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Purpose of Fasting in Islam
The evening prayer has attracted a larger than usual number of
worshippers. Today, the advent of the new moon might herald the
start of the holy month of Ramadan - the Muslim month of
fasting. In an effort to observe the Sunnah of the Muhammad
(PBUH), some worshippers are busy trying to sight the new moon
when the call to prayer is made. After the prayer, the Imam is
informed that the new moon has been sighted. Members of the
council also confirm this news. This prompts worshippers to
congratulate each other and the mosque is filled with the chants
of Allahu Akbar (God is great).
For this group the holy month of Ramadan has begun. Yet Muslims
in many other mosques are still debating whether or not the new
moon has been sighted. Sunni Muslims generally look to Saudi
Arabia for answers to this, as well as many other religious
matters. Although ISNA (Islamic Society of North America) has
established for North American Muslims, a Shura (or
consultation) council for dealing with controversial religious
issues (such as moon sighting), many Imams in local mosques
decide such matters on their own.
Year after year, this story is repeated among Muslims in many
towns around the world. This pillar of Islam begins with
controversy among Muslims and ends with controversy. Shi‘as have
their own clerical system and their Imams look to Iran in this
matter rather than Saudi Arabia. One wonders if this is the way
our messenger Muhammad (PBUH) and his companions started and
ended the holy month of Ramadan.
Since the Quran prescribed fasting specifically in the month of
Ramadan, it is important to know the significance of this
special time. A special feature of the Quran is that whenever it
gives a command for action, it also provides the wisdom behind
it. It tells what the final result of that action will be in
this world, if it is successfully carried out. In this way the
Quran provides a pragmatic test for people to see whether or not
they are moving toward that desired result. Regarding fasting,
the Quran says:
O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was
prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn)
self-restraint . [al-Baqarah 2:183] Translation: Yusuf Ali
Regards Parvez
www.parvez-video.com/insight/islam/ramadan/index.asp
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