“O ye who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those (believers) before you that you may learn self-restraint”.

Rejoice O believers. Rejoice at the emergence of the crescent of ‘Rushd’, Amnu and salaamaat (meaning – guidance, security and safety). The appearance of the crescent of the ninth month of the Muslim calendar – Ramadan.The need to rejoice emanates from our appreciation of the boundless blessing of Allah over us especially for sparing our lives out of the thousands or millions who by Allah’s decree have passed to the great beyond. Allah (SWT) out of His infinite mercies afforded us the opportunities of another 51 weeks of jummu’at and 360 days of obligatory daily salawaat (prayer) to crown it all comes this holy month of 29 or 30 days of compulsory fasting.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar month. Almighty Allah makes  it obligatory on every Muslim to observe fasting throughout the month except those exempted by Him- the sick, travelers, old age people, pregnant and nursing mothers.

Fasting in the holy month of Ramadan is the fourth pillar of Islam after shadataain, establishment of the compulsory daily prayers, and giving of zakat (for those) who have the means). Every adult Muslim male and female should usher in the holy month with ‘iiman (faith) and sincerely embrace all the meritorious acts stated in the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of our Noble prophet (SAW) with all the zeal and enthusiansion it deserves. The blessing accompanying the month and the merits of its fastings transcend beyond the lackadaisical  attitude shown to it by some Muslims today. The Holy Prophet (SAW) was reported by Abu Hurairah (RA) as saying: Allah (SWA) says; Every righteous deed of the son of Allah’s for him ( the doer) except ‘fasting’ verily it is for Me and I reserve the right to reward him (for fasting to please me) fasting is a shied (from hell-fire), therefore whenever anyone of you is fasting he should abstain from all act of promiscuity, yelling the breath from the mouth of a fasting person is more pleasing to Allah than the scent of Al-misk or hot argument. If any ignorant person should abuse him or attempt to fight him, he should respond by saying ‘I am fasting’ (Bukhar, and muslim).

As part of the blessings of this Holy month of fasting, Abu Hurrairah also narrated that Prophet Muhammad said, when Ramadhan sets in the (eight) gates of paradise are rendered open, the (seven) entrances of hell fire put under locked while the shayateen (the evil causers) are put in chain. The first hadith stated above explained the great merit of fasting and its superiority over all other acts of ibaadah. This is because fasting is an holy allegiance between the servant and his Lord, Allah alone knows that person who strictly guards the limits set by Him in respect of the dos and don’ts of this sensitive act of worship. Also, fasting protects us from hell fire, means someone who diligently observes his or her fasting in conjunction with the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet will be saved from entering hell fire on the Day of Judgment.  

Fasting in the Holy month of Ramadhan atones for our minor sins of the past if observed in faith and sincerity according to the saying of the Prophet “Whoever observes Ramadhan fast faithfully expecting his or her reward from Allah shall have all his previous sins forgiven” (Bukhari and ibn majah). Hatim bin Hibban said in his explanation of the above saying of the Prophet that the sins of those who observe Ramadhan fasting as an obligatory duty and purity their intention for him alone shall be forgiven.

As we eagerly look forward to seeing the crescent of Rushd, it behooves us to tighten our belts to warmly embrace the month with faith and piety. It is those who have deep faith in Almighty Allah and are well grounded in understanding that can be able to carry out his injunctions and guard his limits both in the secret and the open.