Opening prayer for iftar. Prayer recited for Suhur

Yulia Shapko

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During the holy month of the Muslim calendar, which is called Ramadan in Arabic, or Ramadan in Turkish, Muslims are required to observe strict fasting - limit yourself in drinking, eating and intimacy.

Following the rules of Ramadan, mature people give up their passions. This is how they cleanse themselves of negativity.

The fast ends with the great holiday of Uraza Bayram.

Features and traditions of Ramadan fasting - what are iftar and suhur?

Posting believers test the strength of the human spirit. Compliance with the rules of Ramadan makes a person reflect on his lifestyle and helps determine the main values ​​in life.

During Ramadan, a Muslim must limit yourself not only in food, but also carnal satisfaction of one’s needs, as well as other addictions - for example, smoking. He must learn control yourself and your emotions.

Observing simple fasting rules, every Muslim believer should feel poor and hungry, since the available benefits are often perceived as ordinary.

Swearing is prohibited during Ramadan. There is an opportunity to help the needy, the sick and the poor. Muslims believe that prayers and a month of abstinence will enrich everyone who follows the tenets of Islam.

There are two main requirements of fasting:

1. Follow the rules of fasting sincerely from dawn to dusk
2. Abstain completely from your passions and needs

Here are a few conditions for what a fasting person should be like:

• Over 18 years old
• Muslim
• Not mentally ill
• Physically healthy

There are also those for whom fasting is contraindicated, and they have the right not to observe it. These are minor children, the elderly and pregnant women, as well as those women who are menstruating or experiencing postpartum cleansing.

The fast of Ramadan has several traditions

Let's list the most important ones:

Suhur

Throughout Ramadan Muslims eat their meals early in the morning, before dawn. They believe that Allah will greatly reward such an action.

During traditional suhoor don't overeat, but you should eat enough food. Suhoor gives you strength for the whole day. It helps Muslims to stay sane and not be angry, as hunger often causes anger.

If a believer does not perform suhur, then his day of fasting remains valid, but he will not receive any reward.

Iftar

Iftar is evening meal, which also takes place during fasting. You need to start breaking your fast immediately after sunset, that is after the last day(or the fourth, penultimate prayer of this day). After Iftar comes Isha - Muslim night prayer(the last of the five obligatory daily prayers).

What not to eat during Ramadan - all the rules and prohibitions

What to eat during Suhoor:

• Doctors recommend eating complex carbohydrates in the morning - cereal dishes, sprouted grain bread, vegetable salad. Complex carbohydrates provide the body with energy, despite the fact that they take a long time to digest.
• Dried fruits - dates, nuts - almonds and fruits - are also suitable.

What not to eat during Suhoor

• Avoid protein foods. It takes a long time to digest, but it loads the liver, which works without interruption during fasting
• Should not be consumed
• You should not eat fried, smoked or fatty foods in the morning. They will cause extra stress on the liver and kidneys
• Avoid eating fish during Suhoor. You'll want to drink afterwards

What not to eat in the evening after adhan

• Fatty and fried foods. It will harm your health - cause heartburn and put on extra pounds.
• Exclude from food instant food– various cereals in bags or noodles. You won’t get full of them and literally after an hour or two you’ll want to have another meal. In addition, such products will increase your appetite even more, as they contain salt and other spices.
• Can't eat sausage and frankfurters. It is better to exclude them from your diet during Ramadan fasting. Sausages affect the kidneys and liver, satisfy hunger for only a few hours, and can also develop thirst.

Despite the prohibitions and strict rules, there are benefits from fasting:

• Refusal of carnal passions
  A person must understand that he is not a slave to his body. Fasting is a serious reason to give up intimacy. Only by abstaining from sin can a person preserve his purity of soul.
• Self improvement
  By observing fasting, a believer is more attentive to himself. He gives birth to new character traits, such as humility, tolerance, obedience. Feeling poverty and deprivation, he becomes more resilient, gets rid of fear, begins to believe more and more and learns what was previously hidden.
• Gratitude
  Having gone through refusing food, a Muslim becomes closer to his Creator. He realizes that the innumerable benefits that Allah sends are given to man for a reason. The believer gains a sense of gratitude for the gifts sent.
• An opportunity to experience mercy
  Fasting reminds people of the poor, and also encourages them to be merciful and help those in need. Having gone through this test, the believer remembers kindness and humanity, as well as the fact that everyone is equal before God.
• Economy
  Fasting teaches people to be economical, limit themselves and curb their desires.
• Improves health
  The benefit to a person's physical health is manifested in the fact that the digestive system rests. Within a month, the intestines are completely cleansed of waste, toxins and harmful substances.

Holy Ramadan schedule until 2020 - when does Ramadan fasting begin and end?

IN 2015 Ramadan fasting begins on June 18 and ends on July 17.

Here are the following dates for Holy Ramadan:

2016– from June 6 to July 5.
2017– from May 26 to June 25.
2018– from May 17 to June 16.
2019– from May 6 to June 5.
2020– from April 23 to May 22.

Violation of the Ramadan fast - actions that interrupt the Muslim fast of Ramadan, and punishments

It is worth noting that the rules of Ramadan fasting apply only during the daytime. Some actions performed during fasting are considered prohibited.

Actions that interrupt Muslim Ramadan include:

• Special or intentional meal
• Unspoken intention to fast
• Masturbation or sexual intercourse
• Smoking
• Spontaneous vomiting
• Administration of rectal or vaginal medications

However are lenient towards similar actions. Despite their similarities, they don't break the fast.

They include:

• Unintentional meal
• Administering medications using injections
• Kisses
• Caresses, if they do not lead to ejaculation
• Teeth cleaning
• Blood donation
• Period
• Involuntary vomiting
• Failure to perform prayers

Punishments for those who break the Ramadan fast:

Those who unintentionally broke the fast due to illness, must perform the missed day of fasting on any other day.

For sexual intercourse committed during daylight hours, the believer is obliged to defend another 60 days of fasting, or to feed 60 needy people.

Importance and virtues of suhoor

Every fasting Muslim should perform Suhoor during the last part of the night with the intention of fasting. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Eat before dawn, for in suhoor there is grace” . (al-Bukhari 1923, Muslim 1095.)

Question: The Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) says: “Take food before dawn, for there is grace in suhoor.” What is meant by “the grace of suhoor”?

Answer: The grace of suhoor is of two kinds: it is Sharia grace and bodily grace. Sharia grace consists in the fact that a person fulfills the command of the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and also takes an example from him. Bodily grace consists in the fact that through nutrition the body acquires the strength necessary to observe fasting.

Regarding the merits of performing suhoor, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Verily, Allah and His angels bless those who perform Suhoor.” . (Ahmad 3/12. Sheikh al-Albani called the hadith good.)

Suhur is also the difference between the fast of Muslims and the fast of Christians and Jews. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Verily, the difference between our fast and the fast of the people of the book is suhoor.” (Muslim 2/770.)

The importance of suhoor is spoken of in many authentic hadiths. From Ibn ‘Amr, Abu Sa’id and Anas, may Allah be pleased with them, it is reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Complete suhoor with at least a sip of water.” (Ahmad, Abu Ya'la, Ibn Hibban. Authentic hadith. See "Sahih al-Jami'" 2945.)

“Truly, there is good in suhoor, so do not abandon it.” (Ahmad 11003. The hadith is good. See Sahih al-Jami' 3683.)

Also the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “The best suhoor for a believer is dates.” (Abu Daud. Reliable hadith. See “Sahih at-targhib” 1/448.)

Suhoor time

The time of Suhoor begins shortly before dawn. If a person eats a few hours before dawn or before going to bed, then it is not called suhoor. See “al-Mausu’atul-fiqhiyya” 3/269.

It is advisable to postpone suhoor until the last part of the night, until morning prayer. Ibn 'Abbas said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, say: “We, the prophets, were commanded to break our fast early and perform Suhoor later.” " (Ibn Hibban, at-Tabarani, ad-Diya. Reliable hadith. See “as-Silsilya as-sahiha” 4/376.)

Anas reported that Zayd bin Thabit, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “(Once) during Ramadan, we ate before dawn with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and then he stood up for prayer.” (Anas said): “I asked: “How much time passed between adhan and suhoor?” He said: “So much (that one could read) fifty verses.”(Al-Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There are two types of dawn: dawn, at which it is forbidden to eat and it is allowed to perform morning prayer, and dawn, at which it is forbidden to perform morning prayer, but it is allowed to eat.”. (Ibn Khuzaima, al-Hakim, al-Bayhaqi. The authenticity of the hadith was confirmed by Imam Ibn Khuzaima, al-Hakim and Sheikh al-Albani. See “al-Silsilya al-sahiha” 693.)

A person can eat until he is sure that it is beginning to get light. Allah Almighty said: “Eat and drink until you can tell the difference between the white thread of dawn and the black one.”(al-Baqarah 2: 187).

Ibn Abbas said: “Allah has permitted you to eat and drink until your doubts disappear (regarding the dawn).”. (‘Abdu-Rrazzak, hafiz Ibn Hajar called the isnad reliable. See “Fathul-Bari” 4/135.)

Sheikh Albani's story: “I want to remind you of what was mentioned in the previous hadith: "...and delay the pre-dawn meal". (“My Ummah will be good as long as people hasten the breaking of the fast and delay the pre-dawn meal.”) This means doing the opposite of iftar. He, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, ordered us to hurry up with Iftar. But as for Suhoor, it must be postponed. But what is happening today is completely contrary to this, as many people take their suhoor long before Fajr (morning prayer). It's not proper to do this. This is contrary to the Sunnah expressed in the sayings of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his practice. The companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, delayed suhur until such a late time that one of them could almost hear the adhan while continuing to eat. He delayed Suhoor."

Sheikh Muhammad Solih al-Munajid was asked:

“What do you mean by ‘eat and drink until the white thread separates from the black’?”

He replied:

“This means that Allah has allowed those who fast to eat and drink at night until dawn comes. The white thread means day, the black thread means night.

Al Hafiz said: “The verse indicates the boundary between day and darkness of night. This happens when true sunrise occurs. The word "rising" is replaced by the word "white thread", and there is no need to explain what was meant by the word black thread, because the explanation of one fact explains the other.
Some of the Sahabah understood this verse in a different sense. They thought it was a literal thread. One of them put two threads, black and white, under the pillow or tied them to his leg, and he continued to eat until he could not distinguish between white and black. This happened because at the beginning Allah revealed a verse without the word “dawn”, and then (some scholars say that this happened a year later) a verse was revealed with the word “dawn”. Then they understood what was meant by the white and black thread.
Bukhari (1917) and Muslim (1091) reported that Sahl ibn Sad said: "Ayat was sent down, and the word “dawn” was not there. When people wanted to fast, one of them tied a white and black thread to his leg, and they continued to eat until they distinguished one thread from the other. Then Allah sent down the word “dawn” and they understood that it meant night and day.”

The Sahaba understood according to the outer meaning as they understood it, and then the word "dawn" was revealed and they understood the true meaning.

Bukhari (1916) reported that Adiy ibn Hatim said: "When the words “Eat and drink until you can tell the difference between the white thread of dawn and the black one.” were sent down, I took a black thread and a white thread and put them under my pillow, and I looked at them at night, but I could not distinguish them. The next day I went to the Messenger of Allah and told him about this. He said: "It's the darkness of the night and the light of the day".

Among the rules that were revealed with this verse was the rule that if a person is not sure about the dawn, then he can continue to eat and drink until he is sure, because Allah said: “Eat and drink until you can distinguish the white thread of dawn from the black one.”

Abdur-Razzaq reported that Ibn Abbas said: “Allah has given you permission to eat and drink as long as you are unsure.”(Al-Hafiz said that isnad is sahih.)

Ibn Abi Shaybah reported that Abu Duha said: “A man asked Ibn Abbas about suhur, and Ibn Abbas said: “Eat until you are sure, until the uncertainty passes.”

Shaykh ibn Uthaymeen said in Sharh al Mumti (6:247):

“If a person does not fast, and he is not sure whether dawn has come, then his fast is valid, because Allah said:“From now on, enter into intimacy with them and strive for what Allah has prescribed for you. Eat and drink until you can distinguish the white thread of dawn from the black one, and then fast until nightfall. Do not have intimacy with them while you are in the mosques. These are the limits of Allah. Don't go near them. This is how Allah explains His signs to people, so perhaps they will be afraid.” (2:187)

“Imsak” or completing suhoor some time before azan (20 minutes, etc.) is an innovation

The statement that the cessation of eating and drinking, in order to avoid error, should be before dawn, for example, ten minutes, is innovation (bid'a). Some schedules even have a separate line in which “imsak” is written (i.e., the time to stop eating and drinking) and a separate column for the beginning of morning prayer - this has no basis.

Sheikh Albani said: “Food becomes prohibited from the beginning of the time of Fajr prayer. There is no gap of time between these two things (i.e. the beginning of the fast and the beginning of the time of prayer). There is no abstinence from food and drink a quarter of an hour, more or less than this, before the start of the Fajr prayer time. Absolutely not. Because prayer becomes prescribed when the true dawn appears, and food becomes forbidden for the fasting person when the true dawn appears. Therefore, there is no gap between these two matters, and what’s more, it contradicts authentic hadiths.”

("Sunnahs that are neglected in the month of Ramadan")

These hadiths will be given below.

What should a person do if he hears the adhan while eating?

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “If one of you hears the call (adhan) to prayer and a dish (of food) is in the hand of one of you, then he should not put it down until he has finished eating from it.”(Abu Daud 1/549, Ahmad 2/423, al-Hakim 1/426, al-Bayhaqi 4/218, ad-Darakutni 2/165. The authenticity of the hadith was confirmed by Imam al-Hakim, Sheikh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyya and Sheikh al- Albani See “as-Silsila as-sahiha” 1394.)

This hadith indicates that the so-called time of refusal to eat (imsak), which is set 15-20 minutes before morning prayer, out of fear of eating until the onset of adhan, is an innovation. (See “Tamamul-minna” 418.)

This hadith is confirmed by many reliable traditions. Abu Umama said: “Once, when they were called to prayer, Umar had a glass in his hand, and he asked the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: “Should I finish this, O Messenger of Allah?” He said: "Yes, finish it"”. (Ibn Jarir at-Tabari 3017. The isnad of the hadith is good.)

Sheikh Albani said: “Indeed, there is an authentic hadith narrated from the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, indicating the relief provided by Islam, considered one of the principles of Islam that Muslims are proud of, especially regarding the issue of fasting. Since Allah, the Almighty and Glorious, has indicated in the verses regarding fasting: “Allah desires ease for you, not difficulty.”(Al-Baqarah 2:185)

From this relief is his, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, saying: “If one of you hears the call to prayer and the dish is in the hand of one of you, then he should not put it down until he has satisfied his need from it (i.e., until he has finished eating).”

"If one of you hears the call to prayer and the dish" ,dishes with a product, be it milk, other drink, water, something that a person can take as suhoor, and he hears the adhan, then he should not say: “Now food is prohibited by the adhan.” For anyone who hears the adhan and has not yet satisfied his need for food and drink, the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has legalized food for him. He said clearly, in clear Arabic: “If one of you hears the call to prayer and a dish is in the hand of one of you, then he should not put it down until he has satisfied his need from it.”

The Sheikh also said: “It is condemned by fiqh and contrary to the Sunnah that people say: “If a person hears the second azan and there is food in his mouth, he should spit it out.” This is excessive severity, extremeness and excess (gulyuu) in religion, from which Allah and His Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, warned us, who said: “Beware of excess (gulyuu) in religion, for those who came before you were destroyed by excess in religion.” (an-Nasai 2/49, Ibn Majah 2/242. The authenticity of the hadith was confirmed by al-Hakim, az-Zahabi, an-Nawawi, Ibn Taymiyyah.)

("Sunnahs that are neglected in the month of Ramadan")

The ruling of one who ate food during or shortly after Adhan

Question: The Almighty said: “And eat and drink until, at the coming of dawn, you can distinguish the white thread from the black thread.” What is the judgment regarding one who has completed his suhoor and drank water during the adhan or a quarter of an hour after the call to morning prayer?
Answer: If the person mentioned in the question knew that this happened before dawn, then compensation is not required from him. In the same case, if he knew that dawn had already arrived, then compensation is necessary. If a person did not know whether he ate and drank before or after dawn, then no compensation is required from him, since the main thing is the presence of darkness. Be that as it may, every believer is obliged to protect his fast and take the necessary precautions, that is, to refrain from breaking his fast after hearing the call to morning prayer. In this case, one can break the fast only when the believer knows that the call to prayer sounded before dawn.
(Standing Committee, “Religious and legal solutions to issues (fatwas) relating to fasting”)

Judgment on the fast of one who ate food during the call to prayer

Question: What is the judgment of Shariah on the fast of one who heard the call to morning prayer, but continued to eat and drink?
Answer: The duty of every believer is to abstain from breaking the fast, that is, from eating, drinking and other things, after he sees the dawn, for fasting is an obligatory religious injunction, be it fasting in the month of Ramadan, votive or expiatory fasting, because Allah, Great and Mighty, said: “And eat and drink until you can, at the coming of dawn, distinguish the white thread from the black thread. “Then fast until nightfall.”

If a person hears the adhan, knowing that it is a call to morning prayer, then he should abstain from eating and anything that breaks his fast. When the muezzin called for prayer before dawn, then a person is not forbidden to eat and drink until dawn comes. If a person does not know for sure whether the muezzin called for prayer before dawn or after it, then it is safer and safer for him to abstain after hearing the call to prayer. There is no harm in a person drinking or eating something during adhan if he does not know about dawn.

It is known that residents of cities where there are many electric lights are not able to visually determine the onset of dawn accurately. In this case, it will be more reliable for a city dweller to be guided by the adhan and special calendars, which indicate the time of dawn by hours and minutes. Thus, a person will act in accordance with the advance of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: “Postpone what you doubt until the time when you no longer doubt it.” He also said: “He who is afraid of doubts is pure before his religion and conscience.” And all success belongs to Allah.
(Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz, “Religious and legal solutions to issues (fatwas) related to fasting”)

If a fasting person drinks after the call to morning prayer, is his fast valid?

Question: If a fasting person drank after hearing the call to morning prayer, will his fast be valid?
Answer: If a fasting person drank after hearing the muezzin’s call for morning prayer, and dawn was obvious, then the fasting person has no right to eat or drink after that. When the muezzin calls for morning prayer before the fasting person sees the morning, he can eat and drink until he sees the dawn, since Allah Almighty said: “So, from now on it is permissible for you to lie down with them and seek what Allah has decreed for you. And eat and drink until, at dawn, you can distinguish the white thread from the black thread.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Bilal announces the coming of night, so eat and drink until you hear the adhan of Ibn Umm Maktoum. Verily, he does not call until the dawn has risen.” Based on this, muezzins should very carefully determine the time of proclamation of the adhan for morning prayer. They should not announce the call until they are personally convinced of the onset of dawn or determine this by an accurate clock. This is necessary in order not to disturb people ahead of time, not to forbid them from what Allah has permitted for them, and also so that they do not perform morning prayer ahead of time, for therein lies danger.

(Muhammad bin Salih Al Uthaymeen, “Religious and legal solutions to issues (fatwas) related to fasting”)

Health Tips

1. Do not eat: fatty and fried foods; products with excess sugar content!
2. Avoid: overeating during Suhoor; drink too much during suhoor (because of this, mineral salts necessary to maintain tone throughout the day are removed from the body)!
3. Eat during suhoor: complex carbohydrates, so that food takes longer to digest and you do not feel hungry during the day; dates are an excellent source of sugar, fiber, carbohydrates, potassium and magnesium; almonds are a source of proteins and fibrous matter with a low fat content; Bananas are a source of potassium, magnesium and carbohydrates.

(“Tips for fasting people to stay healthy during the month of Ramadan”, Dr. Farouk Hafiji, Islamic Medical Association)

The times of Suhoor and Iftar (the latter corresponds to the time of Maghrib prayer) for Russian cities for the current year are presented in the table, available for download.

Fasting (uraza, ruza) is one of the pillars of Islam, therefore its observance is mandatory for Muslims.

Usually, by Muslim fasting, the average person understands abstaining from eating and drinking during daylight hours. In fact, this concept is much broader: it includes voluntary refusal not only from eating food, but also from committing any sins committed with the eyes, hands and tongue, as well as from certain actions. While in a state of holding a prayer, the believer must clearly realize that he is doing this for the sake of his Creator, and not have any other intentions.

In Islamic doctrine, depending on the time of observance and significance, there are two types of fasting: obligatory (fard) And desirable (sunnat).

The first is observed en masse by Muslims during the Holy month of Ramadan, which has incomparable benefits for people. In His Scripture, Allah advises us:

“In the month of Ramadan, the Quran was revealed - a true guide for people, clear evidence of right guidance and discernment. Whoever this month finds among you must fast.” (2:185)

A huge reward awaits those who adhere to the prayer during the blessed month, and severe punishment will certainly follow for leaving it without a good reason. Proof of this is the following statement by the Grace of the Worlds of Muhammad (s.g.w.): “Whoever observes fasting during Ramadan with faith and hope for the reward of the Almighty will have his previous sins forgiven” (hadith cited by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

However, the Lord did not make observance of the prayer obligatory for all people.

Who doesn't need to post:

1. People who are not Muslims

An important condition for observing the Uraza is that a person professes Islam. For others, fasting is not required. At the same time, this does not mean that for days spent without fasting during the months of Ramadan, every person, regardless of his religion, will not have to answer to the Almighty on the Day of the Great Judgment.

2. For minors

Uraza is considered mandatory for adults. It is necessary to understand that this means coming of age from an Islamic point of view, which does not occur at the age of 18, as is customary in most countries of the world, but during puberty, which occurs differently for each person.

3. Mentally incompetent

Mental capacity is listed among the conditions for obligatory fasting. In other words, a person who is not of sound mind has the right to refrain from observing this pillar of Islam.

4. To everyone who is on the go

It is not necessary for those people who are on the road, that is, travelers, to keep their spirits up. It should be noted that, according to Sharia, travelers are considered to be people who have traveled more than 83 km from home and their journey lasts no more than 15 days.

5. Physically ill people

People who suffer from any disease that requires constant use of medications, or that threatens severe ailments and pain, even threatening their life if they follow the fast, are exempt from its necessity.

6. Pregnant

Women who are carrying a child and fear for the life of their unborn child have the right not to fast during the month of Ramadan.

7. Nursing women

Women who breastfeed their babies may also not fast.

8. Women during menstruation and bleeding caused by childbirth

During the menstrual period and during postpartum bleeding, women, according to Sharia, are in a position of ritual defilement, as a result of which non-compliance with the prayer is allowed and, moreover, necessary. If pregnant and lactating women have the right to fast, then on these days it is better for women to abstain.

9. Unconscious people

Believers who remain unconscious for a long time, for example, in a coma, are, for obvious reasons, also freed from the uraza.

In situations where a person misses one or more days of fasting for the reasons listed above, he must make up for them later, when the reason that gives the right to non-fasting is eliminated, for example, when the traveler returns home or the person comes out of a coma. Believers who are unable to keep up the prayers throughout the year, for example due to illness, must feed one needy person for each missed day. If this is also difficult for a person in material terms, because he himself is one of those in need, then he is completely freed from this obligation.

Recommended post- this is one whose observance is desirable, but is not obligatory for Muslims. For observing such a fast, the believer is entitled to a reward, but for abandoning it there is no sin.

Days when it is advisable to keep your spirits up:

• Day of Arafah- for fasting on this day, the Lord can forgive a person for the sins he has committed over 2 years. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) explained: “Fasting on the Day of Arafah serves as atonement for sins committed over the past and future years” (hadith from Ibn Majah and Nasai).

• Day of Ashura- those who fast on the tenth day of the month of Muharram erase all sins for the previous 12 months. The Messenger of Allah (s.w.) admonished his ummah: “Fasting serves as atonement for the sins of the past year” (hadith cited by Muslim). However, Shiite theologians assure that it is undesirable to hold fast on this day, since on this date the grandson of the Final Prophet (s.g.w.), Imam Hussein, who is especially revered by Shiite Muslims, was martyred.

• The first 9 days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah- this can be found mentioned in the hadith: “Fasting in the first days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah is equivalent to one year of fasting” (Ibn Majah).

• Month of Muharram- Eid during this forbidden month is considered Sunnat. After all, the Prophet Muhammad himself once said: “After Ramadan, the best month for fasting is the month of Allah - Muharram” (hadith cited by Muslim).

• Month of Sha'ban- one more month during which it is advisable to fast. In the lunar calendar, it comes before Ramadan. In the hadiths from Bukhari there is a mention that the Final Messenger of the Almighty (s.g.v.) was zealous in observing the fast in the month of Sha'ban, except for some days.

• 6 days of the month of Shawwal- also desirable for fasting. Shawwal follows the Holy month of Ramadan. “If someone completes the fast of Ramadan and adds six days of fasting in the month of Shawwal, he will receive the same reward as if he had fasted the whole year” (hadith from Muslim).

• Cheers every other day, or the fast of the Prophet Dawood (a.s.), who kept the fast every other day and which, as the Mercy of the Worlds Muhammad (s.g.w.) said, “is the most beloved fast for Allah” (in accordance with the hadith from Muslim).

• 3 days in the middle of each month- The Prophet (s.g.w.) instructed: “If you want to fast in the middle of the month, then fast on the 13th, 14th and 15th days” (at-Tirmidhi).

• Every Monday and Thursday- it was on these days that the Messenger of the Almighty (s.g.v.) regularly observed the fast. “The affairs of people are presented to Allah on Monday and Thursday,” he said. “And I want my affairs to be presented while I am fasting” (hadith reported by at-Tirmidhi).

Times of fasting in Islam

It is known that in Islam fasting is observed during daylight hours. The countdown starts from dawn. In the Holy Book of Muslims you can find the following verse:

“Eat and drink until you can distinguish a white thread at dawn from a black one, then fast until nightfall” (2:187)

The fasting person should stop eating in the morning (suhoor) before the time of Fajr prayer (usually 30 minutes).

Once one of the ascetics asked the Prophet Muhammad (s.g.w.) about what time period should be between suhoor and azan for morning prayer, to which he replied: “As much as is necessary to read fifty verses” (hadith from Bukhari and Muslim).

The end of fasting time (iftar) comes at sunset and coincides with the time of evening prayer. In this case, after fasting, the believer should first break his fast and then begin prayer.

At the end of Suhoor the following dua is read (niyat):

نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أَصُومَ صَوْمَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ إِلَى الْمَغْرِبِ خَالِصًا لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى

Transcription:“Nauaitu an-assumma sauma shahri of Ramadan min al-fajri il al-Maghribi khaalisan lilLyahi tya’aala”

Translation:“I intend to fast the month of Ramadan from dawn to dusk sincerely for the sake of Allah.”

Immediately after breaking the fast - at iftar - they say dua:

اللَهُمَّ لَكَ صُمْتُ وَ بِكَ آمَنْتُ وَ عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَلْت وَ عَلَى رِزْقِكَ اَفْطَرْتُ فَاغْفِرْلِى يَا غَفَّارُ مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَ مَأ اَخَّرْتُ

Transcription:“Allahumma lakya sumtu wa bikya amantu wa alaikya tawakkyaltu wa ‘ala rizkykya aftartu fagfirli ya gaffaru ma kaddyamtu wa ma akhhartu”

Translation:“O Allah! For Your sake I kept the fast, I believed in You and I only trust in You, I break my fast with what You sent me. Forgive me, O Forgiver of my sins, past and future!”

Actions that disrupt the mood

1. Intentional receptionm of food and smoking

If a fasting person consciously ate or drank something, or lit a cigarette, then his prayer on that day will not be accepted. But if he ate something not intentionally, for example, out of forgetfulness, then in this case the person should stop eating or drinking as soon as he remembered his fast, and he can continue to keep the fast - such a fast will be considered valid.

2. Intimacy

After sexual intercourse, the fast is broken. Similar consequences apply to kissing lips on lips, as well as ejaculation due to conscious stimulation (masturbation).

3. Instillation of medicine into the nose and ears

Uraza becomes invalid as soon as a person uses special medications used for instillation into the nose and ear canal if they get into the larynx. At the same time, injections made into a vein or muscle, as well as eye drops, do not break the fast.

4. Swallowing liquid while gargling

When fasting, you must be careful when gargling for medicinal purposes or just to moisten it - getting water inside will invalidate your fast. Swimming in a pond and taking a bath in a state of excitement is permissible, but you should be careful about the penetration of liquid through the sinuses, throat and ears.

5. Use of medical inhalers

During fasting, the use of inhalers should be avoided if possible.

6. Intentionally inducing vomiting

If the person holding the fast intentionally caused vomiting, then his fast is considered broken. If the vomiting did not occur by the will of the person, then the fast remains valid.

7. Menstruation

In a situation where a woman experiences pain during daylight hours, she should stop fasting. She will need to make up this day after her period ends.

Benefits of fasting

This pillar of Islam carries many advantages for believers who observe it.

Firstly, the eid is capable of leading a person into the Gardens of Eden, which can be confirmed in the biography of the Prophet (s.g.w.): “Truly, in Paradise there is a gate called “Ar-Rayyan”, through which people will enter on the Day of Judgment fasting people And no one will enter through this gate except them” (hadith from Bukhari and Muslim).

Secondly, fasting will serve as an intercessor for the Muslim on the Day of Judgment: “Fasting and the Quran on the Day of Judgment will intercede for the servant of Allah” (hadith from Ahmad).

Thirdly, uraza entails, as mentioned earlier.

In addition, all requests of a believer who observes fasting will be accepted by the Almighty. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said: “A person who fasts never rejects his dua while breaking his fast” (Ibn Majah).

Fasting (Uraza, Oraza, Marh) الصوم is abstaining from eating during the daytime (from dawn to dusk).

“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, just as it was prescribed for your predecessors, so perhaps you will be afraid.”

Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow), verse 183.

Types of posts:

1. Fasting in the month of Ramadan is obligatory (fard).
2. Fasting on the Day of Arafah- optional. In a hadith from Ibn Majah and Nasai, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Fasting on the Day of Arafah serves as atonement for sins committed over the past and future years.”
3. Fasting on the day of Ashura- optional. This is a fast in the forbidden month of Muharram, which erases the sins of the year. In a hadith from Muslim, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Fasting on the day of Ashura serves as atonement for the sins of the past year.”
4. Fasting on the first nine days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah- optional. In a hadith from Ibn Majah, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Fasting in the first days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah is equivalent to one year of fasting.”
5. Fasting in the month of Muharram- optional. In a hadith from Muslim, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “After Ramadan, the best month for fasting is the month of Muharram.”
6. Fasting in the month of Shaban- optional. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) fasted during this month and advised others.
7. Six-day fast in the month of Shawwal- optional. In a hadith from Muslim, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “If someone completes the fast in Ramadan and adds six days of fasting to it in the month of Shawwal, he will receive the same reward as if he had fasted the whole year.”
8. Fast of Prophet Daoud. This is a post every other day - optional. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him) said that this is the most favorite fast for Allah.
9. Fasting on ordinary days according to the sunnah- optional . These are three days in the middle of each month (13th, 14th, 15th, hadith from Tirmidhi) and every Monday and Thursday. In a hadith from Tirmidhi, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The affairs of people are presented to Allah on Monday and Thursday. And I want my affairs to be presented while I am fasting.”

Fasting in Ramadan

Fasting during Ramadan is obligatory (fard) for Muslims. Ramadan is a time of fasting, reflection, charity, generosity and worship for Muslims around the world.

All adults, healthy and mentally competent people are required to fast. Sick and elderly people, women during special periods, children and those who are traveling are exempt from fasting. However, if they wish, they can fast and perform other good deeds.

The post is violated eating and drinking, marital intimacy, intentionally induced vomiting, smoking (although this is prohibited for Muslims outside of fasting), and, most importantly, foul language. In all these cases, the broken days must be made up, and if the fast was broken intentionally, then atonement must be brought in the form of continuous fasting for 60 days or the payment of cleansing alms.

Ramadan by its nature is a time of self-sacrifice. Personal self-sacrifice, which is the basis of fasting, has many meanings for a Muslim:

• The fasting person experiences hunger and thirst and imbued with sympathy to those who cannot eat every day and do not have enough clean drinking water.
• Through increased worship, Muslims feel closer to their Creator and realize that everything they are gifted with in life is a blessing from the Almighty.
• By giving alms, people develop feelings of generosity and empathy. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Alms will never reduce wealth.”
• Thanks to self-control, a person practices good manners, good speech and good habits . By protecting your tongue and ears from lies, gossip, slander and foul language, your eyes from looking at what is unlawful, your stomach from illicit food and drink, your legs from visiting evil places, a person becomes cleaner, more restrained and receives a great reward from the Almighty.
• By changing their daily habits, Muslims are moving towards a healthy lifestyle, including healthy eating and giving up bad habits. When you abstain from smoking and eating sweets during the day, your body will gradually get used to doing without them until the habit disappears without a trace.
• At the gatherings, Muslims strengthen the bonds of brotherhood in their community.

Ramadan is a special time for Muslims, but the lessons learned from it can have an impact throughout the year. The Almighty ordered people to fast so that they could learn restraint (Quran 2: 183). For fasting, a Muslim receives a reward from the Almighty, which cannot be described in human language. An authentic hadith cited by Bukhari and Muslim says: “Whoever fasts during Ramadan with faith and hope for the reward of the Almighty will have all his previous sins forgiven.”

Self-control and sincere worship are especially important during Ramadan, but it is advisable that Muslims maintain these values ​​throughout the year, not just during the holy month. This is the true purpose and test of Ramadan.

Suhur

Suhur is the morning meal before the fast itself in the pre-dawn time. Suhoor must be performed before morning prayer (Fajr, Irte prayer). Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of the Almighty be upon him) called for performing suhur: “Take food before dawn [on fasting days]! Truly, in suhoor is God’s grace (barakat)!”

Meal times are specified in the Holy Quran:

“...Eat and drink until you can distinguish the white thread of dawn from the black one, and then fast until nightfall.”

On suhoor you need to say: “Navaitu an asuma sawma fard minal-fajri ilal-maghribi khalisan lil-lahi ta’ala.” Translation: “I intend to fast the month of Ramadan from dawn to sunset sincerely for the sake of Allah.” A prerequisite is the intention or niyat in the heart of the determination to keep the fast.

Iftar

Iftar is an evening meal or breaking the fast. Iftar time is evening prayer (maghrib, akhsham prayer), when the sun has set below the horizon, i.e. it begins immediately after sunset.

Dua for Iftar in Arabic: ـرُ إِنْ شـاءَ الله .

Transcription: 3ahaba-z-zama"u, wa-btallyati-l-"uruku wa sabata-l-ajru, in sha"a-Llahu.

Translation: Thirst has gone, and the veins are filled with moisture, and the reward is already waiting, if Allah wills.

There is also another dua: “Allaahumma lakya sumtu wa ‘alaya rizkykya aftartu wa ‘alaikya tawakkyaltu wa bikya aamant.” Ya vaasi'al-fadli-gfir liy. Al-hamdu lil-lyahil-lyazi e’aanani fa sumtu wa razakani fa aftart.”

Translation: “O Lord, I fasted for You (for the sake of Your pleasure with me) and, using Your benefits, I broke my fast. I hope in You and believe in You. Forgive me, O One whose mercy is limitless. Praise be to the Almighty, Who helped me fast and fed me when I broke my fast.”

What breaks the fast?

1. Food and drink in any form (or anything that can replace food, such as energy shots). Also smoking.

2. The release of blood through bloodletting.

3. Intentionally induced vomiting.

4. Sexual intercourse or intentional ejaculation. Also kissing, hugging or looking at women.

5. Leakage of blood due to menstruation or postpartum bleeding.

Cases that do not break the fast

1. Eating or drinking or smoking out of forgetfulness.
2. Involuntary ejaculation.
3. Bleeding or donating blood for testing or as a donor.
4. Rinsing the mouth, rinsing the nose, taking a bath, showering, swimming.
5. Injections for medical reasons.
6. Tasting food without swallowing (for example, when cooking).

Who doesn't need to fast?

1. Travelers. A traveler may not fast during the entire journey. A journey is considered to be a distance of 80 km (according to the Hanafi madhhab).
2. Sick.
3. Pregnant and breastfeeding.
4. If there is danger, such as the threat of death or physical complications.

1. Avoid overeating or filling your stomach completely with food.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“The worst vessel that can be filled by the son of Adam (man) is his stomach. It is enough for a person to eat as much as necessary to maintain strength. To say more, a third (of the stomach) is for food, a third is for drinking and a third is for breathing.”

2. Proper selection of food during Iftar. Avoid fatty, fried and sweet foods. It is advisable to start the meal with liquid food; soup, ayran and milk are ideal. Afterwards you should take a short break.

3. Include fruits, vegetables, and nuts in your diet. And also foods rich in fiber and minerals, as they are very important for the body.

4. Take more water. Just plain water, and not juices or other liquid products, since water is a nutrient source for cells. Do not forget that the body consists of 2/3 water, 90% blood, 75% muscle.

Benefits of fasting

And finally, let's not forget that this month works real miracles with our body and thinking. Here are just seven of the many benefits that a fasting person receives in this world:

1. You are getting better.
   By controlling your thoughts and actions during fasting, and beingware of gossip, you get used to thinking and speaking positively. By giving alms and doing good deeds, a person becomes more merciful and attentive to the needs of the people around him. Clear thoughts and the opportunity to be useful make a person happy.

1. You are getting stronger.
   The test of thirst and hunger, in which everyone who fasts shows patience, reveals simple truths to us: we are more resilient than we think, both in body and spirit.

1. You become grateful.
   Thanks to the Almighty for the sweetness of the first sip of water after a day's fast, a person realizes what enormous riches the Creator has endowed him with. But just a couple of months ago, many people no longer thought about it. Ramadan is a reminder of how great the mercy of Allah is towards His creatures.

1. Your fat reserves are burned.
   The conventional calorie counting method focuses on burning the calories consumed per day to see results. With daily fasting, fat burning goes beyond the calories consumed. For at least eight hours, the sugar and carbohydrates consumed that day are completely burned, after which the body turns to fat reserves for energy. However, it is important to remember that the meals you eat should contain a healthy combination of proteins, fats and slow-release carbohydrates to fuel muscle function.

1. Brain activity increases.
   Fasting puts the body into a state of mild stress, causing the production of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor. This protein helps in rejuvenation and regeneration of brain stem cells, and also strengthens memory and motor function. Likewise, a decrease in the amount of the hormonal cortisol produced by the adrenal glands means that stress levels are significantly reduced during Ramadan.

1. Cholesterol and insulin sensitivity are reduced.
   Fasting has been shown to lower blood pressure, regulate bad cholesterol and improve insulin sensitivity. These are all risk factors for heart disease, which is one of the common causes of premature death. Fasting helps regulate sugar and insulin levels and reduces the risk of diabetes.

1. Prevention of diseases.
   Oxidative stress can lead to a variety of age-related diseases. These include chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, arthritis, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. Chronic inflammation in the body causes consequences such as Crohn's disease, arthritis, obesity, asthma and cancer. Fasting significantly helps reduce the risk of disease by detoxifying and producing anti-inflammatory compounds.

Fasting in Ramadan brings unimaginable benefits to the body if observed correctly. There is no need to fill your stomach with food, gorge yourself on fast food and sweets, waste time on useless conversations and activities, and the reward for fasting will return to you many times over both in this worldly and in the hereafter.

How to fast correctly from Shamil Alyautdinov

We would like to show you videos about how to fast correctly from the lips of a real expert Shamil Alyautdinov - not only an imam and righteous man, but also a healthy nutrition activist.

Video source - tvumma channel.

Iftar schedule for Ramadan 2019 for Moscow

Suhoor time- before Fajr (morning prayer), i.e. When the time for morning prayer comes, you cannot eat.
Iftar- you can eat. Advances into the Maghreb.

The source of prayer times is the Moscow Cathedral Mosque.

The start time of Iftar (corresponds to the time of the evening Maghrib prayer), as well as the end of Suhoor in 2018 for large cities of the Russian Federation can be found in the table, which is available for download .

Breaking the fast - the evening meal during fasting - is perhaps the most anticipated time of day for Muslims. This is an opportunity not only for family and friends to get together at one table, but also a whole holiday, which is held almost every day throughout the Holy month of Ramadan. It is iftars, as events that unite the entire ummah, giving the opportunity to feel the festive atmosphere, that make Ramadan a special month.

When fasting falls on summer days, the fasting time increases. Accordingly, the value of the evening meal also increases. At such moments, it seems that the time before iftar lasts very long, and after it - too quickly. Therefore, the evening meal becomes long-awaited, which is why, sometimes, the other side of the situation appears. During Iftar, some fasting people may overeat, literally pouncing on food. It’s hard to resist, and allowing yourself to eat everything you see on the table is fraught with negative consequences for your health.

How to avoid overeating at Iftar?

According to the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), it is advisable to begin breaking the fast by drinking a glass of water (you can use water with honey) and eating an odd number of dates. The latter can be replaced with another sweet or simply limited to water. According to a reliable hadith, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) broke his fast with fresh or dried dates, and if they were not available, with plain water. He said that water purifies.

“Allahumma lakya sumtu wa bikya amantu wa alaikya tawakkyaltu wa ‘ala rizkykya aftartu fagfirli ya gaffaru ma kaddyamtu wa ma akhhartu”

You should not start eating right away. This will be stressful for the stomach, so it is recommended to first go to the pre-evening prayer, slowly complete it, and only then start eating. In 5-7 minutes the body will have time to prepare for eating, so after eating there will be no heaviness in the stomach.

Where to start breaking the fast?

Sitting down at the table, your eyes widen from the availability of varied and tasty food. Even if not much has been prepared, the desire to “eat the whole cow” remains. Eating well during Iftar will help you eat properly during Suhoor. After all, in a few hours the stomach must have time to digest everything eaten and make room for a new meal. Only then will Suhoor be complete and correct. Accordingly, for iftar you need to choose products that are quickly processed by the body and saturate it with moisture. Vegetables and fruits are ideal for this.

You should not start iftar with a glass of fermented milk drinks. It will be hard on the stomach. In Islam there are no prohibitions on eating food during breaking the fast, except canonically. However, the religion of the Creator adheres to the principle “do not harm yourself,” therefore, you can eat anything that does not negatively affect your health. So, you should exclude fried, fatty and, if possible, spicy foods. Some smoked and canned foods contribute to the leaching of salts and minerals, and they also increase thirst.

It is ideal to eat dietary foods for iftar: low-fat chicken broth soup, stews, stews.

You should limit your intake of flour products and carbonated drinks. It is recommended to drink water some time after eating, otherwise it will dilute the gastric juice and complicate the digestion of food.

It is best to drink water in portions when performing Tarawih prayer. Each time between rests in prayer, you can drink half a glass or a glass of clean water. This will help to gradually absorb fluids and normalize the water balance in the body before the onset of Suhoor, and relieve thirst for the coming day.

Of course, after a long fast, a person wants to try different foods. But it is worth remembering that these dishes can be eaten even after the month of Ramadan, and now the main thing is not the food, but the atmosphere itself, the process itself. It is necessary to realize that during fasting days it is important to be able to control yourself not only during daylight hours (refusing food and drink, watching your speech, thoughts and actions), but also after breaking the fast, i.e. self-control continues at night. Learning not to overeat, in other words, not to take more than what your body needs, is a good habit for the future, and Ramadan is a great way to practice.

Proper nutrition allows you to both ease stress and receive moral and physical benefits from it, and most importantly, the pleasure of the Almighty.