RAMADAN AND FASTING a brief review

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Islam uses a lunar calendar—that is, each month begins with the sighting of the new moon.

The month of Ramadan is a special month full of God’s blessings and great wonders: The Holy Qur’an was revealed and therefore Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) prophethood was established in this month. The gates of heaven opened up one more time and the friendship between Archangel Gabriel and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) started in this month. Laylat al-Qadr (The Night of Power), a night which is more valuable than a thousand months, is hidden in the month of Ramadan.

Fasting in Ramadan became one of the five pillars of Islam in the second year of the Hijrah, the emigration from Makka to Madina. The following verse makes fasting obligatory for believers: “ O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you be God- fearing… ” (2: 183)

Believers fast during this month and do not eat and drink from dawn to dusk

BENEFITS OF FASTING Medical and Physical Benefits Psychological Benefits Social Benefits

The medical benefits of fasting are as a result of fasting. Fasting in general has been used in medicine for medical reasons including: - weight management; - for rest of the digestive tract; - lowering lipids. Medical and Physical Benefits

Medical and Physical Benefits - Lower of blood sugar - Lowering of cholesterol - Lowering of the systolic blood pressure. Stress increases the blood glucose by increasing the catecholamine level and any tool to lower the stress, like biofeedback or relaxation, improves diabetic control. Thus, Islamic fasting during Ramadan has a potentially beneficial effect with regard to diabetic control.

Muslims who fast regularly and who have experienced disturbed wakefulness/sleep cycles on a daily lunar annual basis, can adapt themselves much faster to different time zones during international travel and do not suffer from the ill effects of jet lag. Medical and Physical Benefits

Medical and Physical Benefits During fasting, certain endogenous, narcotic-like substances known as opioids (or endorphins) are released into the body. They have a tranquilizing effect as well as an elating effect on the mind. These are also responsible for prevention of psychosomatic diseases. The opioids have several effects, including slowing down metabolism to conserve energy.

Psychological Benefits Ramadan is a month of self-regulation and self-training Fasting during Ramadan has a tranquilizing effect on the mind, producing inner peace and decrease in anger and hostility. Fasting Muslims realize that manifestations of anger may take away the blessings of fasting or even nullify them. Personal hostility is at a minimum, and the crime rate decreases. This psychological improvement could be related to better stabilization of blood glucose during fasting as hypoglycemia after eating, aggravates behavior changes.

Psychological Benefits Withholding or resisting negative thoughts and actions is also mentally beneficial. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is reported to have said: “ Fasting is not [abstaining] from eating and drinking only, but also from vain speech and foul language. If one of you is being cursed or annoyed, he should say: 'I am fasting, I am fasting. ’”

Social Benefits Fasting believers understand the situation of the poor in their heart when they feel the hunger and understand the condition of people who can barely find a morsel of food. This feeling triggers the desire to help such people. Fasting helps control the mundane desires of the carnal self. It thereby protects the individual from wrongdoing and extreme indulgence.

Social Benefits The monetary worship or charity that is carried out during the month of Ramadan is called Alms (Islamic charity) of Fitr. Alms of Fitr must be delivered to the needy and poor people during this month.