Fasting During Ramadan

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Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Every day during this month, Muslims around the world spend the daylight hours in a complete fast.

During the blessed month of Ramadan, Muslims all over the world abstain from all food, drink, and other physical needs during the daylight hours. Ramadan is much more than just not eating and drinking; it is a time to purify the soul, refocus attention on God, and practice self-discipline and sacrifice.

Here are some ways you can help prepare for your child to participate during the fasting month.

• Discuss honestly in open the importance of setting one’s intentions to fast for the sake and pleasure of Allah subhanallahu wa Ta’ala, and Him alone. Share all the Islamic principles of this one selfless act and the grave rewards towards the giving of oneself purely as a devout servant of God. These strong deep intentions much be at the root of their fast and must proceed the physical action of fasting. Since the intention of fasting must be made the night before, make the intentions together as a family each night.
• Create an atmosphere that encourages your children to want to fast. As minors, children must ask and seek permission from their parents to fast. While making intentions together the night before fasting in Ramadan, permission should be sought at the same time. This able request must be sincere and come from the child, not a forced action from the parent to the child.
• The mental, emotional, moral, and Islamic habits of fasting are much more important than the act of fasting from worldly things like food and drink. Break your children’s fast if they pout, have a bad attitude, or argue.
• Pick what you want to eat for “Sahur” together the night before.
• Prepare “Sahur” together before you go to sleep. Have ingredients out, fruits pre-cut, foods defrosting, etc.

Happy Fasting to all Muslims

 [:zh]

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Every day during this month, Muslims around the world spend the daylight hours in a complete fast.

During the blessed month of Ramadan, Muslims all over the world abstain from all food, drink, and other physical needs during the daylight hours. Ramadan is much more than just not eating and drinking; it is a time to purify the soul, refocus attention on God, and practice self-discipline and sacrifice.

Here are some ways you can help prepare for your child to participate during the fasting month.

• Discuss honestly in open the importance of setting one’s intentions to fast for the sake and pleasure of Allah subhanallahu wa Ta’ala, and Him alone. Share all the Islamic principles of this one selfless act and the grave rewards towards the giving of oneself purely as a devout servant of God. These strong deep intentions much be at the root of their fast and must proceed the physical action of fasting. Since the intention of fasting must be made the night before, make the intentions together as a family each night.
• Create an atmosphere that encourages your children to want to fast. As minors, children must ask and seek permission from their parents to fast. While making intentions together the night before fasting in Ramadan, permission should be sought at the same time. This able request must be sincere and come from the child, not a forced action from the parent to the child.
• The mental, emotional, moral, and Islamic habits of fasting are much more important than the act of fasting from worldly things like food and drink. Break your children’s fast if they pout, have a bad attitude, or argue.
• Pick what you want to eat for “Sahur” together the night before.
• Prepare “Sahur” together before you go to sleep. Have ingredients out, fruits pre-cut, foods defrosting, etc.

Happy Fasting to all Muslims

 [:id]Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Every day during this month, Muslims around the world spend the daylight hours in a complete fast.

During the blessed month of Ramadan, Muslims all over the world abstain from all food, drink, and other physical needs during the daylight hours. Ramadan is much more than just not eating and drinking; it is a time to purify the soul, refocus attention on God, and practice self-discipline and sacrifice.

Here are some ways you can help prepare for your child to participate during the fasting month.

• Discuss honestly in open the importance of setting one’s intentions to fast for the sake and pleasure of Allah subhanallahu wa Ta’ala, and Him alone. Share all the Islamic principles of this one selfless act and the grave rewards towards the giving of oneself purely as a devout servant of God. These strong deep intentions much be at the root of their fast and must proceed the physical action of fasting. Since the intention of fasting must be made the night before, make the intentions together as a family each night.
• Create an atmosphere that encourages your children to want to fast. As minors, children must ask and seek permission from their parents to fast. While making intentions together the night before fasting in Ramadan, permission should be sought at the same time. This able request must be sincere and come from the child, not a forced action from the parent to the child.
• The mental, emotional, moral, and Islamic habits of fasting are much more important than the act of fasting from worldly things like food and drink. Break your children’s fast if they pout, have a bad attitude, or argue.
• Pick what you want to eat for “Sahur” together the night before.
• Prepare “Sahur” together before you go to sleep. Have ingredients out, fruits pre-cut, foods defrosting, etc.

Happy Fasting to all Muslims

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