Allah Almighty imposed Ramadan fasting on Muslims in the second year of migration and made fasting it a pillar of Islam, and the Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, fasted it nine times before his death.
Fasting during the month of Ramadan is obligatory and one of the five pillars, according to the legal texts. So In the following, we will learn about Facts about Ramadan, through the following paragraphs.
Interesting Facts About Ramadan
Here are some interesting facts about Ramadan that you may not have known.
Ramadan is the Ninth Month of the Islamic Calendar
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and it is a time of fasting, prayer, and reflection for Muslims. The start of Ramadan is determined by the sighting of the new moon and varies from year to year.
Fasting during Ramadan has great benefits for health
Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the things that accrue to the body with many amazing benefits that many people may not know:
- Fasting is not considered an insult to the body, but the practice of fasting naturally is a way to gain good health for the body.
- Where scientific studies have proven that fasting helps cleanse the body of toxins and get rid of excess fat.
- Fasting speeds up the body’s metabolism and helps burn a higher level of calories.
- Fasting is one of the ideal opportunities to get rid of excess weight if done correctly.
Recommended reading: 5 Health Benefits of Fasting During Ramadan
The Date of Ramadan Changes Every Year
The order of month of Ramadan is among the ninth months. The lunar month begins when the moon crosses the direction of the earth and the sun (known as the conjunction or the new moon).
And the lunar month begins, according to Islamic teachings, when an infinitesimally small crescent appears, approximately one day after the birth of the new moon, and since the lunar months are either 29 or 30 days long, Muslims go out on the evening of the 29th of Sha’ban in order to see the crescent of Ramadan, which is tantamount to announcing the beginning of the holy month.
This procedure used to determine the beginning and end of Ramadan is an approach advocated by the Prophet Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace (the Arabs at that time had little scientific knowledge).
The Number of Fasting Hours Varies From One Country to Another
Ramadan fasting hours vary between cities in the world, and while in the countries with the longest number of hours, they reach 20 hours and more, in the shortest countries they reach about 12 hours.
The geographical location plays an important role in determining the number of fasting hours for each country, as the countries close to the north of the globe have longer fasting hours, while they decrease as we head towards the South Pole.
Read also: Discover the Rich Traditions of Ramadan in the Arabic Culture
The Month Of Ramadan Is The Most Beloved Month By Allah
Allah Almighty singled out the month of Ramadan with many advantages that make it a special place for Muslims for this holy month. So We list some of these features as follows:
- The month of Ramadan is the month of fasting and a season of acts of worship and the best of them. As Allah Almighty chose it as a month among all months, so that acts of worship are multiplied and the rewards of deeds are greater than the rest of the months.
- The month of Ramadan is the month in which Allah Almighty revealed the Qur’an, where Allah Almighty said: (شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ), specifically on the Night of Decree from it, when He, the Almighty, said (interpretation of the meaning): We sent it down on the Night of Decree).
- The month of Ramadan is the month that Allah Almighty chose to begin the revelation.
Ramadan is a Time of Giving
Ramadan is also a time of giving and charity. Muslims are encouraged to give generously to those in need, and many increase their charitable giving during this month. This can include giving money, food, or other forms of support to those in need.
The intention to fast During Ramadan
The scholars agreed that the intention is required during fasting, as evidenced by what was proven in Sahih Al-Bukhari on the authority of Omar Ibn Al-Khattab – may Allah be pleased with him – on the authority of the Prophet – upon him : (إنَّما الأعْمالُ بالنِّيّاتِ).
So fasting is a pure worship of Allah – the Almighty – in which it is necessary to have intention. However, the scholars differed as to whether the intention is a condition of fasting or one of its pillars, and the statement of what they went to is as follows:
The majority of Hanafi, Maliki, and Hanbali scholars: Said that the intention is a condition of fasting. That is, it is not achieved without its realization in the heart, because fasting is worship whether it is fasting Ramadan or other than that, and worship is issued by the servant by his choice in compliance with the command of Allah – the Almighty – and sincerity in it, and it is necessary to have intention in matters that are issued by choice with sincerity, and thus acts of worship are distinguished from habits, The Shafi’is: They said that the intention is one of the pillars of fasting, like abstaining from things that break the fast.
Recommended reading: Ramadan in Quran and Hadith: A Comprehensive Study
In The End
In the end, the month of Ramadan is one of the most beloved months to Allah, as we have mentioned many Facts about Ramadan, which are often of interest to every Muslim and he should know them.
Ramadan Most Common FAQs
Here are a couple of the most common questions about Ramadan
Is Kissing Allowed During Ramadan?
The ruling on a man kissing his wife during the day in Ramadan varies according to the situation, and the following is detailed:
1. Permissibility: as this is permissible for the one who owns himself and can control his desire and not move it, which causes him to do what is prohibited, according to the hadith of Aisha – may Allah be pleased with her -: (كانَ النبيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ يُقَبِّلُ ويُبَاشِرُ وهو صَائِمٌ، وكانَ أمْلَكَكُمْ لِإِرْبِهِ).
That is, for his lust, and some of the Companions were permitted in it for the old man without the young man; Like Ibn Abbas – may Allah be pleased with him – when he was asked about the kiss for the fasting person.
He said: I prefer it for the elderly and hate it for the young man, but the lesson is in the permissibility of self-restraint and lust.
2. Dislike and prohibition: Dislike is for someone who is unable to control his desire, even if it does not invalidate the fast. And some Shafi’i scholars said that it is disliked as a prohibition, and others say that the dislike is dispassionate, and the first is to leave it even if the person is able to control himself and his desire, and there is no difference in that between the old and the young; Because the lesson is to control the movement of lust or not, and this is what the majority of Shafi’is, Hanbalis, and Hanafis went to, While the Malikis thought it absolute, and this ruling is in the case of non-exit of precipitation *if followed by an exit of precipitation, then it is forbidden according to the two imams Ahmed and Malik, unlike the two imams Shafi’i and Abu Hanifa.
What Is Forbidden During Ramadan?
There are a number of invalidations of fasting that a Muslim is forbidden to do during fasting, such as sexual relations during fasting, or intentionally eating and drinking during fasting time, in addition to some matters that we will discuss in detail in the coming articles.
Does Smoking Break Your Fast?
The jurists of the four schools of thought agreed that smoke or cigarettes are among the invalidators of fasting, because smoke is an in-kind substance that reaches the hollow and the throat, and the Shafi’is said: Smoke has an effect that is felt as in an oud.