Fasting In Islam, From Ramadhan to Daily

Being a muslim is wonderful. Every single good thing we do will return as rewards. Life of a muslim is full of good deeds that bring benefits towards mind, body and soul. How does that mean? Having some rules to follow doesn’t mean we get burdened by them and everything we do is restricted. The rules in Islam are there to guide our life to stay on the right path. There are 5 rules in Islam:

1. Syahadat
2. Shalat
3. Fasting
4. Charity
5. Hajj

Those rules are what every muslim should uphold. In this article, we’re going to talk about the third rule, fasting. If you want to know more about Fasting in Islam (From Ramadhan to Daily), you’ll better check this out. You’ll find many things you should know about what fasting is, when do we do that, the conditions, the benefits, and more.

What is Fasting?                  

Fasting means we are abstain from anything that can break the fast, starting from when the sun goes up to when the sun goes down. We do not only endure the hunger and thirst but also from anger and the other things that can break the fast i.e. throw up deliberately, sexual intercourse between husband and wife, and some others.

When is the time for fasting?

We start fasting since the sun goes up and break the fast when the sun goes down. Fasting is mandatory when Ramadan comes. It’s the month before Eid Al-Fitr, which falls on the first day of Syawal. Ramadan is the month when all muslim are obliged to fast the whole month. There are also some other days when fasting is highly recommended, like two days before Eid Al-Adha, on the first weeks of Syawal, and some other days. Other than those special days and months, muslim can also fast for every Monday and Thursday, just like what prophet Muhammad SAW usually did. It’s not compulsory, but it will be great to do it. Fasting on the sunnah days will be shown later on this article.

What are the conditions of fasting?

Those muslim people who meet these conditions are obliged to fast in Ramadhan.

1. Islam. The first and the main condition to fast is being a muslim.
2. Baligh. When a muslim has reached the puberty and can tell between the goods and the bads, it’s a mandatory to fast.
3. Sensible. Those with psychiatric problem are not obliged to fast.
4. Healthy. There is no compulsion to fast for those with health problem. They can do it the other days or replace it with charity.
5. Knows the time of Ramadhan. When we know that Ramadhan has come, we have the obligation to fast.

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What can break the fast?

Fasting isn’t just forbidding ourselves from eating and drinking. We need to hold ourselves from the things that can break the fast, as mentioned below.

1. Let anything get in the body deliberately. If somethings get in the body through the mouth, nose, or ear unintentionally or because they don’t know the rules, they are still allowed to fast.
2. Take medicine through body’s opening. Taking medicine by injecting or inserting through body’s opening, for example hemorrhoid, will break the fast.
3. Vomit deliberately. If someone throws up suddenly without any intention, he or she can still continue the fast.
4. Have sexual intercourse. Having sexual intercourse in the middle o fasting will break the fast and they will have to pay the fine.
5. Ejaculate. When someone ejaculates due to sexual intercourse or the other intentional purpose, he will break the fast. But, if it unintentionally happens without purpose, he can still fast.
6. Being in a menstrual or post-birth period. They can replace the fasting the other days.
7. Being mentally ill. When someone loses his or her sanity, they may not fast.
8. Convert to another religion. Embracing another religion during the fast will break the fast.

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Why do we need fasting?

As the third rule in Islam, fasting is our way to get closer to Allah and to improve our devotion. There are so many benefits we can get from fasting both physically and mentally. How is that so? As one of the rules in Islam, fasting trains us to endure from not only thirst and hunger but also anger and any other bad things. Every time we’re about to do bad things like getting angry, lying, gossiping, etc. we will try to hold it when we are fasting. If we can hold it for now, we can prevent it for later. That’s the benefit of fasting for our behavior. We will also get health benefits from fasting. There are so may health benefits of fasting, as shown below.

1. Improves Cardiovascular Health

Fasting can improve cardiovascular function, blood composition, and blood pressure. Those with high cholesterol level will get the benefits of fasting since it helps overcome the associated health problem.

2. Lowers The Blood Sugar Level

By fasting, the blood sugar level will decrease by 30%. Those with high level of blood sugar will find this helpful. When we are fasting, we get tired more easily but the sugar level in our blood must remain stabilized.

3. Helps Reduce Fat

A study showed that fasting can speed up the fat metabolism in the body. Fasting induces the body metabolism into ketosis. This helps the body to perform the excessive fat reduction.

4. Reduces Inflammation

Fasting can also help reduce inflammation. There are many causes of inflammation and unhealthy eating pattern is one of the main causes. Unhealthy food is the source of free radical that can cause inflammation. Fasting will help control the unhealthy eating pattern.

5. Improves Cells Regeneration

As we grow older, the growth of cells will involve the bad cells. The benefit of fasting is to repair the damage of the cells and the tissues by protecting the health cells and tissues as a response to hunger.

When are the sunnah days to fast?

Fasting can be done the other days outside Ramadhan month for some purposes. Women who had their period several days during Ramadhan should replace the fast they missed the other days. There are also the days to fast for special and daily purposes as shown below.

1. Arafah fasting. On the day before Eid Adha, the ninth of Dzulhijjah, for those who are not going to the hajj.
2. Tasu’a fasting. On the ninth of Muḥarram month to start off the next day fasting.
3. Ashura fasting. On the tenth of Muḥarram month.
4. Syawal fasting. 6 days on any day in Syawal month.
5. Monday-Thursday fasting. On Mondays an Thursday, excepth the forbidden days.
6. Daud fasting. A day fasting and a day break, everyday.

When are the forbidden days to fast?

There are some days when we’re not allowed to fast. These days are shown below

• Eid Al-Fitr. On the first of Syawal.
• Eid Al-Adha. On the tenth of Dzulhijjah.
• Tashriq days. On the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dzulhijjah.

Those are some insights about Fasting in Islam (From Ramadhan to Daily) that you won’t regret knowing. Hope that helps.