Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic Hijra calendar and is perhaps the holiest time of the year for Muslims. It is known as Hari Rayah in Asia.

    It was during Ramadan that the Glorious Kuran was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him). The book of Prophet Ibraheem (Abraham) was revealed on the 1st, the Torah (Old Testament) on the 7th, and the Injeel (New Testament) on the 14th day of Ramadan, respectively.

Significance of fasting during Ramadan

     Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam and as directed in the Glorious Kuran, during the month of Ramadan, all able Muslims are required to fast for self-restraint and God-consciousness. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) has implied that one's attitude and behavior should change after completion of the month's fast.

The influence of time (kalmahatmya):

     A majority of vowed religious observances, such as fasting during Ramadan, include the period of the month during which waxing of the moon occurs. Thus, the chances of fulfillment of the motive of the vowed religious observance go on increasing. Since fasting during a particular time of the year is most beneficial, Ramadan fasting is done only at a particular time of the year and cannot be done any other time of the year.

Importance of a spiritually evolved person's resolve (sankalpa):

    There is the resolve of some evolved person or some spiritual tenet behind every vowed religious observance and accordingly benefits are obtained from them. Due to the resolve of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) and the recommendation of the Holy Kuran behind Ramadan fasting, one gains maximum benefit from this fasting. As compared to this, modern vowed observances like building of a school, nursing of the sick, etc. that lack in such a resolve do not yield any benefit.

Method of fasting

    For those unable to fast, due to age, travel, or other hardships, other means have been given to satisfy the requirement. If one is temporarily unable to fast, one should make up the fast when the condition is relieved. If the condition is permanent, one should feed a needy individual for the entire month, every year. This is not considered charity, but is a requirement to make up for the inability to fast.

    Fasting is determined by sighting the new crescent. Fasting involves a total abstention from eating, drinking, smoking and the administration of any nutrients from dawn until sunset. One is also required to abstain from marital relations during these hours. Dawn (Fajr) for Muslims is considered to be nearly two hours before sunrise and is reckoned as the time when the sun's first light is seen on the horizon. Sunrise marks the end of the first period of prayer (salat).

    Traditionally, the fast is broken by eating a date with some milk, juice or water, followed by a bowl of soup and a special salad (fattoush). Following this, one prays the prescribed sunset (Maghrib) prayer and then partakes a meal. During the night and until dawn, one is allowed to eat and enjoy marital relations; however, one should fully cleanse oneself prior to dawn before the dawn prayer, so as to remove any tamasik influence and gain maximum benefit from the prayer. One is encouraged to break the fast in satsang with others, by spending time contemplating upon The Lord (Allah) and the true purpose of one's life.

The Night of Power

    The Glorious Kuran was revealed on the Night of Power that occurs on one of the odd numbered nights during the last 10 days of Ramadan. Hence, one is encouraged to devote greater time to worship during the last 10 nights of Ramadan. One could stay at a holy place, like a mosque (Masjid) during these 10 days, engaging only in worship of The Lord and continue to fast as explained above.

Benefits of observing Ramadan

• Drawing closer to The Lord (Allah) through His constant remembrance and seclusion from worldly pursuits.

• Acquiring patience and strong will through fasting and abstinence from marital relations:
  Allah has mentioned patience more than seventy times in the Kuran and has commanded patience in more than sixteen ways.

• Striving for Righteousness and sincerity (Ihsaan), staying away from pride (riyaa):
  Ihsaan means to worship Allah as His seeker, realizing that even though one can not see Him with gross senses, He sees all. That is why Allah singles out fasting from all other features of religious observances, saying, “Fasting is for Me”, implying that no one except Him should know whether one is fasting. When one is praying or giving alms one can be seen by others, so there is a risk of falling to the temptation of seeking praise from others.

• Increasing introspection and truthfulness:
  The Prophet (Peace be upon Him) said, “Whoever does not abandon falsehood in word and action, then Allah has no need that he should leave his food and drink.” (al-Bukharee) This implies that the seeker observing Ramadan should pay equal attention to internal purification, such as truthfulness and introspection while fasting.

• Closeness among devotees:
  Fasting, breaking fast and worshipping The Lord in satsang during Ramadan is a good opportunity to develop closeness on a spiritual, and not psychological or social, level with fellow devotees.

• Development of discipline:
  The Prophet (Peace be upon Him) always emphasized the importance of discipline, not fanaticism, that one should be able to follow the will of The Lord (Ishwarechcha). Accordingly, the devotees doing this fast should do so to develop discipline and the quality of following Ishwarechcha in everyday life.