Fasting the month of Ramadan is obligatory for every sane adult Muslim, just as it is the most beloved of months to Allah Almighty. And the Muslims should persevere in worshiping in this particular month and take advantage of the last ten days of this holy month.
Likewise, some people do not know How to get ready for Ramadan, and how a Muslim can obtain good and abundant luck from this blessed month. So below, we will present the Ramadan guide for beginners, which helps many Muslims to seize the holy month well.
The 5 Principles “Pillars” of Islam
The first step to knowing How to get ready for Ramadan is to know the ruling on fasting, as fasting is one of the pillars of Islam, just as the pillars of Islam: an Islamic term that refers to the five foundations on which the religion of Islam is built, and is indicated by a hadith:
بُنِي الإسلامُ على خمسٍ: شَهادةِ أن لا إلهَ إلا اللهُ وأنَّ محمدًا رسولُ اللهِ، وإقامِ الصلاةِ، وإيتاءِ الزّكاةِ ، والحجِّ، وصومِ رمضانَ
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is observed by Muslims as a time of fasting, prayer, and reflection. The purpose of Ramadan is to increase spiritual awareness and to practice self-discipline and self-control. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs from sunrise to sunset.
What Is Fasting “Sawm”?
Ramadan guide for beginners is one of the most famous educational programs provided by Arabian Tongue, as this program helps you to know the worship and conditions related to this month, including clarifying the meaning of fasting.
Moreover, Fasting is defined in the language as abstaining from a specific thing; Whether it was actually, or saying, and it is taken from the verb fasted; That is, abstaining from speech, food, drink, or anything else, for example.
As for idiomatically, the jurists’ definitions of fasting differed. Each sect had an opinion on that, as follows:
- The Hanafis: define it as abstaining from three things that break the fast, namely: eating, drinking, and sexual intercourse, by a specific person, at a specific time for that, with the intention.
- The Malikis: They defined it as abstaining from the lusts of the vagina and the mouth, or anything that takes the place of one of them. In obedience to Allah Almighty, with the intention before the time of dawn, or at its time, so that this abstention is inclusive of the entire day.
- Shafi’is: They defined it as a specific refrain, by a specific person, from a specific thing, at a specific time for that.
- The Hanbalis: They defined it as abstaining from specific things, at specific times, from a specific person, with the intention.
Recommended reading: Ramadan in Quran and Hadith: A Comprehensive Study
Who’s Obliged To Fast In Ramadan?
The first step to knowing How to get ready for Ramadan is to know the conditions for the obligation of fasting, which are as follows:
- Islam in the sense: that fasting in Islam is imposed on Muslims; For Allah Almighty says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
- Puberty, which is: “reaching the limit of being required to comply with Sharia rulings.” Puberty is a condition of the obligation of fasting, and it is not a condition for the validity of fasting.
- Intellect is one of the conditions of fasting. Intellect is an understanding of the discourse of the Sharia.
Because there is no obligation on the one who does not understand the speech of the Sharia, so fasting is not obligatory for the insane, and fasting is not valid for him in the state of insanity, since insanity is one of the invalidators of fasting.
- Health issues mean the absence of disease, so fasting is not obligatory for the patient with a disease with which fasting is difficult for him and increases his illness.
- Residence: One of the conditions of fasting is residence, i.e. not traveling. The traveler does not have to fast during the time of travel because of which it is permissible to break the fast.
Those Exempt From Fasting During Ramadan
Ramadan guide for beginners helps us to know the rulings related to this holy month, and after we got to know How to get ready for Ramadan by discussing the conditions for the obligation of Ramadan, we get to know those who are not obligated to fast:
Those who are not obligated to fast are the insane, the insane, the boy, and the boys before puberty. As for menstruating women and postpartum women, they must fast, but it is not permissible for them to fast during Ramadan and at other times during menstruation and childbirth, and they have to make up for those days of Ramadan when they did not fast, and breaking the fast is better, and they have to make it up if they break their fast in Ramadan; For Allah Almighty says: وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ.
How do Muslims Break Their Fast?
The Prophet, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, is an inspiring source for Muslims and is considered the best Ramadan guide for beginners. As for how a Muslim breaks his fast, his description of breaking the fast is as follows:
- Hastening to break the fast by breaking the fast with dates, as the Prophet, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, used to break his fast with dates or soft drinks, and if he finds that, he breaks his fast with water, as the Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, used to: يُفطِرُ علَى رُطَباتٍ قبلَ أن يصلِّيَ، فإن لم تكن رُطَباتٌ فعلى تَمراتٍ، فإن لم تَكُن حَسا حَسَواتٍ مِن ماءٍ
- Mediating satiety, as the Messenger, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, did not, when he broke his fast, make the meal heavy, or fill his stomach with food and drink when he ate and drank. As the prophet said: ما ملأ آدمي وعاء شراً من بطن، بحسب ابن آدم أكلات يقمن صلبه، فإن كان لا محالة، فثلث لطعامه، وثلث لشرابه، وثلث لنفسه
Recommended reading: The Virtues of Ramadan: Discovering the Blessings of the Month
Etiquettes Of Fasting
Fasting has a set of obligatory etiquette that a Muslim may not fail to perform, whether they are actual or verbal acts of worship as the prophet peace be upon him help us know How to get ready for Ramadan, and some of them are explained below:
- Sincerity in fasting is that the Muslim intends the face of Allah – Glory be to Him – in his fasting.
- Performing obligatory prayers, as prayer is considered one of the most important pillars of Islam, after testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
Moreover, Muslims should be keen to perform the prayers on time, completing all its pillars and conditions, and to be keen to perform the prayer in congregation.
- Avoiding what Allah has forbidden in terms of words and deeds. This is done by avoiding lying, backbiting, gossiping, cheating at work, studying and transactions, and telling falsehoods, giving more alms.
- It is recommended that a Muslim give more Sadqat during the month of Ramadan. The Messenger of Allah – may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him – was the most generous of people, and he was the most generous in Ramadan.
- Diligence in the last ten days The Messenger of Allah – may Allah bless him and grant him peace – was striving to worship in the last ten days of Ramadan, and it is desirable during this period to spend the nights and pray a lot.
Especially the individual ones in order to investigate the Night of Power, and it is also desirable to observe i’tikaf during this period.
- Miswak is desirable for the fasting person and others, and there is a multiplicity of opinions among the jurists regarding toothpick after noon, as some of them hated it and others permitted it.
Suhoor And Iftar
Suhoor is a recommended Sunnah because he, peace and blessings are upon him, said: “إن السحور بركة أعطاكموها الله فلا تدعوها” So he will be able to do righteous deeds on that day so that fasting does not burden him from performing acts of worship, dhikr.
And other acts of worship, and from all his private life affairs, unlike if he leaves the pre-dawn meal because fasting weighs him down from the general benefit due to the severity of hunger and the decrease in blood sugar, as well as boredom due to Hunger, thirst and possibly headache.
As for Iftar, it is the meal that Muslims eat after the end of the fasting hours, which is precise with the Maghrib call to prayer.
Salatul Taraweeh
Tarawih prayer in Ramadan is a prayer in Islam, and its ruling is a Sunnah Muakkadah for men and women that is performed every night of the month of Ramadan after the evening prayer and its time continues until just before dawn.
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, urged us to pray in Ramadan, and he said: من قام رمضان إيماناً واحتساباً غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه
The Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, prayed it in the congregation, then left the meeting on it. Fearing that it will be imposed on his nation, as mentioned by the mother of the believers, Aisha.
Laylatu Al Qadr “the night of power”
Laylat al-Qadr is one of the last ten nights of the blessed month of Ramadan, and it is not defined by a specific night.
As it was proven in Sahih Al-Bukhari on the authority of Abu Saeed Al-Khudri – may Allah be pleased with him – that the Prophet – may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him – said: فَالْتَمِسُوهَا في العَشْرِ الأوَاخِرِ، والتَمِسُوهَا في كُلِّ وِتْرٍ
Allah Almighty singled her out for a great matter. So the Holy Qur’an was revealed in it at a stage of its revelation, Allah Almighty said: (إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ), which is a blessed night in which Allah Almighty determines what will happen in the year.
As Allah said: (إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ*فِيهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ), and the reward for a good deed in it is better than the reward for doing a thousand months.
Zakat-ul-Fitr
Fasting is an obligation as it is a very important matter for every Muslim, so the Ramadan guide for beginners by Arabian Tongue helps you to learn about the provisions of the month of Ramadan.
And among these provisions is Zakat Al-Fitr, where. As zakat comes in the language in the sense of: purity, and with regard to the definition of Zakat al-Fitr in legal terminology; It is a known amount of charity, which is required to break the fast in Ramadan, according to specific conditions. A food for the poor, and purification for the fasting person from idle talk and obscenity.
Also, Zakat al-Fitr is obligatory for every Muslim. As a proof of what Imam Muslim brought out in his Sahih, on the authority of the companion Abdullah bin Omar – may Allah be pleased with them both:
أنَّ رَسولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عليه وَسَلَّمَ فَرَضَ زَكَاةَ الفِطْرِ مِن رَمَضَانَ علَى النَّاسِ، صَاعًا مِن تَمْرٍ، أَوْ صَاعًا مِن شَعِيرٍ، علَى كُلِّ حُرٍّ، أَوْ عَبْدٍ، ذَكَرٍ، أَوْ أُنْثَى، مِنَ المُسْلِمِينَ
Recommended reading: Ramadan Dos and Don’ts: A Guide for Observing the Fast
The End of Ramadan
The last ten nights of the blessed month of Ramadan are the best ten nights for worship and righteous deeds, starting from the night of the 21st of Ramadan until the night of the 30th of Ramadan if the month is complete. In the last ten days, Muslims have been investigating Laylat al-Qadr, due to its status. As Allah said:
لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْر
Eid-ul-Fitr
Among the steps of How to get ready for Ramadan is preparing for Eid Al-Fitr, as Eid al-Fitr is an Islamic holiday on the first day of the month of Shawwal when Muslims break their fast to celebrate the completion of the worship of fasting in the month of Ramadan.
It is one of the two feasts of Muslims, and the other feast is Eid al-Adha, one of the days of Hajj on the tenth of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah. Muslims celebrated the first Eid al-Fitr in Islam in the second year of migration after fasting the first Ramadan in that year. It is forbidden to fast on the first day of Eid al-Fitr.
In The End
In conclusion, many Muslims do not know How to get ready for Ramadan, so we presented to you today a Ramadan guide for beginners, which contains all the information related to the blessed month of Ramadan.
Recommended reading: The Virtues of Ramadan: Discovering the Blessings of the Month
FAQs
How do Beginners fast for Ramadan?
Fasting may be difficult at first, but the Muslim must be patient and seek this reward with Allah Almighty, as the Muslim will receive the great reward as a result of his patience with hunger and thirst in the month of Ramadan.
What are the basics of Ramadan?
Before talking about fasting and its virtues, the intention to fast must be stated, as it is a prerequisite for fasting.
What are three 3 important things during Ramadan?
The three most important things in Ramadan are: Dua, as the Muslim seize this opportunity well. The qiyamullail, because of its great virtue, and the qiyamullail in this holy month is known as the Taraweeh prayer. Reading the Quran.
How do you start the first day of Ramadan?
The Muslim begins the first day of his fast with Suhoor, which is a reason for its importance, then he performs the Fajr prayer and observes the obligatory prayers at their proper times, and is keen to read the Holy Qur’an in this holy month.