In the Name oI Allah, Most Gracious, Most MerciIul.

In the next couple oI weeks,

Muslims all over the world will begin what is known as the Iast oI Ramadan. At one time all
traditional societies measured their time based upon a lunar calendar. The religion oI al-Islam is
no exception to this time-tested norm. Each month oI the lunar calendar is 29 or 30 days in
length, which makes the calendar approximately eleven days shorter than this Gregorian calendar
that we now Iollow which was designed to lock the months in with the seasons. Ramadan is the
ninth month oI that calendar.
Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace has inIormed us that
"Islam is built on Iive pillars: |1| TestiIying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is
the Messenger oI Allah, |2| perIorming the prayers, |3| paying the zakat, |4| making the
pilgrimage to Mecca, and |5| Iasting in Ramadan." Based upon this hadith, or saying oI the
Prophet we`ve learned that it is these 5 Pillars by which one enters into and remains inside oI the
Iold oI Islam. For example, a person cannot say, 'I don`t have a problem with the Islamic prayer,
but Iasting is just too hard Ior me, thereIore I chose not to Iast. And still be considered a
Muslim. These pillars make up the Ioundation upon which the Islamic religion/way oI liIe is
built. Non-practice oI one oI these essentials is only excused by Allah - in rare, very speciIic
situations. The Muslim is not obligated to Iast iI he or she has not reached the age oI puberty,
they begin a journey beIore the beginning oI the month or they are sick.
They key to understanding the beneIits oI Iasting during this month is Iound in the
Qur`anic verse which establishes it as an obligation. Allah, the Most High revealed in the 2
nd

Surah (chapter) oI the Qur`an the Following: 'O you who believe! Fasting has been prescribed
upon you just as it was prescribed upon those who came beIore you, so that you may obtain
piety.
The believer examines the liIe and character oI Prophet Muhammad because he is the
living maniIestation oI the Qur`an. It is based upon his exemplary example that we know how to
conduct ourselves during this blessed month. During Ramadan we abstain Irom all Iood, drink
(including water), and sexual intercourse during the daylight hours. During this time we live our
lives as normal except that we increase the intensity oI our worship. We read the entire Qur`an at
least one time during this month. Our speech is dramatically decreased, especially useless talk.
We also perIorm addition night prayers called Taraweeh`. Though we eat, drink and enjoy our
spouses during the evening hours we are still 'Iasting as this is a month-long Iast.
In Islam there is the concept oI barakah - which can loosely be translated as blessing. We
know and believe that Allah God Almighty puts barakah in people, places, things and diIIerent
periods oI time. Ramadan is one oI those times! I see those things which contain barakah to have
been given special 'spiritual energy. In the case oI the month Ramadan, the believer is able to
renew and reIorm themselves unsurpassed by any other time during the year. This is what is
meant by '.so that you may obtain piety in the verse that was mentioned. The Arabic word
used is Taqwa which is very comprehensive in meaning but suIIice it to say that it denotes
God-Consciousness, obedience to Him, and a high standard oI conduct. Because oI the barakah
that Allah has placed in this month Ior the Believers, we become like children or pottery in that
we are very malleable and are able to change and upliIt ourselves in a permanent way. This is an
excellent time to get rid oI bad habits and character traits that we`ve picked up during the course
oI our lives. It is a time oI moderation, reIection and blessings. I pray that we all take advantage
oI these blessings. As-Salaamu Alaikum!

Imam Na`eem Abdullah
Nur uz-Zamaan Institute
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania