Skip to content
  • Categories
  • Recent
  • Users
Skins
  • Light
  • Brite
  • Cerulean
  • Cosmo
  • Flatly
  • Journal
  • Litera
  • Lumen
  • Lux
  • Materia
  • Minty
  • Morph
  • Pulse
  • Sandstone
  • Simplex
  • Sketchy
  • Spacelab
  • United
  • Yeti
  • Zephyr
  • Dark
  • Cyborg
  • Darkly
  • Quartz
  • Slate
  • Solar
  • Superhero
  • Vapor

  • Default (No Skin)
  • No Skin
Collapse
Free Minds Forum Icon
  1. Home
  2. General Issues / Questions
  3. General Issues / Questions
  4. How do you understand fasting

How do you understand fasting

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General Issues / Questions
45 Posts 16 Posters 2.0k Views
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • N Offline
    N Offline
    Novice
    wrote on last edited by
    #13

    peace,

    For those (e.g. those in polar regions) who find it difficult to fast(or for doing any other forms of worship), these verses may have the answer,

    That those the angels make them die, unjust (to) themselves, they said "In what you were/have been? "They said "We were weakened in the Earth/land." They said "Was not God's Earth/land wide/spacious so you emigrate in it?" So those, their shelter/refuge (is) Hell, and it was a bad/evil end/destination.

    Except the weakened from the men, and the women, and the children, they are not able (of a) solution (means) and nor they be guided a way/path.

    So those, may be God that He forgives/pardons on them, and God is often forgiving, (a) forgiver.

    And who emigrates in God's sake, he finds in the earth an escape, and a wealth/an abundance, and who gets out from his house emigrating to God and His messenger, then the death overtakes him, so his reward had fallen/been placed on God, and God is a forgiver, merciful.

    So are you saying that God forgot to mention any exclusions while ordering fasting (if saum = fasting) and left it for us to find out how to fulfill the command in polar regions.

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • WakasW Offline
      WakasW Offline
      Wakas
      wrote on last edited by
      #14

      sawm is only applicable to those who witness the shahr (as per 2185)

      All information is correct to the best of my knowledge only and thus should not be taken as a fact. One should always seek knowledge and verify for themselves when possible: 17:36, 20:114, 35:28, 49:6, 58:11.

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • M Offline
        M Offline
        Mazhar
        wrote on last edited by
        #15

        sawm is only applicable to those who witness the shahr (as per 2185)

        What does it mean.

        1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • I Offline
          I Offline
          imrankhawaja
          wrote on last edited by
          #16

          perhaps its not applicable to those who didnt qualify the criteria due to whatever reason..

          example people in ISS (international space station).

          funny POINT to ponder, its really impossible to do SEX in space station due to gravity lmao.... rotfl
          and if you go for fasting from FOOD & DRINK then its only like one hour fast and more than 15 fasts in a day.

          people in polar regions where they can have (long nights/permanent dark) lasting for months. so they are chilling there..

          these type of situations i guess thats why author of QURAN say whoever witness the shahr-e-ramadhan.

          1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • N Offline
            N Offline
            Novice
            wrote on last edited by
            #17

            Salaam Brother Mazhar

            Therefore, if he who reaching adulthood among you was present at home in this month, thereat, he should observe it by fasting.

            so who
            witnessed
            among you
            the month
            then let him fast it

            Allah the Exalted intends easiness for you people ?

            And He the Exalted never intends difficulty-awkwardness for you ?

            It is "bi kum" in the verse which means "with you".
            It is not "la kum" in the verse which would mean "for you".

            And that you might proclaim and praise the Sublime grandeur of Allah the Mightiest upon your getting aright guided (by adhering to Qur?n) ?

            How one can proclaim and praise the Sublime grandeur of Allah the Mightiest upon your getting aright guided by not eating, drinking or having sex?

            .2185

            And so that you people might keep expressing gratitude.

            Both the sentences are conditional --- the opposite of a person on journey is the person who is at home.

            And using your logic what is the opposite of "sick" in the verse?

            Interestingly the basic perception of Root

            bn Faris stated

            ( &#1577
            .

            That it leads to the perception of abstinence, and stasis - stagnancy at home.

            ( &#1576

            Fasting is the act and state of abstinence of activity relating to food intake and genitalia and speech.

            What does means as used in the Quran, for example

            2231 .........

            Or

            7170

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • WakasW Offline
              WakasW Offline
              Wakas
              wrote on last edited by
              #18

              peace,

              And as I understood, Ramadan will not occur in Al Shahr Al Haram, because

              Note bold part,https//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=9610235.msg421590#msg421590

              1)So the 4 full moons are for Hajj, since there is already sawm in Hajj,(for those who cannot find offering -2196) Ramadan(sawm) cannot occur in Hajj (Qur’an does not mentions such a condition of interpose).

              That's an interesting observation.

              I think you may be onto something. I will think this over.

              All information is correct to the best of my knowledge only and thus should not be taken as a fact. One should always seek knowledge and verify for themselves when possible: 17:36, 20:114, 35:28, 49:6, 58:11.

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • The_SardarT Offline
                The_SardarT Offline
                The_Sardar
                wrote on last edited by
                #19

                Salam/Peace everyone. I have found 3 videos about Ramadan

                https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXvBSB7o_-Q

                https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvuVsqqP_lw

                https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPjv5w4eVBg

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • M Offline
                  M Offline
                  Mazhar
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #20

                  Salaam Brother Mazhar

                  so who
                  witnessed
                  among you
                  the month
                  then let him fast it

                  It is "bi kum" in the verse which means "with you".
                  It is not "la kum" in the verse which would mean "for you".

                  How one can proclaim and praise the Sublime grandeur of Allah the Mightiest upon your getting aright guided by not eating, drinking or having sex?

                  And using your logic what is the opposite of "sick" in the verse?

                  What does means as used in the Quran, for example

                  2231 .........

                  Or

                  7170

                  witness
                  /wtns/
                  verb
                  past tense witnessed; past participle witnessed
                  1.
                  see (an event, typically a crime or accident) happen.
                  "staff who witnessed the murder"
                  synonyms see, observe, watch, look on at, be a witness to, view, note, notice, spot; More
                  2.
                  have knowledge of (a development) from observation or experience.
                  "what we are witnessing is the birth of a new political entity"

                  But the second consonant has Kasra, the verb is from inf. n. ,

                  Lane's Lexicon
                  He was, or became, present at it, or in it; (S, A, Mgh, L, Msb, * K namely, a place, (Mgh,) or an assembly. (Msb.) Hence the saying, (Msb,) , in the Kur , Therefore whosoever of you shall be present in the month, and stationary, not journeying, he shall fast therein (Mgh, Msb) as long as he shall remain present and stationary

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • N Offline
                    N Offline
                    Novice
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #21

                    witness
                    /wtns/
                    verb
                    past tense witnessed; past participle witnessed
                    1.
                    see (an event, typically a crime or accident) happen.
                    "staff who witnessed the murder"
                    synonyms see, observe, watch, look on at, be a witness to, view, note, notice, spot; More
                    2.
                    have knowledge of (a development) from observation or experience.
                    "what we are witnessing is the birth of a new political entity"

                    But the second consonant has Kasra, the verb is from inf. n. ,

                    Lane's Lexicon
                    He was, or became, present at it, or in it; (S, A, Mgh, L, Msb, * K namely, a place, (Mgh,) or an assembly. (Msb.) Hence the saying, (Msb,) , in the Kur , Therefore whosoever of you shall be present in the month, and stationary, not journeying, he shall fast therein (Mgh, Msb) as long as he shall remain present and stationary

                    Yes Mazhar I know what Lane reported from canonized meanings but I stick to the root meanings of a word. I gave you a simple translation for comparison with your loaded translation.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • M Offline
                      M Offline
                      Mazhar
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #22

                      Yes Mazhar I know what Lane reported from canonized meanings but I stick to the root meanings of a word. I gave you a simple translation for comparison with your loaded translation.

                      It is naive to call that a translation,. Translation does not mean meanings of individual words.

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • M Offline
                        M Offline
                        Mazhar
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #23

                        Yes Mazhar I know what Lane reported from canonized meanings but I stick to the root meanings of a word. I gave you a simple translation for comparison with your loaded translation.

                        It is the first and basic meanings

                        Ibn Faris stated
                        ( &#1577

                        That it leads to the perception of presence, witnessing and knowledge and its notifying, telling. And it signifies evidence, eye witness. testimony.

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • N Offline
                          N Offline
                          Novice
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #24

                          It is naive to call that a translation,. Translation does not mean meanings of individual words.

                          I think translation is meaning of words. Are you mixing translation with interpretation.

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • N Offline
                            N Offline
                            Novice
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #25

                            It is the first and basic meanings

                            Ibn Faris stated
                            ( &#1577

                            That it leads to the perception of presence, witnessing and knowledge and its notifying, telling. And it signifies evidence, eye witness. testimony.

                            How does this basic meanings contradicts with "shahida"= He witnessed given in my translation?

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • M Offline
                              M Offline
                              Mazhar
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #26

                              I think translation is meaning of words. Are you mixing translation with interpretation.

                              Considering the meanings and purpose of translation we can say that all reading is in fact translation and interpretation. A native reading the text of his language is in fact transferring the meanings, perception and the message contained therein to his memory where it is written in a form different than the form of language he watched on paper. Mere memorization of the text is not translation but is transcription in the meanings of writing out or lodging an exact copy of something in memory. Storage of longer text in long term or procedural memory and its retrieval is perhaps best achieved through mechanism of rehearsal.

                              Since the source language Arabic is Semitic while target Language English is Germanic, the Metaphrase involving "word by word" and "line by line" translation would in fact be no translation because intent of the text will not be clearly perceivable.

                              Another concept that collocates with translation is interpretation. It is defined as transference of meaning of spoken and heard words in the language of second person. The difference between the two is of real time versus delayed. Interpreting occurs in real time. It happens in person. An interpreter transfers the meanings in both directions, on the spot, without any reference material. Interpreter is thus fluent in both the languages.

                              Translation is a delayed activity because it takes place long after a text is created. It gives the translator time to access resources, like lexicons, glossaries, grammar books, and these days Google to access any subject. Therefore, it is obviously an easier and less taxing task than the job of an interpreter.

                              The physical and sensory modalities of speech and writing are distinct. They are distinctly different as the physical processes of speaking and writing. Similarly the physical and sensory modalities of interpretation and translation are different. For interpretation, sound - voice is the medium and the organ used is ears while in translation the first medium is the vision through the organ of eyes.

                              In real world experience the end product of both is communication. Both aim at explanation or establishment of the meaning or significance of something stated orally or in writing. It is also the case when the speaker and listener, and author and the reader, have the same language. The listener and reader interprets the spoken and written words of his own language and saves as perception what he thought or comprehended the speaker or writer intended to convey him.

                              Except being one directional, the translation is in fact interpretation. For translation the first requirement is the skill for reading. Reading involves translating text into sounds or spoken words. And comprehension involves deriving meanings from those sounds.

                              http//haqeeqat.pk/TranslationOfQuranIntro.htm

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • M Offline
                                M Offline
                                Mazhar
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #27

                                How does this basic meanings contradicts with "shahida"= He witnessed given in my translation?

                                witness
                                /wtns/
                                verb
                                past tense witnessed; past participle witnessed
                                1.
                                see (an event, typically a crime or accident) happen.
                                "staff who witnessed the murder"
                                synonyms see, observe, watch, look on at, be a witness to, view, note, notice, spot; More
                                2.
                                have knowledge of (a development) from observation or experience.
                                "what we are witnessing is the birth of a new political entity"

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • J Offline
                                  J Offline
                                  Jafar
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #28

                                  Peace,

                                  so Ramadan's starting tomorrow right...

                                  But some people say that the Qur'an doesn't teach to fast a whole month every year but rather, to fast a few day/s every month...

                                  Youtuber Quran Centric talks about this...

                                  What do you think?

                                  The basic principle
                                  Ritual is for men and not men for ritual..

                                  Fasting is a good exercise for better control.
                                  Better control of what?
                                  Of your emotion and urge.

                                  As for the frequency and timing; there is no such thing as one size fits all.
                                  For those who think that a month a year is more suitable for them then it's fine.
                                  For those who think that a few days every week for the entire year is more suitable for them then it's also fine.

                                  It's back to the individual, again the objective is about improving the ability to control the emotion and urge where it varies in accordance to individual and the situation of such individual.

                                  Just like exercise.. you feel that you're overweight then exercise more...

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • I Offline
                                    I Offline
                                    Iyyaka
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #29

                                    witness
                                    /wtns/
                                    verb
                                    past tense witnessed; past participle witnessed
                                    1.
                                    see (an event, typically a crime or accident) happen.
                                    "staff who witnessed the murder"
                                    synonyms see, observe, watch, look on at, be a witness to, view, note, notice, spot; More
                                    2.
                                    have knowledge of (a development) from observation or experience.
                                    "what we are witnessing is the birth of a new political entity"

                                    Yes "Witness" is a word with TWO mainly meanings. I just add for the second definition you gave the sense of "Confirm the truth, the value of (qqch.).." like in 1226

                                    Quran confirms these 2 meanings for the root of the word "Shahida". So now choose your definition?

                                    1. See a "month" ?
                                    2. Confirm the true of a month ?

                                    2 further grammatical additions

                                    1. Translate "Siyam" in English by "To fast"in 2185 is GRAMMATICALLY INCORRECT because the verb "TO FAST" is an Intransitive verb (No object!). Indeed, in 2185 we have "falyaum'hu" => PRON ? 3rd person masculine singular object pronoun

                                    2. (21854) "unzila" => V ? 3rd person masculine singular (form IV) passive perfect verb.
                                      The passive form indicates that the month is not really important but "al-quran" is more important ! Grammatical rules

                                    • In the active voice, the subject does the action.
                                    • On the contrary, to the passive voice, the subject undergoes action.

                                    NB For Mazhar, English words come also from french not only from germany !

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • S Offline
                                      S Offline
                                      Soittosondhani
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #30

                                      Searching the root we find that 'Saom' is derived from 'SMM'. "SMM' means 'deafness' and 'deaf and dumb', so Saom should mean observance/practice of deafness and silence. Its surprising how a derivative of SMM turned into 'fasting' in the long run!

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • C Offline
                                        C Offline
                                        Cerberus
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #31

                                        Searching the root we find that 'Saom' is derived from 'SMM'. "SMM' means 'deafness' and 'deaf and dumb', so Saom should mean observance/practice of deafness and silence. Its surprising how a derivative of SMM turned into 'fasting' in the long run!

                                        In reality I found that the moment you open your mouth (or use your keyboard) a lot of things happen within, how one's words can serve to fulfill own's ego and give a feeling of false existence. And this you can witness clearly if you're trying to maintain a true state of fast.

                                        Same could be applied to your hearing. Listening to idle talk, getting carried away in entertainment etc....

                                        But in reality it's all about emptying the senses so that you can hear and see better.

                                        "You must fast!" said Confucius. " Do you know what I mean by fasting ? It's not easy, but easy ways do not come from God "

                                        "Oh," said Yen Hui, " I'm used to fasting! At home we were poor. We went for months without wine or meat. That is fasting, is it not ?"

                                        "Well, you can call it 'observing a fast' if you like," said Confucius "but it is not the fasting of the heart"

                                        "Tell me," said Yen Hui, "what is fasting of the heart?"

                                        Confucius replied "The goal of fasting is inner unity. This means hearing, but not with the ear; hearing, but not with the understanding; hearing with the spirit, with your whole being. The hearing that is only in the ears is one thing. The hearing of the understanding is another. But the hearing of the spirit is not limited to any one faculty, to the ear, or to the mind. Hence it demands the emptiness of all the faculties. And when the faculties are empty, then the whole being listens. There is then a direct grasp of what is right there before you that can never be heard with the ear or understood with the mind. Fasting of the heart empties the faculties, frees you from limitation and from preoccupation. Fasting of the heart begets unity and freedom."

                                        Note that in the same manner that this was reported from Confucius, a rather similar message was reported from Muhammad.

                                        ?Many people who fast get nothing from their fast except hunger and thirst..."

                                        So yes I think you had some truth in what you managed to conclude from your roots words but that is obviously not all of it. And I quoted Confucius just to emphasize that it's a universal practice.

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • M Offline
                                          M Offline
                                          mekaeel7
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #32

                                          It has been a very long time since I have replied or visited this site and I don't remember how to properly reply but Soittosondhani's post today served to buttress the position that I have understood from my reading of the Qur'an! The only two examples of fasting that I have discerned are the fast of Mariam, the mother of Isa and the fast of Zakharia, both which consisted of NOT talking! As has been mentioned in the Qur'an, fasting has been prescribed for us as it was prescribed for those before us, then it only makes sense to observe the fast as described in the Qur'an by those before us! It is my thinking that somewhere along the line, Muslims in imitation of and influence of the Judeo-christian practices, adopted their view about the matter but per the example of Mariam, she observed silence in her vow to fast for Al Rahman!

                                          1 Reply Last reply
                                          0
                                          Reply
                                          • Reply as topic
                                          Log in to reply
                                          • Oldest to Newest
                                          • Newest to Oldest
                                          • Most Votes


                                          • Login

                                          • Don't have an account? Register

                                          • Login or register to search.
                                          • First post
                                            Last post
                                          0
                                          • Categories
                                          • Recent
                                          • Users