IT IS FARD KIFAYAH (A COLLECTIVE DUTY) ON THE MUSLIMSTO MAKE AN EFFORT TO SIGHT THE MOON OF RAMADHAN ON THE 29TH OF SHABAN.

IT IS WRONG TO DEPEND SOLELY ON THE CALENDAR AND OTHER ASTRONOMICAL CALCULATIONS TO BEGIN THE FAST, THE PROPHET SAID BEGIN THE FAST ON SIGHTING OF THE MOON AND BREAK FAST LIKE WISE, BUT IF THE SKY IS CLOUDY THEN ESTIMATE 30 DAYS OF SAHBAN

THE FAST BEGINS WITH A LIGHT PRE-DAWN MEAL KNOWN AS SAHAR OR SUHOOR WHICH IS TAKEN JUST BEFORE THE BREAK OF DAWN. THE PROPHET SAID TAKE SUHOOR FOR SUERLY THERE IS BARAKAH IN IT

IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT THE FAST MUST BE BROKEN AS SOON AS MAGHRIB ( SETTING OF SUN) OCCURS. IT IS ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT THE FAST BE BROKEN WITH DATES AND WATER. ANAS IBN MALIK SAID: THE PROPHET USED TO BREAK HIS FAST WITH FEW FRESH DATES, IF DATES WERE NOT AVAILABLE THEN HE WOULD EAT DRIED DATES, IF DRIED DATES ALSO ARE NOT AVAILABLE THEN HE WOULD JUST DRINK FEW SIPS OF WATER"

THE THIRST HAS GONE, THE VEINS ARE MOISTENED, AND THE REWARD IS CONFIRMED, IF ALLAH WILLS.

TO BE MUSLIM TO HAVE REACHED PUBERTY(HOWEVER, WITH YOUNG CHILDEREN IT WAS THE PRACTICE AND ENCOURAGEMENT) TO BE SANE TO BE PHYSICALLY ABLE TO BE A RESIDENT, NOT A TRAVELLER

FASTING GIVES THE INDUVIDUAL THE REAL TASTE OF HUNGER AND THIRST WHICH HELPS HIM TO REALIZE THE EXPERIANCE OF POOR. THIS EXPERIANCE SHOULD INSTILL A DESIRE TO WANT TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE BY SHARING FOOD AND WEALTH AND FOOD WITH THEM

IT IS REQUIREED THAT THE INDUVIDUAL GIVES UP NOT ONLY FOOD, DRINK AND SEXUAL RELATIONS, BUT ALSO ALL FORMS OF LYING( E.G. BACKBITING, SLANDER,ETC).

THE WORD COMES FROM THE NOUN RAMAD,WHICH REFERS TO THE HEAT OF THE STONES ARISING FROM THE INTENSE HEAT OF THE SUN. IT WAS NAMED RAMADHAN BECAUSE IT ALWAYS ARRIVED IN THE TIME OF EXTREME HEAT.

85 GRAMS OF GOLD 595 GRAMS OF GOLD 40 GOATS OR SHEEP, 30 HEADS OF CATTLE AND 5 CAMELS MONEY 2.5 % GOLD 2.5% SILVER 2.5%

JOURNEY (SAFAR) SICKNESS (MARAD) PREGNANCY ( HAML) BREAST FEEDING (RIDAH) WEAKNESS ( DAF) OLD AGE (KIBAR AS SINN)

NIYYAH (INTENTION) FOR THE COMPULSORY FAST OF RAMADHAN TO BE ACCEPTED THE INTENTION TO FAST MUST BE MADE BEFORE FAJR EACH DAY. THE PROPHET SAID WHOEVER DOES NOT INTEND TO FAJR BEFORE FAJR WILL HAVE NO FAST

THE PROPHET USED TO BREAK HIS FAST WITH FRESH DATES, IF THEY WERE NOT AVAILABLE, HE WOULD EAT DRIED DATES, IF THEY WERE NOT AVAILABLE THEN, HE WOULD DRINK FEW SIPS OF WATER (REPORTED BY: ANAS IBN MALIK (RADHIALLAHU AMHU))

THE THIRST HAS GONE THE VEINS ARE MOISTENED AND THE REWARD IS CONFIRMED IF ALLAH WILLS

TARAWEEH LITERALLY MEANS REST PAUSES. THIS NAME WAS GIVEN BY THE LATER GENERATIONS TO THE NIGHT PRAYER DURING RAMADHAN BECAUSE OF THE PAUSE OBSERVED AFETR EVERY FOUR RAKAH. NAME WAS NOT USED BY THE PROPHET (SAW) NEITHER DID HE PRAY 20 RAKAHS. IN FACT HE CALLED IT SALATHUL-LAYL AND PARYED 11 RAKAHS. WITH 2 SETS OF FOUR RAKAHS AND WITR.

JAZAKALLAH KHAIR HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED IT.