O ye who believe! Fasting is obligatory for you, as it was obligatory for those

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2 2 O ye who believe! Fasting is obligatory for you, as it was obligatory for those before you, so that you may become righteous. The Fast is to be observed for a fixed number of days. However, if anyone of you be sick or on a journey, he should fast the same number of other days. As for those who cannot fast, the compensation of this shall be the feeding of one needy person for one fast day, and who does more than this with a willing heart does it for his own good. And fasting is good for you, if you only knew Ramadan is the month in which the Qur'an was sent down: this Book is a perfect guidance for mankind and consists of clear teachings which show the right way and a criterion of Truth and falsehood. Therefore from now on whoever witnesses it, it is obligatory to fast the whole month, but if one be ill or on a journey, he should make up for the same number by fasting on other days. Allah desires to give you facility and He does not desire hardship for you, and that you may complete the

3 3 number of Fast days, and glorify Allah for the Guidance He has shown to you and be grateful to Him. And if My servants ask you, O Prophet, concerning Me, tell them that I am quite near to them. I hear and answer the prayer of the supplicant, when he calls to Me. So let them respond to My call and believe in Me. Convey this to them, O Prophet; perhaps they may be guided a right way. Dear brothers and sisters, I was reciting some verses of Surrah Al-Baqara in which Allah Rabbulalamin commanded us to observe the fasting. The orders for Salah, Zakat, Hajj, Jihad and Charity are given at several places in Quran but orders about fasting can be found only in these verses of Surrah-AlBaqara. Actually these verses are very much comprehensive, inclusive and complete in its meaning which completely specifies the reason for having the fasting. Allah Says O ye who believe! fasting is obligatory for you, as it was obligatory for those before you, so that you may become righteous.

4 4 Dear brothers and sisters, the fasting is also obligatory in other religions. Jews fast for six days at various times in the Jewish calendar year. Fasting for Jews means completely abstaining from food and drink, including water. Although Christian scripture does not clearly command its followers to fast, Hazrat Issa Himself fasted for 40 days and nights, and there are also several references to fasting in the New Testament. Fasting is also a very integral part of the Hindu religion. Individuals observe different kinds of fasts based on personal beliefs and local customs. So, Allah makes it clear to us that fasting is not a new thing which is being made compulsory on Muslim Ummah. Allah made it obligatory also for various other religions. And the real purpose of fasting is only and only one and that is to become righteous, to have taqwa. Fasting produces taqwa and self-control in a person. The objective behind fasting is to restrain the soul from its desires and to prevent it from those things, which are beloved to it. I will discuss this point later.

5 5 Dear brothers and sisters, like other compulsory obligations from Allah which were gradually sent down to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Fasting was also gradually made obligatory to the Muslim Ummah. Allah says initially: Fasting is for few days. And these days were not clearly specified. Earlier, Muslims observed fasting for three days in a month and those days were 13, 14 and 15 of every month. Dear Brothers and sisters, in the beginning of Islamic era, there were no specific orders for saher and iftar. Muslims observed the fasting like Jews. Jews observed fast and it was started at night before sleeping and ended with the sunset. They had fasting around hours. The main difference between the Jews and Muslims regarding fasting was sehri. Starting fasting before sleeping or with the prayer of Isha was somewhat un-natural in its own sense. Because our body has also some right on us, it has also some needs and demands. And what happened as result of staring fast just after Isha prayer or before going to bed, Allah says

6 6 It has been made lawful for you to go to your wives during the nights of the fast days. They are as a garment to you and you are as a garment to them. Though Allah knew that you were secretly dishonest to yourselves, He has pardoned your guilt and forgiven you. Actually dear brothers and sisters, Islam promotes convenience in the religion and Allah closes the door of any types of extremism. Either it is self created extremism or misinterpreted extremism. Islam ordered to fulfill the needs of our Nafs and promote self-control and rejects self-annihilation or self-destruction. Allah says Allah desires to show leniency to you and does not desire to show any hardship. Dear brothers and sisters, In Two Hijri, fasting became compulsory to Muslims and Allah also sent down the rules for fastings. Allah says.

7 7 So you may now go to your wives and seek what Allah has ordained for you; and eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread of the dawn. Then complete the fast till nightfall. So dear brothers and sisters, if we read these verses carefully then we can get the answer of our question regarding when we should start fast and we should do Iftar in these extreme days. I am afraid to comment any things on this Iftar and saher timings but carefully reading of these verses can give us our answers. Now dear brothers and sisters, why Allah selected month of Ramadan for fasting? Like the Friday is superior to all days of week, likewise Ramadan is superior to all months of a year. But why Ramadan is superior? Dear Brothers and sisters, all Holly books and scriptures sent down during this month. On 1 st Ramadan, a Holly scripture was given to Hazrat Ibrahim, on 2 nd Ramazan zaboor was given to hazrat Dawood, on the 6 th of Ramazan Torah was revealed, on the 12 th of Ramazan the

8 8 Bible was given, and the Quran was sent down from Lohay Mahfooz on the Night of Qadr. Dear brothers and sisters, Ramadan is derived from the Arabic root word ramida or ar- ramad denoting intense burning heat and dryness, especially the ground. From the same root there is word ramdaa, sunbaked sand. Thus, the word Ramadan is so called as it wipes out the sins with good deeds as the sun burns the ground and in this month all the bad and evil deeds are burnt. The Messenger of Allah (saas) said: "If a servant of Allah fasts a day for the pleasure of Allah, He will distance his face from the hellfire, in the equivalent of that day, which, in the sight of Allah, will take seventy years to cover." (Bukhari/Muslim) The Prophet (PBUH) said, Whoever fasts in Ramadhaan with Eemaan and seeking reward (from Allah) his past sins will be forgiven. Abu Umaamah said: I said: 'O Messenger of Allah (saw), tell me of an action by which I may enter Paradise'. He said: 'Take to Fasting, there is nothing like it.'

9 9 Dear brothers and sisters, "The Messenger of Allah (saw) addressed his companions on the last day of Sha`ban, saying, "Oh people! A great month is approaching you; a blessed month; a month in which there is a night better than a thousand months; month in which Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night. Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time, and whoever performs an obligatory deed in (this month) shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time. It is the month of patience, and the reward of patience is Heaven. It is the month of charity, and a month in which a believer's sustenance or rizk is increased. Dear brothers and sisters, Ramadan has sent down countless blessings and countless bounties. If you want to get real blessings and real reward from Allah during Ramadan then you have to deal with the complete Ramadan package. The complete Ramadan package consisted of two parts. The morning package consists of fasting and the night package consists of Qiam-ul Lail. If someone fasts only but does not stand in front of Allah at night then he will not get the complete advantages of Ramadan package.

10 10 Allah's messenger (PBUH) stated: "Fast and the Qur'an will mediate and negotiate for the servant on the Day of Judgment. Fast will state: "Oh my Lord! I have prevented this servant from eating and drinking and from satisfying his desires; hence accept my mediation for him." The Qur'an will state: "Oh my Lord! I have prevented this servant from sleeping in night (for Worship); hence accept my mediation for him." Accordingly, the mediation of both will be accepted." Holly Prophet also (PBUH) said, Whoever prayed at night the whole month of Ramadhan out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven. (Bukhari). Dear brothers and sisters, a sale of mercy and forgiveness is announced from Allah Rabbul-Alamin in month of Ramadan. When sale is announced on special occasions in Europe on computers, mobiles or other things, we spent whole night in front of shops and try to get those things from the market. But here who is announcing a sale of mercy, sale of giving repentance, sale of gardens and houses in Jannah. My dear brothers and sisters, it is my and your Allah who is announcing it. Now it depends on us how much we get from this Ramadan special offer. Allah is calling you. Is there anyone who needs forgiveness from his sins, is there anyone who needs garden, homes and countless blessings in Jannah?

11 11 Dear brothers and sisters, In a Hadith-e-Qudsi, Allah said:- "Every deed of a person will recieve times reward except fasting, it is for Me and i shall reward it as i like. Why the Fasting is only for Allah and only Allah will give its reward. We also offer Salah only for Allah-Rabbul-alamin, giving zakat, giving charity, performing Hajj, our all good deeds are for Allah-Rabbul-alamin. We also recite that Then why Allah says Fasting is for me and I will give its Jaza. Actually dear brothers and sisters, Allah set some specified, pre-defined and particular ajer of each and every good act. For-examples, if we perform salah, it has some specified ajer. But fasting has countless reward which has countless blessings and only Allah can give us that reward. For example in this material word, if king want to distribute small amount of money, he normally distributed it through its subordinates but if million or billion of dollars will be distributed then definitely king will distribute it by himself.

12 12 Dear brothers and sisters, Ramadan is also a month of Charity. The acts of charity for the sake of Allah, are highly desired on all occasions, but more so during the blessed month of Ramadan. This is a chance to be grateful for what Allah has given us by giving to others in need. Ibn 'Abbas reported: Allah's Messenger (PBUH) was the most generous of people in charity, but he was even more generous in the month of Ramadan (Muslim). Muslim Society in Trondheim also requests to all our brothers and sisters to participate in the Masjid Construction Project and show their generosity in this Holly month of Ramadan. Prophet (PBUH) said "Whoever builds a masjid (mosque) for the sake of Allah, or even contribute in it equivalent to a straw of sparrow s nest or even smaller, Allah will build him a house in Paradise". Dear brothers and sisters, Giving iftar is also very much rewarding. We invite our friends and relatives for iftar; we also attend their invitations and eat iftar together. This beautiful Islamic tradition enables people to get closer. The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: He who gives food for a fasting person to break his fast, he will receive the same reward as him, except that nothing will be reduced from the fasting persons reward."

13 13 Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: One who provides iftaar to a Muslim brother in the month of Ramazan, shall be granted the reward of liberating a slave (in the path of Allah) and shall have all his previous sins forgiven. And if he did not possess the means to present anything except milk mixed with water, or a drink of sweet water and a date, Allah would grant him this reward. Dear brothers and sisters, Ramadan is also the month of Quran. Allah says Ramadan is the month in which the Qur'an was sent down: this Book is a perfect guidance for mankind and consists of clear teachings which show the right way and are a criterion of Truth and falsehood. We should use this month to understand the Book of Allah. If Muslims held onto the Quran and followed it, they would not be in this state of weakness and humiliation. The Quran is a book of guidance and a manual for life. Reading should not simply for barakah but for the message it conveys. Allah says in Surra Al- Baqara verse 78:-

14 14 And there are among them (Jews) some illiterate people, who do not know the Book, but they trust upon false desires and they but guess. What does this ayaah mean? Ibn Taymiyyah says, Ibn Abbas and Qatadah interpreted the meaning of the word ummiyyoon as illiterate in meaning, these are those people who do not understand the meaning of the book. They learn it, they memorize it, and they recite it without understanding it and do not know what is being talked about. They are satisfied by only reciting it. Imaam Ahmed narrates that the Prophet (PBUH) said something and then he said, "That would happen when knowledge is lost."one of the Sahabah (Ibn Lubayd) said, "O Messenger of Allah (PBUH), how can knowledge be lost? When we have studied Qur an, we are teaching it to our children and our children will teach it to theirs. The Rasul (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, Woe to you! I thought you were one of the most learned men of Madinah. Can t you see the Jews and Christians have Torah and Injeel with them and they are not benefiting anything from them? So dear brothers and sisters, Allah has sent down this great book in the month of Ramadan. It is strange that before making any thing, before installing any thing and

15 15 before running anything we read its manual and try to understand it but Quran which is manual of life, which is pathway of success in this life and hereafter, we put that book on the shelves, decorated it and covered it. Only in Ramadan we put it down, recite it without understanding its meanings and the then placed it back into the highest shelf of our cupboard. It is said by very famous scholar that Quran is simultaneously a great and pathetic book. Quran is a great book because Billions of people read it and it is pathetic because most of readers do not understand what is written in it. Please stop doing this terrible attitude with Quran. Dear brothers and sisters, Allah says in Surra Muhammad verse 24:- Do they not then think deeply in the Qur an, or are their hearts locked up (from understanding it). Dear brothers and sisters, fasting is obligatory on us to become pious and virtuous.

16 16 O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become righteous. It is not said that you will certainly become pious and virtuous. It is said, "You may become righteous", because the outcome of fasting depends on the perception and intention of the person. If someone understand its purpose and try to achieve its objective, he will become pious to the desired extent. I want to illustrate by one example. Dear brothers and sisters, there are essentially two components for every work done. First, is its purpose and a second is its method. For instance, why do we eat? Of course, we eat to remain alive and get energy from food. The method of achieving this goal is that you take a bite of food, put it in your mouth, chew it and push it below the throat. These four steps are done to achieve this object. But all of us know that the most important is the purpose of eating and not the steps which we follow. What would you say if someone takes a bite of mud or stones, put it in his mouth, chew it and gulp it? Obviously, you will consider him mad. Why? Because that idiot does not understand the real purpose of eating. Likewise, you will also call that person mad who soon after taking the food vomits it by thrusting his finger into his throat and then complains that I did not get any energy from the food.

17 17 Dear brothers and sisters, just think over this example and you can understand why our Ibadaat have become ineffective today. The greatest mistake of all of us is to regard only the acts of Salah and fasting as real "Ibadat" and we have misconception that whoever fulfills these acts has performed the "Ibadat of Allah". We are just like that person who thinks that performance of four acts, makes up the process of eating and achieve energy, irrespective of whether he pushed down in his stomach mud or stone, or vomited the bread soon after eating it. If we have a little sense then tell me how a man who is fasting and also engaged in backbiting and telling a lie? A man is fasting and also quarrel with other people and abuses frequently. A man is also fasting and at the same time he also encroaches on other people's right and indulges in acquiring illegal money. And having done all these wicked and bad deeds, he still thinks that he has performed fasting. The Prophet (may peace be upon him) said, Whoever does not give up telling lies (false statements) and acting on those lies, and evil actions etc., Allâh is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allâh will not accept his Saum (fasting) (Al Bukhari).

18 18 The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) also said: "Many of observers of fasting will not receive any reward from their fasting but the pain of hunger, and many of night worshippers will not receive any reward from their prayer but the loss of sleep." Holly Prophet (PBUH) also emphasized: As Siyam is a shield. On the day that one of you is fasting he must not speak bad and he must not become angry. If someone abuses him or fights him let him say I am fasting I am fasting. Dear brothers and sisters, I want to conclude my Khutaba on very beautiful quotation of renowned Islamic scholar of the present Muslim world. He said, "Before the advancement of medical science, the patients who were in coma or who were unconscious, normally finally checked by the mirror. A mirror was placed close to the nose of a patient. If some foggy sign appeared on the mirror then relatives and friends thought that some life is still left in the patient, otherwise they thought that the patient is died. Likewise if one wants to judge the character of Muslims, he should observe their behavior, attitude and daily routines during the month of Ramadan. If taqwa, fear from Allah, quest for doing good deeds, patience and passion for Ibada appears or increase in their lives and daily routines then it means Islam is still alive in their hearts. But if in Ramadan, the Muslims are still involved in bad and wicked deeds, they cannot not stop themselves from backbiting, telling lie and dishonesty then say Inna-Lillahi-Wa-Inna-Ilaihi-Rajiun

19 19 on those people and its means that no Islam is alive in their hearts and they are only Muslims by name. Dear brothers and sisters of Trondheim, I hope that we all observe fast with its real purpose and spirit. We will give more focus on our Ibadat, we will also try to understand the meanings of Quran and message of Allah, we will inshallah try to avoid all bad deeds, like backbiting, abusing or anger. Our character will be exemplary for our family, friends and for Muslims and non-muslims. We will be more generous during this month, we will also promote the beautiful Islamic tradition of opening Iftar together and invite our friends, relatives and other Muslim brothers and sisters. We will try our best to please our Allah. And InshAllah when Ramadan will be finished then our names will be among those people on which Allah put his mercy and blessing on the day of Judgment. In hadith, the Messenger of Allah (saw) says, "Ramadan has come to you. (It is) a month of blessing, in which Allah covers you with blessing, He sends down Mercy, decreases sins and answers prayers. In Ramadan, Allah looks at your competition (in good deeds), and boasts about you to His angels. So show Allah goodness from yourselves, for the unfortunate one is he who is deprived in (this month) of the mercy of Allah, the Mighty, the Exalted." [ImamTabarani].