FASTING: THEN & NOW Entering Ramadan Workshop

Surah Baqarah | Verse 183 يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ O you who believe, fasting has been decreed upon you as it was decreed upon those who have come before you, so that you be God- fearing.

What is Fasting? Root of fasting صَامَ / يَصُوْمُ صَوْم or صِيَام linguistic: to abstain, to fast technical: to refrain from food, drink, and marital relations

لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ | The Purpose of Fasting All activities in life have a scale for success We live in a goal-oriented society Purpose of fasting تقوى Godliness Piety Devoutness

| Those Before الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ Why does Allah ( ﷻ ) mention, “…as it was decreed upon those who have come before you…” Show importance Provides encouragement

Psychology in the Qur’an Gender traits and patterns Men are goal-oriented لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ Women are supportive الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ Both genders gain motivation

The Fasts of the People Before Us The fast of Prophet Musa ( ﷺ ) وَإِذْ وَاعَدْنَا مُوسَىٰ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً And when We appointed forty nights for Musa Called to Mount Sinai Fasted for thirty days Cleaned mouth with miswak Ordered to fast for ten more days

The Fasts of the People Before Us The fast of Maryam فَإِمَّا تَرَيِنَّ مِنَ الْبَشَرِ أَحَدًا فَقُولِي إِنِّي نَذَرْتُ لِلرَّحْمَٰنِ صَوْمًا فَلَنْ أُكَلِّمَ الْيَوْمَ إِنسِيًّا Then if you see any human being, say, “I have vowed a fast (of silence) for the All-Merciful, and therefore I shall never speak to any human today.” Gave birth to Isa ( ﷺ ) When she returned, people began to accuse her

Early Fasts of Islam Some of the Companions would have difficulty regarding the different elements of fasting Eat Drink Marital relationships

Early Fasts of Islam Fasting began when a person slept after iftar Story of Qays ibn Sarma al-Ansari returning from work وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ ۖ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا الصِّيَامَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ “And eat and drink until the white thread (of dawn) becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until sunset”

Early Fasts of Islam Debate amongst the scholars regarding the fast of the 10 th of Muharram The Prophet ( ﷺ ) found the Jews of Madinah fasting on this day We have more right over Musa ( ﷺ )

Take Away Points Fasting is a protection/shield Fasting should be done at low and high points Fasting is a tradition of the pious