Ramadan is the month of fasting in which Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn until sunset. It comes at its appointed time every year to relieve us of heavy burdens, illuminate our hearts with the light of faith. Ramadan is an opportunity to renew determination and strengthen the will to resist sins and transgressions, as Muslims focus on values such as patience, generosity, and tolerance. Therefore, in this article, we will talk about the benefits of Ramadan month and how to prepare for it well.
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What are the benefits of Ramadan month?
Ramadan is one of the most prominent months in Islam in which the values of fasting, repentance, and good deeds are manifested. Fasting is a fundamental pillar of the five pillars of Islam and it is obligatory for all healthy adult Muslims with the exception of children, menstruating women, pregnant women when there is a danger to the fetus, as well as the elderly and the sick. And that is different from Sunnah fasting in Islam.
The importance of Ramadan is manifested in the fact that it is the month in which the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, as stated in the Ayah:
“شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ”
“Shahru Ramadan allathee unzila feehi alqur’anu”
“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran.”
The first five Ayaat of Surat Al-Alaq highlight the importance of knowledge and worship, as Muslims are encouraged to read and learn.
The month of Ramadan is accompanied by many virtues, as the Prophet Muhammad PBUH said:
“إذا دخل رمضان فتحت أبواب الجنة، وغلقت أبواب النار، وصفدت الشياطين”
“When Ramadan enters, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained.”
Quranic Ayaat on the importance of Fasting in Ramadan
The Quran includes a set of Ayaats that highlight the importance of fasting and its spiritual benefits during Ramadan. Allah SWT said:
“يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ”
“Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo kutiba ‘alaykumu assiyamu kama kutiba ‘ala allatheena min qablikum la’allakum tattaqoon”
“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.”
By abstaining from food, drink, and the needs of daily life, Muslims are able to achieve self-discipline and develop the ability to self-control.
The importance of this month is manifested in the Ayah:
“شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ”
“Shahru ramadana allathee unzila feehi alqur’anu hudan lilnnasi wabayyinatin mina alhuda walfurqani”
“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.”
This month commemorates the revelation of the Quran, placing on Muslims the responsibility of reciting it, understanding it, and reflecting on its meanings during this blessed period. And for the importance of the Quran, you must take Quran memorization guaranteed classes (kgr).
Allah SWT pointed out the benefits of fasting by saying:
“وَأَن تَصُومُوا خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ”
“Wa an tasoomoo khayrun lakum in kuntum ta’lamoon”
“But to fast is best for you, if you only knew.”
This Ayah encourages Muslims to fast because of its health, physical, psychological, and spiritual benefits.
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What are the spiritual benefits of fasting?
The benefits of fasting in Islam are numerous, the most important of which are the following:
- Ramadan is a unique opportunity to draw closer to Allah through acts of worship such as prayer, reciting the Quran, and making Duaa.
- Fasting enhances continuous awareness of the presence of Allah, encouraging Muslims to reflect on themselves and deepen their sense of responsibility and vigilance, transforming every fast into a spiritual act of worship.
- Fasting in Ramadan is characterized by increased reward, as the good deeds of acts of worship are multiplied, renewing hope for forgiveness and inspiring believers to strive for the better in their lives.
Psychological benefits of Ramadan month
The benefits of fasting in Ramadan reflect a deep spiritual transformation that combines body and soul, enhancing focus and supporting emotional flexibility to face life’s challenges with strength and peace, the most important of these benefits are the following:
- Ramadan renews the focus on gratitude, improving the general mood and making the heart feel joy and dispensing with negative thoughts.
- Ramadan encourages seeking forgiveness and repairing relationships, helping Muslims free themselves from feelings of guilt and psychological burdens.
- Fasting helps calm the mind and restore faith, preparing it for mental clarity, and enabling Muslims to face challenges with a clear vision.
- Fasting teaches steadfastness, establishing the lesson that with hardship comes ease, enhancing mental strength for after Ramadan.
Health benefits of Fasting in Ramadan
There are many health benefits to the month of Ramadan, the most important of which are the following:
- Fasting helps the body purify toxins and improve digestion, leading to clearer skin and higher energy levels, and enhances the absorption of nutrients.
- Fasting provides an opportunity to lose weight in healthy ways by eating balanced meals at Suhoor and Iftar which makes the body feel active and balanced.
- Fasting shows a positive effect on cholesterol levels which promotes heart health and reduces the risk of related diseases.
- Ramadan establishes a disciplined pattern of eating that helps to reduce the desire to eat unhealthy snacks and promotes sustainable eating habits.
Why do we fast in Islam? We fast in Islam for many reasons, as fasting is a means of promoting Taqwa and complying with the commands of Allah. It works to purify the spirit and cleanse the soul, as the fasting person feels the suffering of the poor and promotes the values of mercy and assistance.
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How do Muslims fast and pray in Ramadan?
Fasting in Ramadan is abstaining from eating, drinking, and sexual intercourse from dawn until sunset. Muslims are required to fast every day of Ramadan, which ranges between 29 and 30 days. In the event of inability to fast, it is permissible to suffice with Sadaqah or compensate for the non-fasting days at a later time.
The Suhoor meal is considered a good habit among Muslims, as it is eaten before the start of fasting, and at sunset, the fasting person usually breaks his fast with dates and milk, then eats a main meal after performing Isha prayer.
In addition to the five obligatory prayers, Taraweeh prayer is one of the important customs in Ramadan, where Muslims gather to perform this prayer in congregation after Isha prayer every night of the month. And when you get a Egyptian Arabic dialect course, you will learn more about religious matters.
FAQs
What are the blessings of Ramadan?
The blessings of Ramadan are manifested in the forgiveness of sins between it and the Ramadan that follows it, as narrated from Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet PBUH said:
«الصلوات الخمس، والجمعة إلى الجمعة، ورمضان إلى رمضان، مكفرات لما بينهن إذا اجتنبت الكبائر»
“The five daily prayers, from one Friday prayer to the next, and from one Ramadan to the next, are expiations for what is between them, so long as one avoids the major sins.”
What is the most special thing about Ramadan?
The most special thing about Ramadan is its spirituality and the atmosphere of worship and drawing closer to Allah. The virtuous month is characterized by fasting, which is considered an obligation that enhances faith and reflection, as well as Qiyam al-Layl and congregational prayer in mosques.
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What is the most important right of Ramadan?
The most important right in Ramadan is the right to fast, as fasting is a pillar of the five pillars of Islam that requires adult Muslims to abstain from food, drink, and other invalidators of fasting from dawn until sunset. It also emphasizes the importance of adhering to good morals and avoiding sins during the month.
