Ramadhan Fasting
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http//m.psychologytoday.com/blog/all-about-sex/201406/why-we-feel-lustier-in-june
hmm Could this possibly be related to 2187? Hehehe ;D
Well only if you believe Ramadan/prescribed fasting time is always around the time of the summer solstice. I am not sure that it is personally.
The article talks about June and says
Studies of birth records consistently show that more children are conceived during summer and winter than during spring and fall.
Condom sales rise and fall seasonally, with the largest proportion of sales in summer and winter.These two seem contradictory
Peace.
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These two seem contradictory
I don't think it's contradictory. The people who want to practice safe sex buy more condoms when they're more active. The unsafe people have sex more, but still don't buy condoms. And there are a lot more non-condom users than there are users.
peace
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Thanks for the compliment Jane rotfl
For now, my current understanding of fasting is fasting from speech. I am still not sure if it is equivalent to a vow of silence, because in the story of Maryam a.s (1926) "say to him..." So to me, the essence of the fast is not merely from speech... It is more like a spiritual retreat, where you converse only to God, or meditate or intensive study of the quran... Like you are fasting from the 'world'. So that explains why travelling or being ill can be exempted (you need to speak and do a lot of conversations during travelling and so is being sick, you can't do 'spiritual retreat' when you are sick) well I sounded like spewing a lot of conjectures...
At the same time I have know idea how it could be carried out...
If you are like me, for the past 7 years been nursing and pregnant one after another, fasting (food and drink) 30 days is hard. I think by that definition I have about 3-4 months of fasting to make up to. And then theres a question (just theoretically) about what if a poor woman in my shoes, who has a lot of fast to make up to and she cannot afford to pay charity?
If fasting from food and drink is for 10 days, then I will have less fasting to make up to. Just that I have no idea when was the 'real' ramadhan in the past 7 years. And then I still have not figured out what does it mean to witness it? Does it mean those who did not witness the moon are not required to fast...? Well, I sounded like I want to escape the command but really, fasting issues has been bugging me for the last 7 years...
There was once, in my student years, it was a hard time and I had no money. I fasted and only survived with 3-6 dates per day for the whole month of ramadhan... Coz i could only afford to buy a box (or was it 2?) of dates. it was still easier (in my memories of it) than fasting while pregnant or nursing...
I wish I can be so sure that it meant fasting from food and drink. Everytime I tried to convince myself it is, I failed. because I know how to fast from food and drink... It is simple, straighforward. From speech (spiritual retreat) I have not done it. Yet. I think a brother in another thread mentioned something like it is a specific type of fast, and it was for those who had their lives arranged for them...? Like monks or something?
Regarding the story of Maryam, my theory (unproven) was fasting from speech was the norm during her time, so she did not have to explain much, it is widely understood. I thought of this theory because of the so many distortions done to the translation of the Quran in the past 1200 years? (Salat, zakat, hajj, etc)
May God forgive me, I am still learning, and I only wish to obey Him. I may be wrong. my understanding may change later. Hopefully soon there will be a clear answer for this. May Allah increase us in guidance group
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Peace
A new understanding of SAUM has surfaced recently on the basis of Maryam,s fasting. Those who are of the opinion should have first observed the implications of non speech especially in Muslim countries. If you are working in a shop how the customer will tell you what he wants and how will you respond to him, how a patient will explain to a doctor about his complaints and how a doctor will respond to him, how will someone buy a ticket at the railway station, airport etc. Just imagine the whole picture of a country wherein all its citizens are fasting (speechless). A teacher / professor teaching his students for one month by remaining silent. Is this fasting? Dear friend you are not the only person who is fasting (remaining speechless) but the whole ummah.
SAUM means Fasting but also means ABSTENTION
http//snag.gy/5mXbu.jpg
Abstention from food, speech etc or evil acts it depends upon Allah.
......and eat and drink, UNTIL the white thread becometh manifest unto you from the black thread of the dawn; Then continue / complete the abstention till night . ..... 2;187
There is a provision to eat and drink but only (HATTA/ UNTIL) the white thread becomes manifest to you from the black thread of the dawn. Thereafter continue the ABSTENTION up to the night.
This is a clear command not to eat from the dawn till night.
Maryam"s Fasting
And shake the trunk of the palm-tree toward thee, thou wilt cause ripe dates to fall upon thee 1925
So eat and drink and be consoled. And if thou meetest any mortal, say Lo! I have vowed a fast unto the Beneficent, and may not speak this day to any mortal 1926
There is no time limit for Maryam to stop eating and drinking but a command to shake the trunk of the palm tree so that the ripe dates should fall upon her and she may eat with ease.
The difference between the two commands is that for us it is a command to eat UNTIL the dawn whereas for Maryam it is a command to eat.
Maryam was not commanded to be speechless but she was told by Allah that if she sees any man then she should say to that man that she has vowed an abstention to Allah and therefore she will not speak. If she does not see any man then naturally she will not speak. She was not commanded to remain silent but in if case she sees any man then she should say....... We are commanded to eat and drink but only upto......and continue the abstention (food and drink) until night
Why abstention is prescribed for the believers?
O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that ye may become mindful of God 2183
The main purpose of abstention is that we should become mindful of God. It is only during Fasting that we become more mindful of God then on other days. We see food and water but we avoid it because on the back of our mind is God. We avoid doing bad deeds, we stop drinking alcohol, stop smoking, and almost keep ourselves from evil deeds. Why we do this because while fasting the hunger and thirst reminds us that we are under the command of God and should keep ourselves away from all bad deeds plus food and drink. For whatever days we fast these fasting days gives us a platform to amend our lifestyle and become mindful of God.
By remaining speechless no one can become mindful of God.
Thanks
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If you are like me, for the past 7 years been nursing and pregnant one after another, fasting (food and drink) 30 days is hard. I think by that definition I have about 3-4 months of fasting to make up to. And then theres a question (just theoretically) about what if a poor woman in my shoes, who has a lot of fast to make up to and she cannot afford to pay charity?
You know, sometimes I wonder whether the fasting and communal prayer (salat) are for men only; it is dilemmas like this that increase my thinking that way...this may need to be another thread however.
I wish I can be so sure that it meant fasting from food and drink. Everytime I tried to convince myself it is, I failed. ( because I know how to fast from food and drink... It is simple, straighforward. From speech (spiritual retreat) I have not done it.
A spiritual retreat would be a different thing than a vow of silence I think which is also a different thing from a time of fasting/abstaining from physical delights in order to encourage cleansing of the body. It is 3 different things I think. Do you feel you could do with some time away from the roles of wife/mother to find yourself again? You could do this separately and still do the fasting when it is required (my current opinion is around autumn in the Quran although I am not sure if that is even relevant to people not living in the middle east ???)
Regarding the story of Maryam, my theory (unproven) was fasting from speech was the norm during her time, so she did not have to explain much, it is widely understood...
My recollection is that both Maryam and Zachariah took short-term vows of silence for a day (or 3 days for Zachariah) as instructed by the angel that visited them. But both times it was to do with either news of conception or birth. I think taking a voluntary vow of silence would still have been common yes, but only for a few days. I can't see how anyone could maintain not speaking to anyone else for a whole lunar month.
Taking a vow of silence for a few days is quite common in christianity so that proves it has survived as a practice; but it is still separate from the annual Lent fast. You could take a vow of silence anytime you wanted I guess. I take one every month, whilst menstruating - refuse to speak to anyone as I am not interested at all, don't answer the phone or open my mail, will even ignore people knocking at the door >D hahaha.
I am guessing you have a need for some time away to yourself which you have not been able to get for awhile and that is causing your fixation on Ramadan as a 'fasting from speech' which I think can't be right. The poster above has made some good points too.
Time will tell.
Peace.
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A new understanding of SAUM has surfaced recently on the basis of Maryam,s fasting. Those who are of the opinion should have first observed the implications of non speech especially in Muslim countries. If you are working in a shop how the customer will tell you what he wants and how will you respond to him, how a patient will explain to a doctor about his complaints and how a doctor will respond to him, how will someone buy a ticket at the railway station, airport etc. Just imagine the whole picture of a country wherein all its citizens are fasting (speechless). A teacher / professor teaching his students for one month by remaining silent. Is this fasting? Dear friend you are not the only person who is fasting (remaining speechless) but the whole ummah.
Salm.
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Peace.
I was wandering how does the mute fast?
Also does fasting from" speech" means fasting from all kind of communicating? I am not expecting those who are fasting to respond here until their fasting is over!
And on we go round and round fitting a square peg into a circle and a circle peg into a square! Squaring circles and circling squares?
Keep making it up as you go along! You have a good example of those who wrote hadith after hadith until their hearts were content with the contents!
GOD bless you all.
Peace. -
Peace,
I am sorry if what I chose to believe offended you. I by no means intend to create hadith or fitting square pegs into circle and vice versa. I am questioning everything I had believed in and that includes the current fasting practice. Whether my intention is pure or not is only for God to judge.
peace
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Peace burnian
Please feel free to state your opinion/views...I am not here to be offended. I realise everyone is trying to get the best from each other.
I always talk in general, I do not get personal or criticise anyone. I try and give my opinion as well ,that is all.
No hard feelings and no ill intention towards what you said. You are entitled to say your piece.
GOD bless you.
Peace. -
Dear All, Salam and Peace,
2187
Permitted to you on the night of the fasts, is the approach to your wives. They are your garments. And ye are their garments. Allah knoweth what ye used to do secretly among yourselves; but He turned to you and forgave you; so now associate with them, and seek what Allah hath ordained for you and eat and drink, until the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread; then complete your fast till the night appears; and do not associate with your wives while ye are in retreat in the Massajid/mosques. Those are limits (set by) Allah; approach not nigh thereto. Thus doth Allah make clear His signs to men that they may learn self-restraint.
strangely, in the verse it is allowed to eat and drink and have intercourse with wife until dawn, and after dawn ONLY intercourse is prohibited?
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w/salaam,
strangely, in the verse it is allowed to eat and drink and have intercourse with wife until dawn, and after dawn ONLY intercourse is prohibited?
I guess it depends on how you take it, i.e. is it repeating the same thing or referring to two things
"complete X till night and do not Y"
As a side note, see a perfect fit translation of 2187 regarding "masjid" here
http//mypercept.co.uk/articles/meaning-masjid-quran.html
http//mypercept.co.uk/articles/meaning-masjid-al-haram-Quran.html -
strangely, in the verse it is allowed to eat and drink and have intercourse with wife until dawn, and after dawn ONLY intercourse is prohibited?
Salamun alaikum.
The introductory statement ?Permitted to you on the night of the fasts, is the approach to your women.? Needs to be read in connection to the statement ?and eat and drink.? I believe it makes it fairly clear that ?approaching women? and "eating and drinking" both are not allowed during siam.
Let?s take the following comparable statement
You are permitted to leave school premises during recess period. The school management understands that there can be valid needs to go outside the premises during day time, and has decided to allow you exit the premises on such grounds. So now attend your urgent errands and eat and drink until the school bell rings signifying the end of the recess period. Then pay full attention to your class till the end of school hour.
What does the above imply ? what?s allowed during class hour? Eating and drinking? Going outside school premises? Neither?
May Allah guide us all to the straight route.
Regards,
Arman -
w/salaam,
I guess it depends on how you take it, i.e. is it repeating the same thing or referring to two things
"complete X till night and do not Y"
As a side note, see a perfect fit translation of 2187 regarding "masjid" here
http//mypercept.co.uk/articles/meaning-masjid-quran.html
http//mypercept.co.uk/articles/meaning-masjid-al-haram-Quran.htmlI would say
"complete X, Y till night and then fast and do not Y"ps yes great article I've read it
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Salamun alaikum.
The introductory statement ?Permitted to you on the night of the fasts, is the approach to your women.? Needs to be read in connection to the statement ?and eat and drink.? I believe it makes it fairly clear that ?approaching women? and "eating and drinking" both are not allowed during siam.
Let?s take the following comparable statement
You are permitted to leave school premises during recess period. The school management understands that there can be valid needs to go outside the premises during day time, and has decided to allow you exit the premises on such grounds. So now attend your urgent errands and eat and drink until the school bell rings signifying the end of the recess period. Then pay full attention to your class till the end of school hour.
What does the above imply ? what?s allowed during class hour? Eating and drinking? Going outside school premises? Neither?
May Allah guide us all to the straight route.
Regards,
ArmanAlikoum salam,
neither,
sun it is allowed to pay full attention
Peace
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peace,
Perhaps it will be clearer if we use proper words somewhat. The order of the Arabic in 2187 says
eat and drink UNTIL ...dawn
THEN complete the fast to the night
AND do not have relations with themI'm not sure where your order comes from.
Salam,
it was all in bold in my first message
so now associate with them, (Y)
AND seek what Allah hath ordained for you (Z)
AND eat and drink (Z),
UNTIL the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread;
THEN complete your fast till the night appears;
AND do not associate with your wives while ye are in retreat in the Massajid/mosquesthus "complete X, Y, Z until fajr and then fast till night and do not Y while you are in Massajid (state of SAJADA)"
is it clearer now?please comment
peace