Seeking thru sawm

ALMOST every religion has the concept of purificatory fasts but how little most of us in India know about Ramzan! What I found really intere...

ALMOST every religion has the concept of purificatory fasts but how little most of us in India know about Ramzan! What I found really interesting about the Ramzan fast sawm is the consideration shown by the Prophet PBUH for human situations. These, for instance, are the categories exempt from fasting:

8211; Children who are pre-puberty or below-age in discretion who are too young to know the meaning.

8211; The insane, who cannot be held accountable for their deeds. Both the above categories are wholly exempt from fasting and no compensation is enjoined on them.

8211; Old men and women, too feeble to endure the rigours of the fast. But they must offer at least one needy Muslim a square meal or enough money for it per day. But I know Indians who extend this beyond the 8216;umma8217; and feed any poor person in the neighbourhood.

8211; Sick people, whose health is likely to be affected by fasting. They can make up by fasting when they have recovered.

8211; Those who are journeying distances of fifty miles or more. They may break their fast temporarily during 8216;safar8217; travel but make it up later, a day for a day. But the Koran Sharief advises that it is better to maintain the fast if one can.

8211; Pregnant women and nursing mothers are excused from fasting, though asked to make up for it later.

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8211; Women undergoing their periods a maximum of ten days or confinement a maximum of forty days are absolutely forbidden to fast even if they8217;re ready, willing and able. They must postpone their fast until recovery and then make up for it, a day for a day.

The Prophet PBUH recommends these practices for Ramzan: To eat a light breakfast before dawn. To eat three dates and drink some water after sunset, with this prayer: Al-lahumma laka sumna, wa rizqika aftarna. O God, for Your sake we have fasted and now we break the fast with the food You have given us. To keep meals really light, because 8216;the worst thing man can fill is his stomach8217;. To observe the prayer that is known as Tarawih. To visit socially and step up charity work. To increase one8217;s study of the Koran Sharief, and its recitation. To strive one8217;s utmost to be patient and humble. To restrain the senses, especially the tongue: to avoid gossip and malice and not think ill of others 8212; purification for both body and soul. This anonymous Persian verse seems to sum it up: Buzurgi ba aql ast na basaul/Tawangari ba dil ast na bamaul. Wisdom comes from knowledge, not from years/Riches come from the heart and not

from things.