The fast in Ramadan requires a Muslim to not only offer the regular obligatory five daily prayers, but expects him or her to willingly rededicate themselves to their religion and the sincere worship of God, and to helping others even more than usual.
Source/Credit: Inland Valley Daily Bullitin
By Imam Shamshad A. Nasir | July 20, 2013
The Islamic holy month of fasting called Ramadan is with us once again, and all over the world Muslims are entering into a 29 or 30 day period of self-restraint and self-reflection. From the first sighting of the new moon (July 9th in North America) until the sighting of the next new moon (Aug. 8th), all healthy adult Muslims are expected to refrain from eating or drinking anything, starting from about an hour and twenty minutes before sunrise until just after sunset. This year that covers a period of over 16 hours.
The point of fasting in Islam is not to starve the body but feed the soul. This is done by voluntarily foregoing that which is lawful and allowed by God solely in order to focus more intensely on God and on striving to better yourself as a Muslim and in doing good works and giving in charity to those less fortunate. If nothing else, the fast in Ramadan makes you acutely aware of the sufferings of others, especially those who go hungry by circumstance, not by choice. But compassion for others is only the start.
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