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 Religious Duties 3


Fasting
Siyaam



Al Siyaam = Fasting
(The "A" is pronounced as the a in "Calm")

Fasting is decreed for us on the month of Ramadaan, the 9th Hijri lunar month according to the Submission's calendar, it has a TGV of (AlSiyaam = 318) which is the same TGV as the statement "There is no God except He",

[3:18] GOD bears witness that there is no god except He, and so do the angels and those who possess knowledge. Truthfully and equitably, He is the absolute god; there is no god but He, the Almighty, Most Wise.



Fasting details are in verses 2:183-187 in Quran.

Added on  9/25/2007 (Ramadan, 1428 AH)



Correction of the time of Fasting in Ramadan:



fastingtime




Nowadays Muslims fast from Fajr (Dawn) till Maghrib (Sunset), this practice has been distorted long ago, and a generation handed it down to the next till this day that God has revealed to us the correct method. Fasting should be practiced from Fajr to Isha or literally from the first appearance of twilight in the sky to its complete disappearance at night.

The following verse makes it clear:

[2:187] Permitted for you is sexual intercourse with your wives during the nights of fasting. They are the keepers of your secrets, and you are the keepers of their secrets. GOD knew that you used to betray your souls, and He has redeemed you, and has pardoned you. Henceforth, you may have intercourse with them, seeking what GOD has permitted for you. You may eat and drink until the white thread of light becomes distinguishable from the dark thread of night at dawn. Then, you shall fast until night. Sexual intercourse is prohibited if you decide to retreat to the masjid (during the last ten days of Ramadan). These are GOD's laws; you shall not transgress them. GOD thus clarifies His revelations for the people, that they may attain salvation.


The underlined word above was translated by Rashad Khalifa into (Sunset) while in Arabic the word is "Al Layl = The night" which is the same word mentioned in verse [11:114] referring to the night prayer. This is not a mistake on the messenger's part, but at his time God hadn't had revealed yet the correct practice, so Rashad kept the distorted one which is fasting till sunset.

So Fasting shall be from the start of dawn till the end of dusk.



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