Ramadhan 1429 Special
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Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw)
Sermon on welcoming the month of Ramadhan
O People! The month of Allah (Ramadhan)
has approached you with His mercy and blessings. This is the month that is
the best of all months in the estimation of Allah. Its days are the best
among the days; its nights are the best among the nights. Its hours are the
best among the hours.
This is a month in which he has invited you. You have been, in this month,
selected as the recipients of the honors of Allah, the Merciful. In this
holy month, when you breathe, it has the Sawab/thawab (heavenly reward) of 'Tasbeeh'
(the praise of Allah on rosary beads), and your sleep has the thawab of
worship.
Your good deeds are accepted in this month. So are your invocations.
Therefore, you must invoke your Lord, in right earnest, with hearts that are
free from sins and evils, that Allah may bless you, observe fast, in this
month, and recite the Holy Quran.
Verily! The person who may not receive the mercy and benevolence of Allah in
this month must be very unfortunate having an end as bad (in the Hereafter).
While fasting, remember the hunger and thirst of tomorrow in Qiyamat. Give
alms to the poor and the needy. Pay respects to your elders.
Have pity on those younger than you and be kind towards your relatives and
kinsmen. Guard your tongues against unworthy words, and your eyes from such
scenes that are not worth seeing (forbidden) and your ears from such sounds
that should not be heard by you.
Be kind to orphans so that when your children become orphans they also may
be treated with kindness. Do invoke that Allah may forgive your sins. Do
raise your hands at the time of Salat (Prayers), as it is the best time for
asking His mercy. When we invoke at such times, we are answered by Him, when
we call Him, He responds, and when we ask for anything, it is accepted by
Him.
O People! You have made your conscience the slave of your desires; make it
free by invoking Him for Istighfar (repentance/ forgiveness) . Your back is
breaking under the heavy load of your sins, so prostrate before Him for long
intervals and make it lighter.
Do understand fully well that Allah has promised in the name of His Majesty
and Honor that He will not take to task such people who fast and offer Salat
in this month and perform 'sajda' (prostration) , and will guard their
bodies against the Fire of Hell on the Day of Judgment.
O People! If anybody amongst you arranges for the 'Iftar' (food for the
ending of the fast) of any believer, then Allah will give him a reward as if
he has set free a slave. He will forgive his minor sins.
Then the companions of Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: "But everybody
amongst us does not have the means to do so?"
Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) told them: - Keep yourself away from the Fire of
Hell, by inviting for 'Iftar', though it may consist of only half a date or
simply with water if you have nothing else. O People! Anybody who may
cultivate good manners in this month will walk over the 'Siraat' (Bridge) in
'Qiyamat', though his feet may be shaking.
Anybody who in this month may take light work from his servants (male or
female), Allah will make easy his accounting on the Day of Judgment.
Anybody who does not tease others in this month, Allah will keep him safe
from His wrath in Qiyamat. Anybody, who respects and treats an orphan with
kindness in this month, Allah shall look at him with dignity in Qiyamat.
Anybody who treats well his kinsmen, in this month, Allah will bestow His
mercy on him in Qiyamat, while anybody who maltreats his kinsmen in this
month, Allah will keep him away from His mercy, in Qiyamat.
Whoever offers 'Sunnat' (Recommended) prayers in this month, Allah will give
him a certificate of freedom from Hell. Whosoever offers one 'Wajib' Salat
in this month, for him the Angels will write the rewards of 70 such prayers,
which were offered by him in any other months.
Whosoever recites repeatedly 'Salat and salam' on me, Allah will keep the
scales of his deeds heavy, when in Qiyamat the scales of others will be
tending towards lightness.
Whosoever recites in this month only one 'Ayat' (verse of the Holy Quran),
he will be rewarded in a manner as if he had recited the full Holy Quran in
the other months.
O People! The Gates of Paradise remain opened in this month. Do invoke that
the gates may not be closed on you, while the Gates of Hell are closed. Do
invoke that these gates may never be opened. During this month Shaytan
(Saten) is imprisoned so ask your Lord not to let him have power over you.
Holy Prophet Muhammad's (saw) Teachings about the Month of Ramadhan
Imam al-Baqir (A.S.) said that Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) used to face the
people and say: "O ye people, when the crescent of the month of Ramadhan
shines, all devils will be chained, the doors of heaven will open, while the
doors of hell will be closed; prayers will be answered... Then with the
advent of the month of Shawwal, the believers will be told to count their
rewards... These rewards, I swear by God, could not be compared with
material rewards of money".
Yes, all these blessings are awarded by the blessing of the Holy Quran in
the month of Ramadhan. But it is man who unties the devils by committing
sins. It is he who opens the gates of Hell which Allah has closed.
The Prince of the Faithful Imam Ali (A.S) said: "I asked Holy Prophet
Muhammad (saw) what are the best deeds in the month of Ramadhan, and he
(saw) answered: "The best deeds are to deter oneself from doing what Allah
made unlawful" and he (saw) cried: I asked him what he was crying for and he
explained: "I am crying about what is going to happen to you in this month.
I can almost visualize you praying to your God, when the most evil man in
the history of mankind will stake you with his sword... The Prince of the
Faithful then asked: "Would this ensure the safety and the wellbeing of my
religion" To this Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) answered: "Yes it would, but
who ever kills you will be killing me, and who hates you hates me, and who
offends you is offending me. You are to me, in the same position as myself.
Your soul is my soul, and your body is my body."
May Allah bestow on us his blessings and guide us to fast the month of
Ramadhan praying to Him and reciting His holy book.
Health GUIDELINES
This article provides useful
advice on how to avoid some common problems encountered in Ramadhan. The
advice should enable one to fast comfortably and enjoy fully the spiritual
benefits of Ramadhan.
During Ramadhan, our diet should
not differ greatly from normal and should be as simple as possible. We
should be able to maintain our normal weight, neither losing nor gaining.
However, if one is over-weight, Ramadhan is an ideal time to lose weight.
We should aim to consume slow
digesting foods including fiber-containing foods. Slow-digesting foods last
up to 8 hours, while fast-digesting foods last only 3 to 4 hours.
Slow-digesting foods are foods
that contain grains and seeds like barley, wheat, oats, semolina, beans,
lentils, whole meal flour, etc. (complex carbohydrates).
Fast-burning foods are foods that
contain sugar, white flour, etc. (refined carbohydrates).
Fibre-containing foods are
bran-containing foods, whole wheat, grains, seeds, vegetables like green
beans, peas, sem (papry), marrow, mealies, spinach, methie, fruit with skin,
dried fruit especially dried apricots, figs and prunes, almonds, etc.
Meals should be well-balanced,
containing foods from each food group, i.e. fruits, vegetables,
meat/chicken/fish, bread/cereals and dairy products. Fried foods should be
limited. They cause indigestion, heart-burn, and weight problems.
AVOID
Fried and fatty foods.
Foods containing too much sugar.
Over-eating especially at sehri.
Too much tea at sehri. Tea makes
you pass more urine taking with it valuable mineral salts that your body
would need during the day.
Smoking cigarettes. If you cannot
give up, cut down gradually starting a few weeks before Ramadhan.
EAT
Complex carbohydrates at sehri so
that the food lasts longer.
Haleem is an excellent source of
protein and is a slow-burning food.
Dates are excellent source of
sugar, fibre, carbohydrates, potassium & magnesium.
Almonds are rich in protein and
fibre with less fat.
Bananas are a good source of
potassium, magnesium and carbohydrates.
DRINK
As much water or fruit juices as
possible between iftar and bedtime so that your body may adjust fluid levels
in time.
Problems to Avoid
CONSTIPATION
Constipation can cause piles
(haemorroids), fissures (cracks in anal canal) and indigestion, with a
bloated feeling. Causes: Too much refined foods, too little water and not
enough fibre in the diet.
Remedy: Avoid refined foods, increase water intake, use bran in baking,
brown flour when making roti.
INDIGESTION AND WIND
Causes: Over-eating. Excessive
fried and fatty foods, spicy foods, and foods that produce wind e.g. eggs,
cabbage, lentils, fizzy drinks like Cola also produce gas.
Remedy: Do not over-eat, drink fruit juices or water. Avoid fried foods, add
ajmor to wind-producing foods.
LETHARGY ('low blood
pressure')
Excessive sweating, weakness,
tiredness, lack of energy, dizziness, especially on getting up from sitting,
paleness and feeling faint are symptoms associated with "low blood
pressure". This tends to occur towards the afternoon.
Causes: Too little fluid intake, decreased salt intake.
Remedy: Keep cool, increase fluid and salt intake.
Caution: Low blood pressure should be confirmed by taking a blood pressure
reading when symptoms are present. Persons with high blood pressure may need
their medication adjusted during Ramadhan. They should consult their doctor.
HEADACHE
Causes: Caffeine and
tobacco-withdrawal, too much exercise, lack of sleep, hunger usually occur
during the day and worsen towards the evening. When associated with "low
blood pressure", the headache can be quite severe and can also cause nausea
before Iftar.
Remedy: Cut down caffeine and tobacco slowly starting a week or two before
Ramadhan. Herbal and caffeine-free teas may be substituted. Reorganise your
schedule during the Ramadan so as to have adequate sleep.
LOW BLOOD SUGAR
Weakness, dizziness, tiredness,
poor concentration, perspiring easily, feeling shaky (tremor), headache, and
palpitations are symptoms of low blood sugar.
Causes in non-diabetics: Excessive sugar consumption i.e. refined
carbohydrates especially at suhur (sehri). The body produces too much
insulin causing the blood glucose to drop.
Remedy: Eat something at sehri, and limit sugar-containing foods and drinks.
Caution: Diabetics may need to adjust their medication in Ramadan, consult
your doctor.
MUSCLE CRAMPS
Causes: Inadequate intake of
calcium, magnesium and potassium foods.
Remedy: Eat foods rich in these minerals e.g. vegetables, fruit, dairy
products, meat and dates.
Caution: Those on high blood pressure medication and with kidney stone
problems should consult their doctor.
PEPTIC ULCERS, HEART
BURN, AND GASTRITIS
Increased acid levels in an empty
stomach aggravate the above conditions. It causes a burning feeling in the
stomach area and can extend up to the throat. Spicy foods, coffee, and Cola
drinks worsen these conditions.
Medications are available to control acid levels in the stomach. People with
proven peptic ulcers and hiatus hernia should consult their doctor well
before Ramadhan.
KIDNEY STONES
Kidney stones may occur in people
who have less liquids to drink. Therefore, it is essential to drink extra
liquids so as to prevent stone formation.
JOINT PAINS
Causes: Extra salah during
Ramadhan increases pressure on the knee joints. In the elderly and those
with arthritis this may cause pain, stiffness, swelling and discomfort.
Remedy: Lose weight so that the knees do not have to carry any extra load.
Exercise the lower limbs before Ramadhan so that they can be prepared for
the additional strain. Being physically fit allows greater fulfilment, thus
enabling one to be able to perform salah with ease.
Source: Dr. Farouk Haffejee
Islamic Medical Association of South Africa - Durban
http://www.ramadhanzone.com/health_guidelines.asp
Advice to Muslims in Ramadhan
Shaykh Abdullah al-Jarullah
Transl. islaam.com
Few intoductory and complementary notes by the translator:
1. Ramadhan is an auspicious
opportunity for believers to renew their commitment to their Creator and
the Sovereign of the Day of Recompense. This commitment must be both
outward and inward, so that a Muslim not only recites more Qur'an and
offers more units of prayer, but that she or he does so with reflection,
humility and attentiveness.
2. Muslims must ensure they
are not formalists who concentrate only on the outward. Achieving
Allah's acceptance must be a believer's priority and is not easy.
"Indeed, Allah only accepts from the righteous [who fear him - al
muttaqoon]." [Qur'an 5:27]
3. Ramadhan is a wonderful
opportunity for accounting of one's sins and making repentance. If one
does not repent in Ramadhan, when will he or she do so?
4. Muslims should strive to
worship Allah as best as they can from the beginning of the month, for
that increases chances of the end of the month being good as well.
5. Muslims should consider
what is it that they truly want to achieve in Ramadhan, whether they
want to be from the winners or from the losers, and should make sure
they do not perform acts of worship simply because it is the surrounding
people's custom to do so.
6. Muslims must be firmly
aware that Ramadhan is only a means and not an end.
Advice to Muslims in
Ramadhan
From the book "Khulaasatul
Kalaam" by Shaykh Jaarullah.
Brother Muslim, Sister
Muslima:
1. Fast Ramadhan with belief
and truly seeking the reward of Allah the Most High so that He may
forgive you your past sins.
2. Beware of breaking your
fast during the days of Ramadhan without a valid Islamic excuse, for it
is from the greatest of sins.
3. Pray Salat ut-Taraweeh
and the night prayer during the nights of Ramadhan - especially on
Layatul-Qadr - based on belief and truly seeking the reward of Allah, so
that Allah may forgive you your past sins.
4. Make sure that your food,
your drink and your clothing are from halal means, in order that your
actions be accepted, and your supplications answered. Beware of
refraining from the halal while fasting and breaking your fast with the
haram.
5. Give food to some fasting
people to gain a reward similar to theirs.
6. Perform your five prayers
on time in congregation to gain the reward and Allah's protection.
7. Give a lot of charity for
the best charity is that of Ramadhan.
8. Beware of spending your
time without performing righteous deeds, for you will be responsible and
reckoned for it and will be rewarded for all you do during your time.
9. Perform `umrah in
Ramadhan for `Umrah in Ramadhan is equal to Hajj.
10. Seek help for fasting
during the day by eating the sahoor meal in the last part of the night
before the appearance of Fajr.
11. Hasten breaking your
fast after the sun has truly set in order to gain the love of Allah.
12. Perform ghusl before fajr
if you need to purify yourself from the state of major impurity so that
you are able to do acts of worship in a state of purity and cleanliness.
13. Cease the opportunity of
being in Ramadhan and spend it with the good that has been revealed in
it - by reciting the noble Qur'an and pondering and reflection of its
meanings so that it be a proof for you with your Lord and an intercessor
for you on the Day of Reckoning.
14. Preserve your tongue
from lying, cursing, backbiting and slander for it decreases the reward
of fasting.
15. Do not let fasting cause
you cross your boundaries by getting upset due to the slightest of
reasons. Rather, fating should be a cause of peacefulness and
tranquility of your soul.
16. Upon completion of
fasting, be in a state of taqwa of Allah the Most High, being aware of
Allah watching you in secret and in public, in thankfulness for His
favors, and steadfastness upon obedience of Allah by doing all what He
has ordered and shunning all that He has prohibited.
17. Increase in remembrance
of Allah, seeking of forgiveness, asking for Paradise and protection
against the Fire, especially when fasting, while breaking the fast and
during suhoor, for these actions are among greatest causes of attaining
Allah's forgiveness.
18. Increase in supplication
for yourself, your parents, your children and Muslims, for Allah has
ordered making of supplications and has guaranteed acceptance.
19. Repent to Allah with a
sincere repentance in all times by leaving sins, regretting those that
you have done before and firmly deciding not to return to them in the
future, for Allah accepts repentance of those who repent.
20. Fast six days of
Shawwal, for whoever fasts Ramadhan and then follows it with six days of
Shawwal, it is as if he fasts all the time.
21. Fast on the Day of
`Arafah, the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, to attain success by being forgiven
your sins of the last year and the coming year.
22. Fast on the day of
`Aashuraa', the 10th of Muharram, along with the 9th, to attain success
by being forgiven your sins of the past year.
23. Continue being in a
state of iman and taqwa and perform righteous actions after the month of
Ramadhan, until you die. "And worship your Lord until there comes to
you the certainty (i.e. death)". [Qur'an 15:99]
24. Ensure that you attain
the positive effects of your acts of worship such as prayer, fasting,
zakat and hajj, sincere repentance and leaving of customs that are in
variance with the Sharee`ah.
25. Invoke a lot of salawat
and salam upon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah's blessings and peace
be upon him, his Companions and all those who follow them until the Day
of Judgment.
O Allah make us and all
Muslims of those who fast and stand in prayer during the month of
Ramadhan based on belief and truly seeking Your reward so that we
are forgiven our past and future sins.
O Allah make us of those
who fasted the month, attained full reward, witnessed Layatul-Qadr
and attained success by permission of the Lord, Blessed and Most
High.
O Allah, verily you are
Forgiver, like to forgive, so forgive us.
O Lord, accept from us,
verily you are the All-Hearing, all-Seeing, O Living, O Independent,
O Owner of all majesty and honor.
And may Allah's blessings
and peace be upon Muhammad, his family and his Companions.
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• Rewards Derived
From Ramadan: Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil by Yahya Adel
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Ramadhan (Ramzan)
"O you who believe! Fasting
is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you many
learn piety and rightousness" - Al Baqarah, 2:183
Ramadan - Month
of the Quran
http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=19
By Br. Abu Dharr [Ramadan
1415]
Based on Ibn Rajab's "Lata`if al-Ma`arif" and other sources
The first part of this is based
on an extract from Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali's Lata'if al-Ma'arif (pp. 179-182),
quoted by Fahd bin Sulaiman in Kayf Nastafeed min Ramadan (pp. 48-50). The
advice given in this article is all the more important now that we are in
the last ten nights of Ramadan. Imam Bukhari reports from 'Aishah that the
Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would tighten
his waist-cloth (i.e. detach himself from his wives), spend the night in
worship and awake his family, during the last ten nights of Ramadan. Ramadan
is nearly over, so make the most of this precious opportunity!
Ramadan has a special
relationship with the Qur'an, of course:
"The month of Ramadan is the one
in which the Quran was sent down, a guidance for mankind, clear proofs for
the guidance, the Criterion; so whoever amongst you witnesses this month,
let him fast it." (cf. Surah al-Baqarah 2:185)
The word 'so' (fa) in this ayah
leads to the following paraphrase of one aspect of its meaning: "Fast this
month because it is the one in which the Qur'an was sent down" -- see
Fasting in Ramadaan by Ali al-Halabi & Saleem al-Hilali, Al-Hidaayah,
1414/1994, pp. 11-12.
Ibn 'Abbas narrates "that the
Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was the most
generous person, and he would be at his most generous in Ramadan because
Jibril would come to him every night and he would rehearse the Qur'an with
him." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Eng. trans. 6/486)
This hadith contains
recommendation of the following:
-
Studying the Qur'an in
Ramadan;
-
coming together for this
purpose;
-
checking (one's
memory/knowledge of) the Qur'an with someone who has preserved it
better;
-
increasing recitation of the
Qur'an in Ramadan;
-
that the night time is the
best time to recite, when other preoccupations decrease and it is easier
to concentrate, as in Surah al-Muzzammil 73:6.
-
Further, Fatimah (may Allah
be pleased with her) narrated from her father (may Allah bless him and
grant him peace), who told her that Jibril would rehearse the Quran with
him (in Ramadan) once every year, and he did so twice in the year of his
death. (Bukhari 6/485)
After mentioning the above
aspects of the Sunnah, Ibn Rajab talks about the situation of the Salaf (the
early Muslims) during Ramadan:
"... Some of the Salaf would
complete reciting the whole Quran during the night prayer of Ramadan every 3
days, others every 7 days e.g. Qataadah, others in 10 days e.g. Abu Rajaa'
al-Atardi. The Salaf would recite Quran in Ramadan in Prayer as well as
outside it. Al-Aswad would finish the Quran every 2 nights in Ramadan;
Ibrahim an-Nakh'I would do likewise in the last 10 nights specifically, &
every 3 nights during the rest of the month. Qataadah would regularly finish
the Quran in 7 days, but in 3 days during Ramadan, when he would study the
Quran especially, and every night during its last 10 days. Al-Zuhri would
say when Ramadan began, 'It is recitation of the Quran and feeding of
people.' When Ramadan began, Imam Malik would cease narrating Hadith and
sitting with the people of knowledge, and stick to reciting the Quran from
its pages, while Sufyan al-Thawri would leave other acts of worship and
stick to reciting the Quran. 'Aishah would recite from the pages of the
Quran at the beginning of the day in Ramadan (i.e. after Dawn), until when
the sun had risen, she would sleep. Zayd al-Yaami would bring copies of the
Quran when Ramadan began and gather his companions around him. ..."
Ibn Rajab later continues, "The
forbiddance of completing recitation of the Quran in less than 3 days
applies to this being made a regular practice, but as for favoured times
such as Ramadan, esp. the nights in which Laylat al-Qadr is sought, or
favoured places such as Makkah for the visitor, it is recommended to
increase reciting the Quran to avail the time and place. This is the view of
Ahmad, Ishaq & other Imams, and the practice of others indicates this too."
The purpose here is not to
discuss whether or not the latter view is correct or not, since that is
purely academic for most of us, as we do not get anywhere near reciting the
whole Quran in three days! However, the practice of the Prophet (may Allah
bless him and grant him peace), his Companions, and those who followed their
path, should be clear enough. As a further example, Bukhari (3/79) quotes
from the noble Companion Zaid bin Thabit who answered the question, "How
much time was there between the pre-dawn meal and the Dawn Prayer?" by
saying, "Enough time to recite fifty ayat"; since the practice of the Arabs
was to measure time in terms of everyday actions, this shows that the
Sahabah were pre-occupied with the Qur'an, especially in Ramadan.
Compare all this with our sad
state, when we talk so much about establishing Islam, implementing the
Quran, etc. and yet have such little contact with it, maybe not completing
its recitation ever at all since childhood, or perhaps never! Hence we
become imbalanced in our understanding of Islam, because there are ayat
which we rarely or never hear or think about; we repeat only certain
selected ayat over and over again; we lost the context of the verses, the
overall flow, argument and balance of the Quran, all of which is beautiful &
miraculous. Because of this ignorance we go astray from the Straight Path,
split up into sects, lose the blessings of Allah ...
"We took a covenant from those
who said: we are Christians, but they forgot part of the message with which
they had been reminded, so we ingrained amongst them enmity and hatred until
the Day of Judgment..." (Surah al-Ma'idah 5:14)
In Sahih Bukhari (6/521), there
is an amazing piece of advice from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and
grant him peace): "Recite the Quran as long as your hearts agree on it; if
you disagree about it, stop reciting it (for the time being)" -- studying
the Quran should bring people together!
In Surah al-Mu'minoon (23:53),
there is mention of the people before us (in whose footsteps we would
follow), who broke up their Deen into sects (zuburan), each party rejoicing
in what it had. One understanding of this, from the word zuburan meaning
literally 'books', is that each sect left the Book of Allah, & concentrated
solely on the books of its own sect, so "they split their deen up into
books"!
The most twisted, ridiculous,
shallow ideas, innovations and superstitions are propagated amongst Muslims
when they are away from the Quran, because any little knowledge of the Quran
would be enough to dispel them.
Hence, O slave of Allah, leave
aside secondary books and concentrate on studying the Blessed Book of Allah
in this Blessed Month (use a good translation/commentary if needed), for it
is the source of all Knowledge in other books, and keep away from wasting
time, especially in futile discussions and arguments which lead nowhere, for
that is a sure sign of being misguided, as the Prophet (may Allah bless him
and grant him peace) said, "Whenever a people went astray after they had
been on guidance, they were given to argumentation (jadl)." (Ahmad,
Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah - Sahih al-Jami' al-Saghir, no. 5633)
Finally, remember that the
Messenger (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) will complain to Allah
on the Day of Judgment that his people neglected the Qur'an (Surah al-Furqan
25:30). Neglecting the Qur'an is of different levels, as Ibn al-Qayyim
writes:
-
not reciting or listening to
it;
-
not studying and
understanding it;
-
not conveying its message;
-
not judging by it in personal
and communal matters, at all levels of society;
-
not believing in it.
All Praise is due to Allah, Lord
of the Worlds.
Posted By:
Syeda Muneeba Masood
Health Guidelines for
Ramadhan
By
Dr. Farouk Haffejee
Brought to You by
eat-halal.com
This article
provides useful advice on how to avoid some common problems encountered in
Ramadhan. If followed, it would enable one to fast comfortably and enjoy
fully the spiritual benefits of Ramadhan.
During the holy
month of Ramadhan, our diet should not differ very much from our normal diet
and should be as simple as possible. The diet should be such that we
maintain our normal weight, neither losing nor gaining. However, if one is
over-weight, Ramadhan is an ideal time to normalise one's weight.
In view of the
long hours of fasting, we should consume slow digesting foods including
fibre containing-foods rather than fast-digesting foods. Slow digesting
foods last up to 8 hours, while fast-digesting foods last for only 3 to 4
hours.
Slow-digesting
foods are foods that contain grains and seeds like barley, wheat, oats,
millet, semolina, beans, lentils, wholemeal flour, unpolished rice, etc.
(called complex carbohydrates).
Fast-burning foods are foods that contain sugar, white
flour, etc. (called refined carbohydrates).
Fibre-containing
foods are bran-containing foods, whole wheat, grains and seeds, vegetables
like green beans, peas, sem (papry), marrow, mealies, spinach, and other
herbs like methie, the leaves of beetroot (iron-rich), fruit with skin,
dried fruit especially dried apricots, figs and prunes, almonds, etc.
The foods eaten
should be well-balanced, containing foods from each food group, i.e. fruits,
vegetables, meat/chicken/fish, bread/cereals and dairy products. Fried foods
are unhealthy and should be limited. They cause indigestion, heart-burn, and
weight problems.
AVOID
Fried and fatty
foods.
Foods containing too much sugar.
Over-eating especially at sehri.
Too much tea at sehri. Tea makes you pass more urine taking
with it valuable mineral salts that your body would need during the day.
Smoking cigarettes. If you cannot give up smoking, cut down
gradually starting a few weeks before Ramadhan. Smoking is unhealthy and one
should stop completely.
EAT
Complex
carbohydrates at sehri so that the food lasts longer making you less
hungry.
Haleem is an excellent source of protein and is a
slow-burning food.
Dates are excellent source of sugar, fibre, carbohydrates,
potassium and magnesium.
Almonds are rich in protein and fibre with less fat.
Bananas are a good source of potassium, magnesium and
carbohydrates.
DRINK
As much water or
fruit juices as possible between iftar and bedtime so that your body may
adjust fluid levels in time.
CONSTIPATION
Constipation can
cause piles (haemorroids), fissures (painful cracks in anal canal) and
indigestion with a bloated feeling.
Causes: Too much
refined foods, too little water and not enough fibre in the diet.
Remedy: Avoid
excessive refined foods, increase water intake, use bran in baking, brown
flour when making roti.
INDIGESTION AND
WIND
Causes:
Over-eating. Too much fried and fatty foods, spicy foods, and foods that
produce wind e.g. eggs, cabbage, lentils, carbonated drinks like Cola also
produce gas.
Remedy: Do not
over-eat, drink fruit juices or better still drink water. Avoid fried foods,
add ajmor to wind-producing foods.
LETHARGY ('low
blood pressure')
Excessive
sweating, weakness, tiredness, lack of energy, dizziness, especially on
getting up from sitting position, pale appearance and feeling faint are
symptoms associated with "low blood pressure". This tends to occur towards
the afternoon.
Causes: Too
little fluid intake, decreased salt intake.
Remedy: Keep
cool, increase fluid and salt intake.
Caution: Low
blood pressure should be confirmed by taking a blood pressure reading when
symptoms are present. Persons with high blood pressure may need their
medication adjusted during Ramadhan. They should consult their doctor.
HEADACHE
Causes: Caffeine
and tobacco-withdrawal, doing too much in one day, lack of sleep, hunger
usually occur as the day goes by and worsens at the end of the day. When
associated with "low blood pressure", the headache can be quite severe and
can also cause nausea before Iftar.
Remedy: Cut down
caffeine and tobacco slowly starting a week or two before Ramadhan. Herbal
and caffeine-free teas may be substituted. Reorganise your schedule during
the Ramadan so as to have adequate sleep.
LOW BLOOD SUGAR
Weakness,
dizziness, tiredness, poor concentration, perspiring easily, feeling shaky
(tremor), unable to perform physical activities, headache, palpitations are
symptoms of low blood sugar.
Causes in
non-diabetics: Having too much sugar i.e. refined carbohydrates especially
at suhur (sehri). The body produces too much insulin causing the blood
glucose to drop.
Remedy: Eat
something at sehri and limit sugar-containing foods and drinks.
Caution:
Diabetics may need to adjust their medication in Ramadan, consult your
doctor.
MUSCLE CRAMPS
Causes:
Inadequate intake of calcium, magnesium and potassium foods.
Remedy: Eat foods
rich in the above minerals e.g. vegetables, fruit, dairy products, meat and
dates.
Caution: Those on
high blood pressure medication and with kidney stone problems should consult
their doctor.
PEPTIC ULCERS,
HEART BURN, GASTRITIS AND HIATUS HERNIA
Increased acid
levels in the empty stomach in Ramadhan aggravate the above conditions. It
presents as a burning feeling in the stomach area under the ribs and can
extend upto the throat. Spicy foods, coffee, and Cola drinks worsen these
conditions.
Medications are
available to control acid levels in the stomach. People with proven peptic
ulcers and hiatus hernia should consult their doctor well before Ramadhan.
KIDNEY STONES
Kidney stones may
occur in people who have less liquids to drink. Therefore, it is essential
to drink extra liquids so as to prevent stone formation.
JOINT PAINS
Causes: During
Ramadhan, when extra salah are performed the pressure on the knee joints
increases. In the elderly and those with arthritis this may result in pain,
stiffness, swelling and discomfort.
Remedy: Lose
weight so that the knees do not have to carry any extra load. Exercise the
lower limbs before Ramadhan so that they can be prepared for the additional
strain. Being physically fit allows greater fulfilment, thus enabling one to
be able to perform salah with ease.
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Ramadhan
Fasting:
The Solution to Starvation
Fasting means one is abstaining
from food and/or drink for a fixed amount of time. A common fast is from
sunrise to sunset. There are many reasons why one should consider
incorporating fasting into ones regular routine. Fasting has been proven to
extend one’s life, health, happiness and well being.
Fasting promotes detoxification.
As the body breaks down its fat reserves, it mobilizes and eliminates stored
toxins. Toxins are poisons produced by an organism. Said toxins can
eventually lead to other more serious diseases that can make one seriously
ill and can even be fatal. Fasting allows the digestive system to rest and
recover. The same way it would be devastating to continuously run an
automobile engine non-stop until it is destroyed, it is devastating to
continuously run our bodies (namely our digestive system) without a rest and
a break. It is scientifically proven that fasting promotes longevity and
good health. While the digestive system is taking a break, the body now has
time to break down and flush out stored toxins (poisons) and prepare them
for disposal. After fasting, both digestion and elimination are invigorated.
Fasting has been clinically
proven to resolve many inflammatory syndromes such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Fasting also calms allergic reactions, including hay fever and asthma.
Fasting miraculously dries up abnormal fluid accumulations, such as swelling
in the abdomen and edema in the ankles and legs.
For those with high blood
pressure a vegetarian diet has shown the greatest successful results for a
natural cure. Abstinence from flesh foods through a vegetarian diet should
be first on the list for those seeking a cure. Fasting too has been proven
to correct high blood pressure and is a natural cure without drugs. Fasting
reduces blood pressure to a safe level and fasting will keep it at a safe
level so long as one manages one’s diet, namely by avoiding animal products
(obviously exercising is guaranteed to keep it on a safe level).
Fasting clears blemishes and
restores beauty to the skin and whitens the eyes.
Fasting naturally strengthens
one’s taste buds and revives ones appreciation for food and drink. It is
commonplace for one to experience a heightened sense of taste and smell
after fasting.
Many people are addicted to
narcotics such as cigarettes (nicotine) as well as alcohol and other drugs.
Fasting has shown tremendous results for rapidly dissipating the craving and
addiction for these drugs. Fasting helps the victims of this genocide to
overcome their addiction and regain their health and sobriety. This of
course will in turn improve many aspects of one’s life.
The list goes on and on. There
are MANY reasons why one should fast for health benefits, psychological
cultivation as well as spiritual ascension and enlightenment. Through
fasting one learns to control one’s mind, body and spirit. One can reflect
upon the Divine Spirit that gives life to this planet and all that exists.
How did we get here? Where did we come from? What is it that brings about
food from the earth? What is it that gives order to our planet and universe?
Why have we been given life? These types of question can be better
understood with a clear mind and a peaceful spirit. Fasting teaches one how
to maintain discipline and how to heighten one’s awareness and
understanding. Fasting is one of the many tools for awakening the spirit.
Now to the main topic: The
Solution to Starvation
It is not happenstance that many
figures, from Prophets and Messengers of the Spiritual life giving force
some call God; from wise men and philosophers and to practitioners of
medicine and body chemistry, have all recommended fasting as a major tool
for the edification of our body, mind and spirit. As well there are many
Universal secrets to fasting that continue to edify. This is why many
religious groups have adopted fasting into their belief systems. It is also
well known that fasting is one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith.
The numbers and statistics below
are not based on tested results; rather, they are only for informational
purposes and are used for examples and hypothetical situations.
Let us say for example
that the average person eats five pounds of food a day. Of course this
figure will vary from person to person. If this average person were to fast
for one day a week, four weeks a month, for twelve months, this person would
be abstaining from two hundred and forty pounds of food a year.
5 lbs x 4 wks = 20 lbs
20 lbs x 12 mths = 240 lbs
So what could one do with this
two hundred and forty pounds of food? By fasting one wouldn't have to buy
all that extra food. One could take the money saved and give it to charity
and help feed a starving child or adult. This two hundred and forty pounds
of food now has become excess for the fasting person and has become a meal
for the starving and deprived. Contrary to the common _expression "How
can one person bring peace to the Earth?" the example is clear. To fill
the hungry bellies should be one of the first concerns on any peacemaker’s
agenda.
Now let us increase the number of
people for this example. Let’s hypothetically say there are exactly six
billion people on the planet Earth. What if half of these people (three
billion people) were to fast one day a week, for four weeks a month, twelve
months a year?
3 billion x 5 lbs =
15,000,000,000 lbs of food in one week
15,000,000,000 lbs x 4 wks =
60,000,000,000 lbs in one month
60,000,000,000 lbs x 12 mths =
720,000,000,000 in one year
Surely seven hundred and twenty
trillion pounds of food would be a sufficient amount of food to feed ALL the
starving people in the world. Again these figures are hypothetical but they
are VERY realistic and practical.
Just one day a week! This
will improve your health, calm your mind and bring peace to your spirit.
Just one day a week! It is
possible to feed a starving child.
Just one day a week! You
can finally give something back to the force of nature that gives you life,
by feeding the innocent and oppressed.
Just one day a week! You
can gives thanks to the force of nature that puts food on your table.
This is not a new solution to
world hunger. The world’s most well known and loved Teachers, Prophets,
Saints, Sages and Philosophers such as Moses, David, Jesus and so on have
all practiced fasting on a regular basis and promoted these teachings to the
sincere among them.
Just one day a week! You
can save money on food and feed the hungry at the same time.
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