What happens to your body when you fast

Happiness is not so much in having as sharing !

“Why do you have to eat dates during your break fasting ya?” Su Ann asked me.To be honest , I was happy for the fact that Su Ann was curious about why we Muslims eat dates during Ramadhan. I started to explain the significance behind the eating of dates in the month of Ramadhan and then blurted out the word ‘Sunnah’ which I was quite surprised that Su Ann had no idea about this word. Alhamdulillah. I managed to answer quite a number of questions from this lady which is a close colleague of mine at the office. In fact, started to realize that I had the opportunity to explain so many things related to that particular question; given the fact the fact I can elaborate more and more and shared something about our beloved prophet. Subhanallah. Yes, even to that extent !

For me, Su Ann is a very devout christian who practices her religion. However, her interest in asking questions about Islam sometimes went beyond my expectations. Sometimes, in the midst of our conversation, she would ask me questions pertaining to Islam and also Muslims. It’s good and I really benefited a lot from this friendship. She used to ask me about marriage in Islam, Muslim name and several other things. In fact, I’ve also learnt more about Christianity from her. Alhamdullliah, working here is truly a blessings where I believe I can SHARE so many things about my faith.

Yes, the word of the day is SHARING. A very typical saying goes on to say that “Sharing is caring” or maybe some would rather say “Sharing is loving”. Yes, those sayings are very much typical but the reality behind it is much more significant and in fact very untypical ! As we all know, we live in this world with the spirit of sharing. We share the same air to breath, we look at the same sky and see the same bright sunny sunlight, we share the same bonding in the name of humanity and so on. All these and many more show how much pivotal sharing is in our lives. In fact, for Muslims all over the world, in this month of Ramadhan, we often hear them saying Ramadhan is the month where they share the feeling of those who had always in the state of inadequate ,insufficient, and had less than enough in their daily lives. That’s why they fast so that a shared feeling of inadequacy may be felt at least for one month.

For me, the month of Ramadhan is much more than that. It is not only the time we try to create a shared sense of feeling with the rest of our brothers and sisters in humanity, rather it is also a time where we share the message of Islam itself. Imagine the so many things that we can share during this blessed month. What is fasting? What is Ramadhan itself ? What is Sahur? Tarawih? Why dates and not strawberry =) and the list goes on !

Look at the list and we know that there are abundant of things we can share in this month of Ramadhan. Not only food for the physical body, but also food for the thoughts and souls !

In fact, I really urge all of you (me especially) to invite our non Muslim colleagues or friends to have Iftar with us. Forget about how special or not special the food is, the most important thing is the underlying significant and intention behind it. Definitely not about converting, rather it’s all about sharing. Alhamdulliah, I’ve started last year with Mr. Yee (I hope you still remember my post entitled “A simple Iftar, Tarawikh prayer, and a person called Mr. Yee )and this year I’m planning to have a couple of two Iftar with my non Muslim colleagues InsyaAllah. In fact, I even planned to have one with my students . May Allah make it easy InsyaAllah. Anyway, Happy Sharing !

Allahu A’lam.

Happiness is not so much in having as sharing. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

- Norman MacEwan

P/S: Any idea where should I bring my students =)

Ramadhan around the Globe =)

I's really nice to be part of the members of such a 
big huge family !

                       -Chinese Hui Muslim girls reading 
                             the Qur'an at Niujie Mosque China-

For more pictures, click here

Enjoy !

Why...Why the Masjid??

A person regular to the masjid(mosque) wrote a letter to the editor of as newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to the mosque.

“I’ve been going for 30 years now, and in that time I have heard something like 3,000lectures. But for the life of me, I can’t remember a single one of them. So, I think I’m wasting my time and the Imams are wasting theirs by giving lectures at all.”

This started a real controversy in the “Letters to the Editor” column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

“I’ve been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this: They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me those meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to the mosque for nourishment, I would have been spiritually dead today!”

When you are DOWN to nothing...Allah is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank Allah for our physical and spiritual nourishment. When Shaitan is knocking at your door, simply say, “Allah,could you please get that for me? “Say: ‘O my Lord, Let my entry be by the Gate of Truth and Honour and likewise my exit by the Gate of Truth and Honour, Grant me from Thy presence an authority to aid (me). And say,

‘Truth has (now) arrived, and falsehood perished: For falsehood is (by its nature) bound to perish.-(Holy Qur’an:17:80-81).

Allahu A'lam, Allah Knows best.

>>Images:Pixdaus.com
>>Article:credit to anonymous  =P

Why Do Muslims Fast?

 *Beautiful Article Written By Dr. Bilal Philips =)

Most of us who are fighting the battle of the bulge have experimented with some form of fasting, like an all fruit fast, a water fast or an sugar-free fast, you name it.  But what many may find rather strange and intriguing is a whole nation of people; be it man or woman, old or young, rich or poor; going completely without food and drink from dawn to dusk for a whole month - Ramadan.  What is the significance of Ramadan beyond shortened work hours?  Is it not a very harsh practice?  Is it merely a time when Muslims sleep and fast and hardly work all day; and eat, drink, enjoy and stay awake all night?  What really is the spirit of Ramadan?

Fasting Prescribed in All Religions

In English “fasting” means to abstain from food or from certain kinds of food voluntarily, as an observance of a holy day or as a token of grief, sorrow, or repentance.[1]  This practice can be found in most of the major religions of the world.  For example, in Hinduism, fasting in Sanskrit is called upavaasa.  Devout Hindus observe fasting on special occasions as a mark of respect to their personal gods or as a part of their penance.  Most devout Indians fast regularly or on special occasions like festivals.  On such days they do not eat at all, eat once or make do with fruits or a special diet of simple food.[2]  For Jews, the day Yom Kippur (“Day of Atonement”) is the last of the Ten Days of Repentance observed on the 10th of Tishri.  It is forbidden on that day to eat, drink, wash, wear leather, or have sexual relations.  In addition, prohibitions on labor similar to those on the Sabbath are in force.[3]  It should also be noted that Moses (peace be upon him) is recorded in the Torah to have fasted.

“And he was there with the Lord 40 days and 40 nights, he neither ate bread not drank water.” (Exodus 34:28)

For Catholics among Christians, Lent is the major season of fasting, imitative of the forty-day fast of Jesus (peace be upon him).  In the fourth century it was observed as six weeks of fasting before Easter or before Holy Week.  It was adjusted to forty days of actual fasting in most places in the seventh century.[4]  Jesus (peace be upon him) is recorded in the Gospels to have fasted like Moses.

“And he fasted 40 days and 40 nights, and afterward he was hungry.” (Matthew 4:2 & Luke 4:2)

It is in this context that God states in the Quran:

“O believers!  Fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you in order that you become more conscious of God.” (Quran 2:183)

Among the Best Righteous Deeds

Although in most religions, fasting is for expiation of sin or atonement for sin, in Islam it is primarily to bring one closer to God, as stated in the above-mentioned verse.  Since, God-consciousness is the prerequisite for righteousness, great stress is placed on fasting in Islam.  Thus, it is not surprising to find that when Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, was asked:

“Which is the best deed?”  He replied, “Fasting, for there is nothing equal to it.” (Al-Nasa’i)

There are as many levels of fasting as there are facets to being human.  Proper fasting should encompass all dimensions of human existence for it to have the divinely intended effect.  The following are some of the major levels of fasting:

The Levels of Fasting

The Ritual Level

This level of fasting requires that the basic rules for fasting be fulfilled, which are avoiding food, drink and sexual intercourse between dawn and sunset for 29 or 30 days each year.  On this level, one is basically following the letter of the laws regarding fasting without particular consideration for the spirit of fasting.  It is the entrance level which must be fulfilled for the fast to be Islamicly correct, but the other levels must be added for the fast to have any real impact on the fasting person.  Fasting on this level alone will not benefit one spiritually, except from the perspective of submission to divine instructions, if one chooses to follow the ritual consciously and not merely according to tradition.  Thus, by itself, the ritual level will not purify one of sin or atone for sin.

The Physical Level

Fasting on the “physical” level causes the fasting person to experience the pangs of hunger and thirst when the prophetic (Sunnah) way of fasting is observed.  Prophet Muhammad used to consume a very light meal before the dawn (suhoor) and moderate meal (iftaar) to break the fast at sunset, while scrupulously avoiding filling his stomach.  He is reported to have said:

“The worst container a human being can fill is his stomach.  A few morsels of food to keep a person’s back straight are sufficient.  However, if his desire overcomes him, then let him eat a third, drink a third and leave a third for breathing.” (Ibn Majah)

The Prophet used to break his fast with a few fresh or dried dates and a glass of water just before beginning the sunset prayer.[5]  This level allows the fasting person to experience the pangs of hunger and thirst and thereby develops sympathy in him or her for those starving and dying of thirst in other parts of the world.

Medical Benefits

On the physical level, some chemicals in the brain that transmit messages and create feelings, called neurotransmitters, are affected by fasting.  Fasting encourages the endorphin neurotransmitter system, related to the feeling of well being and euphoria, to produce more endorphins and, in fact, makes us “feel” better.  This is similar to the effect of exercise (but without the physical work).It has also been noted by medical experts that fasting improves the physical health in numerous ways.  For example, during the fast the body uses up stored cholesterol (fat) that is often deposited in the blood system, as well as in other fatty areas of the body.  Thus, it helps to keep the body firm and minimizes the danger of heart attacks.  The difference between the ritual level 1 and the physical level 2 is that a person dong only ritual fasting may eat large meals prior to beginning the fast and immediately upon ending the fast, and thus not feel any hunger or thirst throughout the whole month.  However, like level one, if the fasting person does not incorporate the other levels of fasting, the fast will only be physically exhausting.  The Prophet said:

“Perhaps a fasting person will gain nothing but hunger and thirst from fasting.”(Ibn Majah)

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Footnotes:

[1] Webster’s New Twentieth Century Dictionary of the English Language, p. 665.

[2] Saranam.com/Hindu Encyclopedia.

[3] Dictionary of World Religions, p. 817.

[4] Dictionary of World Religions, p. 425.

[5] Abu Dawud

Ramadhan: A Gift To The Beloved

Subhanallah, it’s been halfway already for the fasting month of Ramadhan.
I couldn’t say anything but time is moving extremely fast. I feel like I am still walking at a slow pace while Ramadhan is gearing up and racing at such an extreme pace leaving me thousand miles behind!. In fact it’s been 15 days already!.

Wow, this is really frightening if you ask me. Why is it frightening anyway?.

The fact that I had not taken seriously the ‘prize’ that all the people along the way had reminded me with if I win this ‘race’ is definitely something which is very shameful and such a big lost. Meaning that, along the way there are so many people supporting me and keep encouraging me to reach my final destination as the prize is really worth to be won. In fact, you cannot get it in a normal competition or race. The race is something which only takes place once in a year and you cannot guarantee yourself that you can enter the same race next year!.Yes, who knows, you might not live that longer or you might even be sick at that particular moment.

However, the problem is, despite that I know such ‘prize’ is extremely valuable, still I am moving at a slow pace. Why does it happen anyway?. Isn’t it supposed to be that, the ‘prize’ would motivate me to try my best to win this race? Or is it that, I am not interested with the prize? This one, I don’t think so. Erm..I assume that maybe I don’t put myself wholeheartedly to this race. That is why, sometimes I run fast but most of the time I am walking though!.

Dear friends, I am so sorry if I have put jigsaw puzzle in your mind. You might even think that I am hallucinating I guess! =D
I can assure you that I’m not! What I am trying to imply here is, this month of Ramadhan is something like a race as I see it. The ‘supporters’ would be the verses from the Qur’an and the sayings of Rasulullah as to show how they are telling us so many wisdoms behind the month of Ramadhan and thus encouraging us to increase our deeds or ‘amal .In fact, Taqwa (God Fearing) is said to be the prominent goal for fasting as it is mentioned in one of the verses of the Qur’an. As such, the final destination of the race exemplifies Taqwa. The ‘prize’ would be the so many bounties, blessings and gifts which are bestowed from God to the human being. What makes you qualify to gain and acquire this is when, you wholeheartedly embrace the spirit of Ramadhan and subsequently try the best of your ability to reach your final destination which is Taqwa. Only then, you would know how significant it is to measure your pace-whether to make it faster or even ending the race in a slow manner..(Drum please!!)....And the winner is....

AllahuA’lam (Allah knows Best).

A Moment of Reflection

Until this post is written, it’s been five days already for Ramadhan. One of the months in Islamic Calendar (Hijri Calendar) where almost all people from every corner of the world would never forget its tremendous significance and bounties contained in it. Besides fasting, Ramadhan is such a best time to ponder and reflect ourselves for whatever we have done for the past few months. What have we done to be a better Muslim in particular and what have we done to the societies to create a better world to live in. As a matter of fact, there are some people who managed to celebrate Ramadhan last year, but for this year, they are no longer with us. Indeed, that is the reality of life. Truly, Allah is most loving.

Nobody can assure you that you can celebrate Ramadhan in the future. What more to assure you that you would still breathing tomorrow. That is why, we should take this opportunity. Alhamdulillah, praises to God, I am still able to celebrate Ramadhan this year. Nevertheless, it does not mean that I should take this for granted; rather what I am supposed to do is to embrace the spirit of Ramadhan wholeheartedly. Yes, that is definitely what is ought to be done!.If you were to make a list of what Ramadhan is all about, definitely words like mercy, bounties, thankful, patience, gratefulness, endurance, charities, willing submission, being gratitude for whatever you have in possession, God’s compassion and etc cannot be neglected at the first place. As such, it is not surprising why in the month of Ramadhan even a piece of dry bread can be the most valuable divine bounty in the eyes of a believer. The fact that at other times of the year, most people who are not in difficult circumstances do not realize the many bounties that they have made them to realize it when it is the time to break the fast. Thus, fasting is definitely seen as the key to gratitude.
In addition to that, Ramadhan as I see it can be the most suitable time to make some changes or amendments in your personal behaviour and to some extent your daily routines maybe. For instance, if you find it difficult to perform Fajr prayer before, it is assumed that it would be easier now as you have to wake up early for Sahur. If you love to backbite and slandering before, it is assumed that now you can replace those improper behaviours by making yourself busy with activities like reciting Qur’an, glorifying God’s name and seeking forgiveness for sins. It is then understandable why is that the most excellent fasting is to make the human senses and organs like the eyes, ears, hearts and thoughts, fast together with the stomach. Try to look at Ramadhan in a complete picture and you can feel the difference!!.InsyaAllah.
Allahu’Alam(Allah knows Best).

P/s: Hopefully it is not too late for me to wish all of you out there, Ramadhan Kareem !!. May Allah bless you and shower you with so many blessings on this blessed month. Sometimes I feel envy looking at those kids coming with their families to perform Taraweeh(Optional prayer in Ramadhan)at our mosque. Subhanallah, they are indeed very fortunate. I personally had no experience of doing that before..The reason?..God willing, I’ll tell you one day.

Repentance A Bountiful Blessing

*Credit to Emel Magazine & Sh. Suhaib Webb


Imam Suhaib Webb reflects on Ramadan.
As the warm breeze of Ramadan settles, we are reminded of the Prophet’s statement, ‘Upon the arrival of Ramadan the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained.’ Ramadan brings with it a host of possibilities. Look at it as a chance to enter into a garden filled with fresh fruits, luscious vegetables and beautiful flowers. Some will fill their baskets to the brim, others will fill them half way, and some will fail to fill their baskets with anything.
Those who filled their baskets will have done so with a varied harvest; some choosing the best the garden has to offer, while others simply settle for those of a lesser quality. One of the best fruits we can reap during this month is one of the most difficult to attain. Its fruit is not found on the ground having fallen from a tree, nor is it found amongst the lower branches. This fruit is found at the highest part of the tree and getting to it takes effort, patience and most importantly truthfulness with oneself. This is the fruit of repentance and reflection. ‘Repent to God, oh believers, and you will be successful.’

Success is a tough word
Success is a tough word, it haunts us at work, home and school. And like a beneficial medicine, it is not easy to swallow. The reality of success is that it is anchored in the tangible; it is not a theoretical enterprise, but, as we say in the United States, “requires one to strap on his boots”.
The Arabs understood this well, thus the word for success falah is associated with the one who farms or harvests al-falaah because the latter cannot come without diligence and hard work. So, repentance is a substantial enterprise, an effort, a struggle towards spiritual inventory. Caliph Umar said, “Audit yourselves before you are audited by God.” Hassan, the Prophet’s grandson also explains this concept. He said, “Those who have the easiest time in the hereafter are those who are keen to call themselves to account in this life.”
Returning to God while struggling to swim the deep seas of life is a difficult enterprise, no one likes to hear bad things about themselves. But if we are able, during this blessed month, to sit and audit ourselves, to take account of our spiritual principals; investigating our true state and relation with God, family and others, we will have reaped the fruits of a blessed harvest; setting the stage for a new course in our relationship with the Most Merciful. Once the Prophet ascended the pulpit and at each step he was heard saying, “Ameen”. Later the companions enquired about the Prophet’s statement upon which he responded that Gabriel came to him supplicating against three types of people, one was he who failed to repent during the month of Ramadan thereby failing to be forgiven for his sins.

Overcoming the Obstacles
There are a number of obstacles that lurk hidden for the one who seeks repentance. Perhaps the greatest is the feeling of fear and despondence. Many feel that it is simply too late to change: “I’ve done my dirt and there is simply no way to get back on track.”
Firstly, let’s understand that sinning is part of human nature. The Prophet, peace be upon him said, “Every person commits sins. And the best sinners are those who repent.” Many have claimed that the feelings of profound guilt and depression regarding their state, chain them from turning to God. This is one of the greatest tricks of the Devil; closing the door of hope to God’s mercy after sinning. Once a man came to the mosque of the Prophet complaining about his sins; the man was so overcome and saddened by his state that the Prophet said to him, “Say this: O God, your forgiveness is greater than my sins and my hope in Your mercy is greater to me than my [evil] actions.”
The man said this and the Prophet said to him, “Say it again.” The man repeated it, then the Prophet said to him, “Say it again.” The man did it and the Prophet said to him, “Arise for, indeed, God has forgiven you!”
For this reason Ibn Kathir reports that the Prophet, upon him be peace, said about the verse, “Say [Muhammad] to My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of God’s mercy. Indeed, God forgives all sins and He is the One who forgives and is Merciful”, “It is more beloved to me than anything under the Heavens and on Earth.”
Secondly, sins should be seen as a strategy for one to turn in humility back to God. One of the early scholars said that, “A person could enter Paradise because of a sin he committed.” Upon hearing this, his student challenged him by asking, “How could that be?” The scholar responded: “The sinner persistently thinks about it, which causes him to fear it, regret it, weep over it and feel humiliated in front of his Lord due to it. He stands before God, broken-hearted, with his head lowered in humility. So this sin is more beneficial to him than doing many acts of obedience, since it caused him to have humility and humbleness – which leads to his happiness and success – to the extent that this sin prevents him from entering Paradise.”
Thirdly, rebounding from sin is one of the simple fruits related to our success. If we were to ask many people what it was that brought them back to faith, many would mention a mistake they made in the past. The Prophet said, “Repentance is regret.” That regret is one of our greatest fears. In reality, however, it is a mercy from God which pricks at our conscience until we ultimately return to Him.
God says, “And [He also forgave] the three who were left behind [and regretted their error] to the point that the Earth closed in on them in spite of its vastness, and their souls confined them and they were certain that there is no refuge from God except in Him. Then He turned to them so they could repent. Indeed, God is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.” (9:118) Notice the wording at the end of this verse “Then He turned to them so they could repent.” Thus, repentance doesn’t start with the sinner, but begins when God turns to him with His mercy, love and compassion; awakening his heart with guilt, gently guiding him to His forgiveness. The sinner was lost in a sea of confusion and misery and God found him, guided him and forgave him.
The Prophet, upon him be peace, said: “God has greater joy at the repentance of one His servants when he turns towards Him than one of you would have over his mount, which, having escaped from him saddled with food and drink in the middle of the desert, so that he has despaired of finding it and gone to a tree to lie down in its shade, it suddenly appears standing by him while he is in that state, so that he takes its reins and then says out of the intensity of his joy, ‘O God, You are my slave and I am Your Lord!’ getting confused because of his intense joy.”
Fourth, I’ve done so many things in the past and failed to repent. How is it that, after all of these years, I could face God with such a blackened record? The Prophet, upon him be peace, said, “God the Mighty and Majestic accepts the repentance of His servant as long as his death-rattle has not begun.” Thus, no matter when, as long as one turns to God seeking His forgiveness, only then can that person expect to be forgiven.
Furthermore, there is no sin greater than God’s ultimate mercy and forgiveness. The Prophet, upon him be peace said:”God the Almighty has said: ‘O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me, and hope in Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds in the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I shall forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with an earthful of sins and were you then to face Me, without having associated anything with Me, I shall grant you an earthful of pardon.’”
Ibn Rajab noted that this Prophetic tradition begins with “O son of Adam” because of its context, repentance and forgiveness. Thus, when one despairs over his mistakes and shortcomings, he should recall God’s favour upon mankind, exercised upon their forefather Adam. Thus, just as Adam repented to his Lord and, as noted in the Qur’an, “He immediately forgave him,” his offspring should do the same.

The Qualities of Repentance
Scholars noted that sound repentance should be coupled with the following qualities: 1) Leaving the sin 2) Regret, and 3) Resolving never to return to the sin again.
The month of Ramadan is a time of serious reflection, increased awareness and devotion. Its beginning is mercy and its ending is marked by forgiveness and salvation. Let us take advantage of this time to set aright our affairs, rebounding from our mistakes and sins from the past. Let us turn to the Most Merciful.