FASTING AND THE QURAN

FASTING AND THE QURAN Acknowledging the Great Blessing The guidance given in the Quran is the best blessing to the humankind from God, because it shows man the path to ultimate success. It tells man how to conduct himself so that in his eternal life he can gain entry into Paradise. T HE Quran makes special mention of its revelation in the month of Ramadan, while making fasting in this month obligatory upon the followers. This indicates that there is a close link between Ramadan and the Quran. In the words of the Quran: The month of Ramadan is the month when the Quran was sent down as guidance for humankind with clear proofs of guidance and the criterion by which to distinguish right from wrong. Therefore, whoever of you is present in that month, let him fast; but he who is ill or on a journey shall fast a similar number of days later on. (2: 185) The revelation of Quran started in AD 610, in the month of Ramadan according to the lunar calendar. The first revelation was made to the Prophet when he was in the cave of Hira, and it continued for the next 23 years, finally reaching completion in Madinah. The guidance given in the Quran is the best blessing to the humankind from God, because it shows man the path to ultimate success. It tells man how to conduct himself so that in his eternal life he can gain entry into Paradise. Paradise is the goal of man. Fasting is the path to it. The month of Ramadan is the annual reminder of this blessing. The celebration of the revelation of the Quran is not observed in the usual way but by abstinence and being thankful to the Almighty. Fasting in this month is acknowledgment of the divine blessings. It is like saying, “O Lord I have heard, and I accept it.” This is a month during which the Quran should be read and understood. The Quran is specially recited in this month. In the night the Quran is also recited during Tarawih prayers (prayers offered in congregation in the night during Ramadan). This month has been made special so that the blessings of God may be counted even more. When the Quran is read during the month of its revelation, it reminds us of the time when the divine light from heaven fell upon the earth. Man remembers this and cries out, “O Lord, fill my heart with your