Ramadhan : Fasting or Feasting

In The Name of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful

Assalamualaikum everyone… May Allah bless us all.. May Allah give us all a chance to live till next ramadhan, insyaallah. Ameen…

Insyaallah tomorrow is the last day before Ramadhan. Alhamdulillah. A month full of barakah waiting for us. Whatever we do will be rewarded as much as Allah pleased not like other ramadhan. Hope all of us take this opportunity to muhasabah, improve and perform as much as ibadah in this month. And, hopefully after ramadhan we can be a better person than before.

 

Fasting or Feasting

When comes the month of Ramadhan the things that always concern by the Muslim is food. You will have an imagination of a lot of bazaar with lots of food. You will see hundreds of promotion offered by hotel, restaurant for Ramadhan buffet. Even the non-Muslim enjoyed Ramadhan because of the food offered during the Ramadhan. You may find difficulty to find certain food in other months but you can find that food in the month of Ramadhan.

We put a lot of interests on hunting for foods more than hunting for the reward in the months of Ramadhan itself. Allah said in Surah Al-Baqarah:

“O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).”

Instead of fasting we’re more likely feasting in the month of Ramadhan. Always, the Iftar meal that we consume the most and often overindulge ourselves. Some they eat at least twice as much for Iftar than they eat for a regular dinner in any other month and some eat heavier and richer foods during this blessed month. Thus, it is a cause for concern that especially in this holy month of Ramadan, when the nafs (self) should be kept in check, some choose to overindulge and eat in extravagance. Somehow we have lost the essence of fasting.

 

 

Fasting during the daylight hours has several health benefits; it cleanses the system and removes harmful toxins from the body. When the body is fasting and not occupied with the process of digestion, its organs are given an opportunity to rejuvenate and restore themselves, in turn allowing the one who fasts to recover from various ailments.

However, if a person overeats in the evening and indulges in heavy, fatty foods, this offsets the physical benefits of fasting. It is generally presumed that since one is restraining from food and drink during the daylights hours, the body needs increased input during the non-fasting hours. This is not the case, however, as the body regulates itself when it is in fasting mode and has the opportunity to utilize its storage of body fat. [1]

How Prophet Muhammad Breaks His Fast

Anas Ibn Maalik said: " The Prophet (pbuh) used to break his fast with fresh dates before he prayed. If he did not find fresh dates then with dried dates. If there were no dried dates then with a few sips of water." (Abu Dawood)

From the hadith we understand that Prophet Muhammad only break his fast with dates or few sips of water the he pray. Because it only to break our fast. Any food which is sweet is suitable to break our fast. After that perform Maghrib prayer, then only we have meal for our dinner. That’s what Prophet taught us. If we are following his teaching, we won’t missed any prayer and insyaallah this month of Ramadhan not just make our spiritual stronger but also it will improve our health. 

 

Pic credit to: Khalilaleker.com

 

Let’s make this Ramadhan beneficial for us and May we attain taqwa at the end of this Ramadhan. Ameen..

 

With Love,

NUR