not recommended to fast due to a difficult pregnancy or for other reasons, then they are obliged to reimburse the post at another time. Preferably, before the next Ramadan. In addition, such a young lady needs to give alms to those in need (both money and food). However, if a woman cannot compensate for the post due to the fact that she again wears the baby under her heart or continues to feed, then it is enough to help the poor.
Fasting pregnant in Islam is not too strict. It does not have to be followed all thirty days in a row. Permissible violations every second day. Sometimes you can take a break for a week. The main thing is to keep thirty days in total. Since fasting days in winter are much shorter than summer ones (dawns late in the cold season, and gets dark early), young mothers are allowed to reimburse fasting on these days, even if Ramadan was in the summer.
Fasting during critical days
Can I keep a post during menstruation? Islam forbids a faithful Muslim woman not only to abide by restrictions, but also to perform namaz. If a woman does not do this on critical days, then no refund is necessary. All this is due to the fact that these days the ladies are not clean. And as you know, the observance of the most important Islamic rituals is allowed only with full hygiene.
If a woman holds a post, and suddenly her discharge begins, then he is considered violated. the girl will have to compensate him. But if this happened after dusk, then there was no violation. The next day, you need to refrain from restrictions until the end of the monthly cycle. In short, fasting should be to the benefit of fasting, and not to the detriment of them. And with a feeling of weakness of the body, one can get more negative from uraza than positive moments.