Unanswered questions about fasting
O believers! Fasting is incumbent (decreed) to you as it was incumbent to those who were before you that you may guard yourself. 2: 184
یا ایها الذین آمنوا کتب علیکم الصیام کما کتب علی الذین من قبلکم لعلّکم تتقونّ..
Those who remember God while standing, sitting and reclining on their sides and think about the creation of the heavens and earth, they say, ‘Our Lord! You have not created all these in vain. 3: 191
الذین یذکرون الله قیاما وقعودا وعلی جنوبهم ویتفکرون فی خلق السموات والارض، ربنا ماخلقت هذا باطلا.
In which way people and things are different?
Though all beings in the universe such as angels, solids, plants, and animals are determined beforehand with restricted life-spectrum; human beings are the sole semi-authorized beings with a very extensive life-spectrum from lower than animals to higher than angels.
“Truly We created human being in the best setting for spiritual growth, then We turned him down to the lowest of the low.” 95: 4, 5
لقد خلقنا الانسان فی احسن تقویم، ثمّ رددناه اسفل سافلین.
“Do you think most of them hear or understand? They are just like animals rather more misguided.” 24: 44
ام تحسب انّ اکثرهم بسمعون او یعقلون؟ ان هم الاّ کالانعام بل هم اضلّ سبیلا.
The make-up of man whether inexperienced or experienced is the same. In other words, God has made every single Adam’s offspring genetically (formatively) godly.
“When your Lord took the witness from the back of all descendents of Adam against them, I am not your Lord? All said, “Yes we bear witness” Lest you say on the Day of Resurrection, “we were not aware of this” 7: 172
واذ اخذ ربک من بنی آدم من ظهورهم ذرّیتهم واشهدهم علی انفسهم، الست بربکم؟ قالوا بلی، ان تقولوا یوم القیامه اناّ کنا عن هذا غافلین.
And God has called the inexperienced one “human” and He introduced him 65 times throughout the Holy Qur'an with the following characters totally different from the experienced one.
“God wishes to lighten the burden of man for he has been created weak.” 4: 28
یرید الله ان یخففّ عنکم، وخلق الانسان ضعیفاً.
“Truly man is highly unjust (to a great degree) and highly infidel.” 14: 34
انّ الانسان لظلوم کفاّر.
“Man has been highly hasty.” 17: 11
وکان الانسان عجولاً.
“Say if you had the treasures of the Mercy of my Lord, certainly you would have withheld them for fear of spending, for man is highly stingy”.17: 100
قل لوانتم تملکون خزائن رحمه ربیّ اذاً لامسکتم خشیه الانفاق، وکان الانسان قتوراً.
“Truly We inflected every kind of example (give every example) in this Qur'an but man is more apt to dispute.” 18: 54
ولقد صرفناّ فی هذا القرآن من کلّ مثل وکان الانسان اکثرجدلاً.
“Truly he is highly unjust, highly ignorant.” 33: 72
انّه کان ظلوماً جهولاً.
“Truly man is highly greedy, hoarding wealth by putting in a container. He is impatient when afflicted by evil, and stingy when blessed by wealth.” 70: 18-21
انّ الانسان خلق هلوعا، وجمع فاوعی، اذامسّه الشرّ جزوعا، واذامسّه الخیرمنوعاً.
Due to human is neither fully authorized nor fully predetermined but a situation in between, and due to his primitive characters of “struggling of existence”, he cannot live in comfort unless being guided legislatively through messenger of God.
“Indeed, We sent our messengers supported by clear proofs and sent down with the book and the scale (the laws) in order that people uphold true justice.” 57: 25
لقد ارسلنارسلنا بالبیناّت وانزلنا معهم الکتاب والمیزان لیقوم الناس بالقسط.
But because the genetic (formative) guidance is not enough to keep all human on the right path; by sending one after another messengers, the Compassionate God, through His Mercy, has ever showered His creatures with a free gift one after another as the second way of guidance known as “legislative guidance”, and fasting is one His gifts to purify them physically and spiritually as well as individually and socially without they had any knowledge about it.
“O believers! Fasting has been prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those who were before you that you may guard yourselves.” 2: 183
یا ایها الذین آمنوا کتب علیکم الصیام کما کتب علی الذین من قبلکم لعلّکم تتقوّن.
“In his discussion with polytheists, Abraham said, ‘if my Lord had not guided me, certainly I would have been of the erring people.” 6: 77
قال لئن لم یهدنی ربّی لاکوننّ من القوم الضالۀین.
Since raw human (inexperienced) is totally different from experienced one; to classify them the Holy Qur'an has just called the inexperienced one “human being” while the experienced one are named either true faithful, polytheist or hypocrite, depending on how earnestly they admit, or how partially (half-way) they deal with the laws prescribed by their own related prophets.
The two verses at the end of chapter 33, demonstrates how the highly unjust and ignorant human convert into hypocrites, polytheists and believers after accepting or refusing God’s guardianship.
Truly We offered Our trust (guardianship) to the heavens, the earth and the mountains, but they refused to bear it and were afraid of it, whereas human accepted it while he was highly unjust and ignorant. This offering was to punish the hypocrite men and women and polytheists men and women, and redeem believing men and women for God is the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.33: 72, 73
اناّ عرضنا الامانه علی السموات والارض والجبال فابین ان یحملنها واشفقنمنهاوحملها الانسان انّه کان ظلوما جهولا لیعذّب المنافقین والمنافقات والمشرکین والمشرکات ویتوب الله علی المومنین والمومنات وکان الله غفوراً رحیما.
“It is He who sends down to his servant clear signs to take you out of the darkness of ignorance into the light of faith, for God is truly Compassionate, the Most Merciful to you.” 57: 9
هو الذی ینزّل علی عبده آیات بیناّت لیخرجکم من الظلمات الی النوروانّ الله بکم لروف رحیم.
And Imam (AS) explains and asks God’s gifts in this way,
O Allah! I beseech (earnestly ask) for your most pleasant gift while all your gifts are pleasant. O Allah! I earnestly ask for all your gifts.
اللهمّ انیّ اسئلک من عطلئک باهناه وکلّ عطائک هنیئ ، اللهم انیّ اسئلک بعطائک کلّه.
If people really knew what are exactly the underlying principles fasting rules and how they have to deal with them to gain countless physical, moral and spiritual benefits; they would never disregard them heedlessly. That is because God, the Most High; after considering His far-reaching Wisdom, decisive Will, absolute Justice, unlimited Mercy, Overbearing Power, penetrating knowledge, and unexpressive Compassion; has prescribed fasting for Islamic community. Therefore after observing all conditions that will happen in future, God made fasting incumbent. As a result, no one with any level of understanding at any time can make fasting rules invalid nor anyone will get hurt from performing them if they are done appropriately according to the Qur'an and the true tradition of the prophet.
But if fasting rules seem to certain people strange, it might be due to their lack of insight which cannot see through their true natures. That is why God purposely has revealed in the Holy Qur'an that you will never find any defect in any part of His creation.
“You will never see any defect or incongruity (lack of harmony) in the creation of the Most Gracious. Keep looking again and again, do you see any defect? Looking repeatedly, your eyes will return to you shameful and exhausted without finding any inconsistency.”67: 3, 4
ما تری قی خلق الرحمن من تفاوت، فارجع البصرهل تری من فطور؟ ثمّ ارجع الصرکرتینّ ینقلب الیک البصرخاسئا وهوحسیر.
Whatever wrong it may seem, is from the blackness (pupil) of our eyes, otherwise there is no mistake with the inventive power of God.
خطا هرآنچه رود، ازسواد دیده ماست وگرنه درقلم صنع، اشتباهی نیست
Our spiritual guide said there is nothing wrong with the inventive power of God. Praise is due to him whose good opinion will cover his mistake
پیرما گفت، خطا برقلم صنع، نرفت آفرین برنظرپاک خطاپوشش، باد
Imam Mohammad Baqer (AS), inspired by the Holy Qur'an, has beautifully and explicitly disclosed some of God’s self-attributes to display that the Devine laws happened as a result of His self-attributes. In his famous supplication known as “Dawn prayer” one can get more information about God’s self-attributes.
A few of God’s self-attributes with regard to His inventive power
1-O Allah! I beseech (earnestly ask) for your broadest Mercy while all Your Mercies are broad. O Allah! I earnestly ask for all your Mercies.
اللهمّ انیّ اسئلک من رحمتک باوسعها وکلّ رحمتک واسعه. اللهمّ انیّ اسئلک برحمتک کلهاّ.
2-O Allah! I beseech for your endorsing (full support) Will while all Your Will is endorsing. O Allah! I earnestly ask for all your Will.
اللهمّ انیّ اسئلک من مشیتّک بامضاها وکلّ مشیتّک ماضیه. اللهمّ انیّ اسئلک بمشیتکّ ماضیه.
3-O Allah! I beseech for your overbearing Power which overbears everything while all Your Power is overbearing. O Allah! I earnestly ask for all your Power.
اللهمّ انیّ اسئلک من قدرتک التی استطلت بها علی کلّ شیئ وکل، قدرتک مستطیله. اللهم انیّ اسئلک بقدرتک کلهاّ.
4-O Allah! I beseech for your penetrating Knowledge while all your Knowledge is penetrating. O Allah! I earnestly ask for all your Knowledge.
اللهمّ انیّ اسئلک من علمک بانفذه وکلّ علمک نافذ. اللهم انیّ اسئلک بعلمک کلّه.
5-O Allah! I beseech for your most everlasting Authority while all Your Authority is everlasting. O Allah! I earnestly ask for all your everlasting Authority.
اللهمّ انیّ اسئلک من سلطا نک بادومه وکلّ سلطا نک دائم. اللهمّ انیّ اسئلک بسلطا نک کلهّ.
6-O Allah! I beseech for Your most significant Kingdom while all Your Kingdoms are significant. O Allah! I earnestly ask for your significant Kingdom.
اللهمّ انیّ اسئلک من ملکک بافخره وکلّ ملکک فاخر. اللهمّ انیّ اسئلک بملکک فاخر.
7-O Allah! I beseech for your loveliest beneficence (performance of good deed) while all your beneficence is lovely. O Allah! I earnestly ask for all your beneficences.
اللهمّ انیّ اسئلک من احسانک باحسنه وکل احسانک حسن. اللهمّ انیّ اسئلک باحسانک کلهّ.
The aim of this article is to answer the following questions were not answered so far
1-With the new diets for health, fasting does not seem to be fashionable anymore.
2-Why fasting season is not fixed by solar calendar?
3-Why people’s routine schedules are totally overwhelmed in fasting month?
4-Does summer fasting differ from winter fasting?
5-Why fasting is decreed for days but night praying is incumbent for nights?
6-Why fasting display is permissible?
7-Should we still break fast when traveling while it is now easy and fast?
8-How about fasting in north or in the south-pole?
9-Is there any physical health with waking hours at night and eating and sleeping less?
10-why the night of power is roughly within the last third portion of fasting month?
11- To whom do angels and the soul come down every year at the Night of Power?
12-Why should eulogize the Prophet before asking God?
1- With the new diets for health, fasting does not seem to be fashionable anymore.
Disregarding physiological facts and pride oneself on their knowledge, certain physicians allege that Islamic fasting without drinking water for health and losing weight is harmful while it is not fashionable anymore with today hew diets. They believe that Islamic fasting imposed by God is just for losing weight, so it is no more fashionable to be used by most people, whereas its spiritual growth is more exciting than its health improvement. It is just because health improvement is an individual matter, while Islamic fasting is to improve both spiritual and physical health individually and socially.
As for drinking water and proving that their claim is totally erroneous, suffice it to see when you fast do some physical exercise or think deeply about some difficult problems to find its answer. During this process, your muscle or brain must use some glucose (sugar) as required energy. So you feel after a while that you have to go to the bath room to discharge urine while you have not drunk water for hours. If those who fast know how to eat and drink properly, they can save more water to use it when they need later in the fasting day. That is why a special nutrition section is set apart for in the Holy Qur'an. And special eating time-table is considered for fasting month.
“O people! Eat of what is in the earth lawful and good and clean but do not follow Devil’s footsteps, for he is truly your open enemy.” 2: 168
یا ایها الناس کلوا مماّ فی الارض حلالاً طیبّاً ولا تتبعّوا خطوات الشیطان انهّ لکم عدوّ مبین.
All people are addressed to get food through their lawful job not to cheat others, and free of toxic materials. Applying this way of life not only will improve physical health on individual level but cultivate mutual relationship on social level as well. Practicing such eating program, we put our body absolutely harmonious with nature to get the best physical and spiritual benefit as we come closer to the end of this month. Eating right foods at the right time, we make our body and mind stronger than before. That is why the Night of Power is almost within the last third section of this month. This is because its heavy program taking hours standing, praying and meditating at night needs more physical stamina, conscious mind, and more training for performing religious duties cheerfully. So we should take the Night of Power seriously because the Most Compassionate God has designated the day and night absolutely from one another. As He has designed days for transaction and fasting, He appointed nights for rest and meditation.
“Indeed, God assigns the night and day.” 73: 20
والله یقدرّ الیل والنهار.
“O wrapped with mantle! Rise at night for pray but a little, half of it or a little less or a little more and read the Qur'an slowly and distinctly. Indeed We will soon dictate a heavy word to you, in fact, night proceeding (praying) has deadly effect, and words are more appropriate with the presence of mind. Truly you will be more involved during day. Thus withdraw from the world and devote yourself with an exclusive devotion to the Lord of the east and west, there is no god but He, thus take Him as your Protector.” 73: 1-9
یا ایها المزمّل، قم الیل الاّ قلیلا، نصفه اوانقص منه قلیلاف اوزدعلیه ورتلّ القرآن ترتیلا، اناّ سنلقی علیک قولاً ثقیلاً، انۀ ناشئه الیل هی اشدّ وطاً واقوم قیلاً، انّ لک فی النهارسبحا طویلا، واذکراسم ربکّ وتبتلّ الیه تبتیلاً..رب المشرق والمغرب لا اله الا هو فاتخذه وکیلا.
Is not He who responds the desperate when calls Him who relieves adversity? 27: 62
امنّ یجیب المضطرّ اذا دعاه ویکشف السوء؟
“Say, My Lord would not care about you if it were not your earnest call.” 25” 77
قل ما یعبوا بکم ربیّ لولا دعا ئکم.
Looking the first crescent of the moon, the Honored prophet of Islam has maid this supplication, ‘O Allah! Protect us against any harm (committing no sin) in this month, and receive this month from us perfectly (doing what is due), and keep us safe and sound (physically and spiritually) in this month; indeed you have exempted us, forgave us and had mercy upon us by the blessings of this month.
الهمّ سلمناّ لشهررمضان وتسلّمه مناّ وسلمناّ فیه وقدعفوت عناّ وغفرت لنا ورحمتنا.
How eating program in this month would make our mind and body stronger?
Proper eating and drinking before dawn brings enough energy and water to our body to secure our activity later during our fasting day. Physical activity or thinking process needs more glucose as fuel (energy). When the reserved glycogen breaks down into glucose to release its energy, this process for two reasons brings more water into blood system known as “metabolic water”.
You may know that routinely 70% of our food item should be of carbohydrates in the form of complex and simple sugar such as bread, rice, grain, fruits, honey and particularly dates. And the extra carbohydrates eaten will be saved into glycogen accompanied by one and half time of water. Again when the body breaks down the molecule of glucose to release its energy, this also makes some more water molecules to cool down the body.
Have you ever thought why date palms grow at the border of desert and tropical areas? Did you know eating dates is the best way to keep desert travelers alive during their trip in waterless desert? And did you know why camel with its hump is the best vehicle for desert travel? And who did design these two for those living near desert?
You may be surprised why those who fast are routinely advised to break their fast by drinking warm water and eating dates to replenish their body reserve of glycogen and water. Like-wise eating date loaded with fructose before dawn is a time-honored customs from where Islamic fasting started. Therefore from an age-old-experience eating date with drinking water became a custom for those who fast during fasting month.
Since the Most Compassionate God has ever had a deep sympathy with His creatures, He has considered everything that human beings would need for life even when they were not present at the scene to ask anything. While neither we nor our demands were present, your consideration could hear our untold requests to prepare them for us.
ما نبودیم وتقاضامان نبود لطف تو، ناگفته ما، می شنود
And He has given you (prepared to you) whatever you need, so that if you count God’s blessings, you will never be able to enumerate them. 14: 34
وآتاکم من کلّ ما سئلتموه وان تعدّوا نعمت الله لا تحصوها.
It is He who created everything in earth for you. 2: 29
هوالذی خلق لکم مافی الارض جمیعاً.
Thus there is nothing wrong with fasting and whoever of you witnesses (is present at) fasting month shall fast. 2: 185
فمن شهد منکم الشهر فلیصمه.
If learned people just see the external aspect of cases, God, the Omniscient have seen their true nature (intrinsic factors).
تو مو می بینی ومن پیچش مو تو ابرو، من اشارتهای ابرو
Therefore, one would realize to what extent God has ever been considerate to those living on earth. If water is scarce (hard to find) in desert area, for instance, date-palms, with clusters of dates, packed with fructose grow well to save water in the body of those who live in this part of the earth. He also has brought camel with its hump into existence as the best vehicle in desert to save tremendous water in its hump like a piece of sponge.
If God would close a door through wisdom, He would open another door through Mercy.
خدا گرزحکمت به بندد، دری زرحمت گشاید، در دیگری
Therefore waterless desert and traveling with camel are not the major concern of desert people just by the Grace of the Most Considerate God.
“Within the earth and your body are full of signs for those who are certain, why do you not see? And your provision and what you are promised are in the sky. And by the Lord of the heaven and earth! The word of God is surely as true as the fact you speak.” 51: 19-23
وفی الارض آیات للموقنین وفی انفسکم افلا تبصرون؟ وفی السماء رزقکم وما توعدون، فوربّ السماء والارض انهّ لحق مثل ما انکمّ تنطقون.
“Why do they not consider about the camels to see how they are created?” 88: 17
افلاینظرون الی الابل کیف خلقت؟
Therefore as the following verse advises, when God, the Compassionate opens the gate of His mercy (fasting month) to His creature none can close it by finding fault with it.
“Whatever God opens of His Mercy to people, none can hold it back; and whatever He holds back, none can send forth after it, because He is the All-Mighty, All-Wise and does everything through His Might and wisdom.” 35: 2
مایفتح الله للناس من رحمته فلا ممسک لها وما یمسک فلا مرسل له من بعده وهوالعزیزالحکیم.
2-Why fasting season is not fixed by solar calendar?
Although the origin of the sun, moon and earth used to be one thing, they turned into different things by the will, power, knowledge, compassion and consideration of God, the Creator of the universe. To demonstrate creationism (making different forms of life from nothing or from one thing), or to show unity in diversity and diversity in unity, or to display His artful creation, exhibiting His harmonious management of His full consideration; God has revealed a few characters about the sun, moon and earth, to our understanding. Just because they are the only celestial bodies we see every day and night, while all others are absolutely unknown to us.
“Even if We open a gateway to the sky upon them through which they keep ascending, certainly they will say our eyes is intoxicated (greatly excited) rather we are bewitched people.” 15: 14, 15
ولوفتحنا علیهم بابا من السماء فظلواّ فیه یعرجون، لقالوا انماّ سکرّت ابصارنابل نحن قوم مسحورون.
Even though people see the sun, moon and earth on regular basis day and night, since they have no true concept of any of them, they will turn away from them reluctantly.
“How many signs of perfect discipline in the heavens and earth they see one after another day and night, yet heedlessly they turn away from them.” 12: 105
وکاینّ من آیه فی السموات والارض یمرونّ علیها وهم عنها معرضون.
The safe radiating sun despite its nuclear radiations, and the safe moon light despite its reflecting sunlight, and the highly tractable earth despite its numerous movements all are exactly calculated (scrutinized) and managed to the point that all living things such as plants, animals and human beings can live on earth almost with no big inconvenience.
“The sun and the moon are perfectly calculated considered.” 55: 6
والشمس والقمربحسبان.
“It is He who rendered the sun radiant (Issuing light) and the moon reflecting light. And He assigned phases for it that you know who to count exactly the number of years and calculate time. God did not create them but in truth and He sets forth His revelations in detail for people to understand.” 10: 5
هو الذی جعل الشمس ضیاء والقمرنورا وقدرّه منازل لتعلموا عددالسنین والحساب. ما خلق الله الاّ بالحق، یفصلّ الآیات لقوم یعلمون.
“It is He who made the earth highly tractable to you, so walk on its highland, eat its provision, but to Him is your return in the Resurrection Day.” 67: 15
هو الذی جعل لکم الارض ذلولا، فامشوا فی مناکبها وکلوا من رزقه والیه النشور.
“And He put the earth down for all creatures.” 55: 10
والارض وضعها للانام.
Being directly exposed to the sun brings us some skin damage and chemical effects, and direct looking at it even for a few seconds makes us blind. The moon-light, on the other hand, which is noting but a reflection of sun-light, has no damaging effect on human body. For the reason that the moon surface takes-in the damaging parts of the sun-shine such as actinic and ultra violet ray, moon-light is cool and the moon itself is safe for being looked on regular basis to calculate passing days. That is why God the Most Compassionate has commanded to look at the moon to find its first crescent to specify the first day of each lunar month. This phenomenon is one of the signs of God’s Mercy and Grace to human beings.
“Another example to people is the night from which We take out the day, in doing so, they are in darkness. And the sun flows to its resting place according to the assignment of the Almighty, Omniscient. And We assigned for the moon stages until it returns to a crescent like an old palm branch, neither the sun must takeover the moon, nor the night should get ahead of the day; each of them should swim in its own orbit.” 36: 37-40
وآیه لهم الیل نسلخ منه النهارفاذاهم مظلمون. والشمس تجری لمستقرلها، ذلک تقدیرالعزیزالعلیم. والقمرقدرّناه قدرّناه منازل حتیّ عادکالعرجون القدیم. لاالشمس ینبغی لها ان تدرک القمرولا الیل سابق النهاروکلّ فی فلک یسبحون.
The earth, in its revolutionary path, moves around the sun once every 365 days roughly to make different seasons, and solar calendar. The moon, the earth’s satellite, on the other hand, moves around the earth every 29 days, 12 hours and 44 minutes to make lunar calendar and 12 different months for more accurate time calculation.
The presence of species of different fishes, plants and animals in too many to count proves the marvelous creationism of Omnipotent God. Considering such wonderful and powerful creativity, it is surprising that why the Omnipotent God did not make the revolutionary of the earth and moon absolutely the same and exactly divisible until calculating their calendars need no meticulous calculation. In other words, if for instance, each solar year was exactly 360 days and each lunar month was precisely 30 days there was no challenge to find minutely the first day of each of them. Therefore not only solar and lunar calendar coordinate each other, but each lunar month would happen at the same season every year as well. But the Most Gracious God did not make these two cycles even and exactly the same and divisible for two reasons. The first reason is to challenge, and engage in a full effort those who are interested to find exactly their religious time. And the second reason is to make the lunar calendar different from the solar just to change religious seasons. Therefore, changing religious seasons regularly from winter to fall to summer to spring keeps their freshness for people. Because if fasting was always in winter, it was not health-effective because of its short time fasting. And if fasting was always in summer, its long time fasting would make everyone fearful and concerned before its coming.
“God always desires convenience for you not hardship to be able to fulfill the prescribed obligations and glorify God for guiding you on the right path, and may greatly express your appreciation.” 2: 185
یرید الله بکم الیسرولا یرید بکم العسر ولتکملوا العدهّ ولتکبرواالله علی ماهدیکم ولعلکّم تشکرون.
Considering that the birth day of Jesus (AS) is constantly in cold weather. While it is an occasion of enjoyment for people living in temperate zone, it is never a good time for those living in the frigid zones because they are incarcerated in their igloos for fear of better cold. It would have the same fate for fasting month, if it were eternally in the middle of summer whose days are hot and long. Approaching fasting month would make those who wish to fast anxious.
Knowing some facts about our body
After understanding the hidden facts of our body and considering what God the Most High has made us incumbent to do as our duties in this fasting month make us indebted to acknowledge His all-purpose Compassion. Realizing that changing our eating program, according to the physiology of our body, is not only for improving our physical health but for growing our spirituality; we never stop serving Him whole-heartedly.
Our body is governed by the light-dark cycle of nature through our eyes. The first beam of daylight turns on the sympathetic system to make us ready for daily activity, but turns off parasympathetic system. And the same phenomenon will happen in reversed order. That is when it gets dark sympathetic system turns off while parasympathetic turns on to put our body at rest. But because our body has some inertia to remain a little more in its previous position, it internal clock (Circadian circle) is 25hours instead of 24 hours, and the body adjusts itself with nature by sleeping. This alternate change of automatic nervous system alters our body’s internal secretions, including digestive secretion. Therefore during light hours, digestive system releases its secretion to the lowest level, while it increases its release gradually from sun-set to reach its high level before dawn. Thus eating food before dawn is the best and after sun-set is the next while eating at lunch hours is the worst time for eating. That is why the Most Compassionate God has commanded to eat before dawn and after sunset and restrain our lunch to save for the poor. Consequently we realize while this way of eating helps both our physical health and our spirituality by saving food and helping the poor.
Other critical point which is interested to us is the difference between summer fasting and winter fasting.
Our body reserve for glycogen to convert to glucose is about 6-8 hours. Thus during the short days of winter our body cannot get ride of any extra fat we have accumulated during previous year; on the contrary, its long night is the best opportunity for nightly meditation; while fasting in the long day of the summer is a good occasion for physical benefit to get rid of sizable fat after using up all glycogen, but its short nights deprives us of nightly meditation. That is because night prayers consist of 15 units of prayer while each unit is composed of one kneeling-down followed by two prostrations, meanwhile the last prostration of each prayer should be lengthen to show extreme humility before God and get closer to Him. Therefore the long nights of winter are more suitable than the short nights of summer for the fulfillment of such a heavy ritual duty which needs good stamina for long hours standing.
Direction for night prayers in the Holy Qur'an
“And remember the name of your Lord (pray) in the morning and late afternoon (day and night) while remembering God’s name is nothing but prayer. And during some part of night prostrate for Him (pray) and glorify Him during long night.” 76: 25, 26
واذکراسم ربّک بکره واصیلاً، ومن الیل فاسجد له وسبحّه لیلاً طویلا.
“Certainly I am Allah, there is no god but I, thus worship Me alone and establish prayer as remembering Me.” 20: 14
اننیّ انا لله لا اله الاّ انا فاعبدنی واقم الصلوه لذکری.
“And during some part of night and after prostrations glorify Him (extra prayer after sun-set prayer).” 50: 40
ومن الیل فسبحّه وادبارالسجود.
“And during some part of night and after fading away the stars glorify Him (extra prayer before dawn prayer).” 52: 49
ومن الیل فسبحّه وادبار النجوم.
“Do not obey him at all, but prostrate to your Lord and draw near. “96: 19
3-Why believers’ every schedule is totally overwhelmed in fasting month?
This month is full of blessing offered by the Most Compassionate God and is a season of blessing for believers to get tremendous advantages if they commit all ritual duties of this month. This month is actually the special month of the Most Beneficent God to which all people are invited to get the best possible benefit. By practicing the obligatory duties of this month, everyone can convert his low-profile character to high- profile when he seriously tries to please God only. It means that he must discipline his ears, eyes, tongue, hand, foot, belly, sexual drive and particularly his mind to serve God only, and for doing this, he must earnestly ask God to be faithful to himself, to his fellow-creatures and to God until God is faithful to him too.
That is his eyes should not rush for pleasure, his ears must not hear foolish talk, his hands must not extend for the forbidden, his feet must not walk for prohibitory things, his belly must not hold but the lawful, his sexual desire must be checked of all wedlock liaisons, his tongue should talk similar to what the Qur'an has exemplified, and his mind and intention should be truthful.
“Kind words and pardon is better than charity followed by insult, indeed God is self-sufficient, the Most-Forbearing.”2: 263
قول معروف ومغفره خیرمن صدقه یتبعها اذیً، والله غنیّ حلیم.
“And do not get close to adultery for it is truly an act of obscenity and an indecent behavior”. 17: 32
ولا تقربوا الزنا انّه کان فاحشه وساء سبیلاً.
“O believers, revere God and talk with the right words, He will put your deeds into order and forgive your sins; and whoever obeys God and His messenger, he indeed has achieved a great success.” 33: 70, 71
یا ایها الذین آمنوا اتقواّ الله وقولوا قولا سدیدا، یصلح لکم اعمالکم ویغفرلکم ذنوبکم. ومن یطع الله و رسوله فقد فازفوزاً عظیما.
According to the honored prophet of Islam, the value of obligatory prayers in this month is up to 70 times more valuable than prayers in other months. Traditional prayers in this month will exempt him from Hell Fire. Greeting Mohammad and his family will make his scale heavier. Recitation of one verse of the Qur'an in this month will equal to the complete recitation of it in other months. While all doors of the Paradise are open, ask God not to close them to you then; and while all doors of Hell are closed, ask God not to open them to you. All Devils are in chain in this month, thus ask God they have no power over you. When you are thirsty and hungry in this month, remember the thirst and hunger of the Day of Resurrection, and try to help the poor as you can in this month. The best times for making Du’a in this month are right after daily prayers, Friday eve, before breaking fast, and in the middle of night; so make Du’a and ask God to help you no matter what is advisable. Allah (SWT) has promised not to punish those who establish their prayers on time, and lengthen their prostrations.
Realizing that the faithful’ breaths have the value of praising God, their sleeps equal to worship, their right deeds will please God, and their Du’as are responded; no one should miss such great opportunity.
Due to one of the nights of this month deserves more than 1000 months, the faithful should make themselves zealously ready for such a heavy duty night full of blessing from its beginning tile dawn. When the faithful addict themselves to the mosques should know what they have to ask. Thus God’s invitation for this month does not mean at all that we are invited to eat more rather to eat less but properly to make ourselves ready for more meditation and contemplation to improve spirituality and morality. That is why believers not only have to change their eating schedule completely in quality and quantity, but also they have to change all their previous evil characters if they want to get all-purpose benefits of this blessing month.
When all predetermined creatures, without violating any of Devine rules, permanently glorify the praise of God; human beings, with some free choices not only need to do the same but even more, for their voluntary and involuntary violations.
“The seven heavens, the earth, and everyone in them glorify Him; and nothing is there to fail to glorify His praise, but you do not understand their glorification. Surely He is Clement, Ever-Forgiver.” 17: 44
تسبح له السموات والارض ومن فیهنّ، وان من شیئ الاّ یسبحّ بحمده ولکن لا تفقهون تسبیحهم انهّ کان حلیماً غفورا.
Some characteristics of remembering God (praying)
“Those who believe and their hearts calm down by remembering God (praying); certainly hearts will calm down, by remembering God only.” 13: 28
الذین آمنوا وتطمئنّ قلوبهم بذکرالله، الا بذکرالله تطمئنّ القلوب.
“Truly night proceeding (prayers) has deadly effect and words are more appropriate with the presence of mind. Remember the name of your Lord (pray) and withdraw from the world and devote yourself to Him with an exclusive devotion.” 73: 6, 8
انّ ناشئه الیل هب اشدّ وطاً واقوم قیلاً، واذکراسم ربکّ وتبتلّ الیه تبتیلاً.
“Certainly true believers are those whose hearts thrilled (feel emotional excitement) when God is mentioned, and their faith will increase when His revelations are recited to them, and they trust in their Lord.” 8: 2
انماّ المومنون الذین اذا ذکرالله وجلت قلوبهم واذا تلیت علیهم آیاته زادتهم ایماناً وعلی ربهم یتوّکلون.
“Their sides make their beds empty, praying their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend of all We have provided with them.” 32: 16
تتجافا جنوبهم عن المضاجع یدعون زبهم خوفاً وطمعا وممن رزقناهم ینفقون.
“Recite carefully what has been revealed to you of the book and establish prayers. Certainly prayers restrain obscenities and the forbidden, and remembering God (prayer) is the greatest objective, and knows what you do.” 29: 45
اتل ما اوحی من الکتاب واقم الصلوه، انّ الصلوه تنهی عن الفحشاء والمنکرولذکرالله اکبروالله یعلم ما تصنعون.
Here is just a bit about Ali’s nights:
Nights are aware of Ali’s secrets, and middle of nights are confidant of God’s secret (Ali). Nights have heard Ali’s confidential talks, the efforts of the eternal grace’s spring.
شب، زاسرارعلی، آگاهست دل شب، محرم سرّالله، است
شب شنفته است، مناجات علی جوشش چشمه فیض ازلی
Rise at night for lovers talk privately at night. Closing every door that may be at night, they save the friend’s door which they open at night.
شب خیز که عاشقان به شب، رازکنند گرد در بام دوست، پروازکنند
هرچند دری بود به شب، دربندند الا در دوست راکه شب، بازکنند
5-Why fasting is decreed for days but night praying is incumbent for nights?
“And He is the One who designed the night as a covering for you to take rest and sleep, and made the day to rise again.” 25: 47
هوالذی جعل لکم الیل لباسا والنوم سباتا وجعل النهارنشورا.
As it was mentioned before, our body depends on nature governed by its light-dark cycle. Since the light-dark cycle of the earth and other planets depend on the sun-light and their own rotation, God has revealed this:
“Are you more difficult for creation than the heaven which He built it? He raised it ceiling then put everything in the correct order as His wisdom necessitated, and He darkened its night and took out its morning. Then after, He rolled down the earth. 79: 27
ءانتم اشدّ خلقاً ام السماء بناها، رفع سمکها فسویّها، واغطش لیلها واخرج ضحها، والارض بعد ذلک دحیها.
Fasting during light hours of day is an order that the faithful pay special attention to (observe) each other in their daily transactions on the basis of fairness, until they continue this practice of fair game (lawful act) during the rest of years. On the other hand, the silence of the night (omission of mention) and its tranquility is for meditation and disciplining the soul to get mindful communion with the Divine for focusing on His weighty and significant words is quite necessary. That is why the nights of winter are the best for its lengthy hours.
6-why fasting display is permitted in Islam
True believers are not allowed to display their religious services because they will be real winners when their intention is to fulfill their religious duties for God pleasure and their benefit. All hypocrites who display devotion without being so, claim simply to get secular benefits; in fact, not only they are not guided but true losers because in their private life they do just opposite what they show before believers.
“These are those who have bought straying (error) at the expense of guidance. Hence they get never benefit of their trade nor do they receive any guidance.” 2: 16
اولئک الذین اشتروا الضلاله بالهدی فماربحت تجارتهم وما کانوا مهتدین.
Preachers who display so well in pulpit and prayer-niche, in their private they do otherwise, as if they do not believe in the Day of Judgment by engaging themselves with so much fraud and dishonesty in Judge’s affair.
واعظان کین جلوه درمحراب ومنبرمیکنند چون بخلوت میروند، آن کاردیگرمیکنند
گوئیا باورنمیدارند، روز داوری کاینهمه قلب ودغل، درکار داورمیکنند
Considering the points mentioned above, there are some exceptional cases in Islam allowing true believers for some reasons just for showing off fasting and spending in charity. If they are allowed to show off their spending is to encourage others in doing so. But if they are permitted to show their fast while they are not is for some other reasons. When persons for whatever reason do not fast meet fasting people, they must show they fast to show respect for Islamic rule, and not to laugh at those who fast by eating or drinking. This is because the stomach through many ways such as eating, seeing, smelling, and even hearing something about food which makes mouth water cause to releases its acid secretion which hurts its lining when it is empty, repeating this situation may cause gastric ulcer. That is why during fasting month all restaurants in Islamic countries are commanded to be closed and no one is allowed to eat or drink in public to disrespect to Islam and laugh and wink those who fast.
“Verily those who commit crime laugh at those who believed. Whey they pass by them they wink at each other, and when criminals see believers, they say they are astray, while we did not send them as their protectors. 83: 29- 33
“Those who spend their wealth by day and night, secretly and openly will receive their reward from their Lord without having fear of future or grief of the past. 2: 274
الذین ینفقون اموالهم بالیل والنهار،سراًوعلانیه فلهم اجرهم عند ربهم ولاخوف علیهم ولاهم یحزنون
Spending in secret or at night is to please their Lord only, but when they spend their wealth by day in openness is just to encourage other to imitate good things. This is because they know that if they make spending weather most visible or most concealed their act will be the same before the Lord the Knower of the unseen and the seen.
“The Knower of the unseen and the seen the Great, the Most High knows, and tt is the same among you weather keep secret the word or raise it, or it is disdained in the darkness of night, or is conspicuous (most visible) by day. 13: 9, 10
عالم الغیب والشهاده الکبیرالمتعال، سواء منکم من اسرّ القول ومن جهربه ومن هو مستخف بالیل وسارب بالنهار.
7-Should we still break fast when traveling while it is now easy and fast?
As it was mentioned before, Human’s internal cycle (circadian cycle) is 25 hours because of his inertia but he can adjust it by sleeping. On the other hand, the Knower of the unseen and the seen knows everything even before happening in future. Therefore he commanded ahead of time those who are seek or on the travel should substitute the same umber they could not fast on other days. Since traveling in the past was slow and cumbersome, so the Most Compassionate God decreed that kind of exemption for travelers. But they should know that man cannot tolerate fast changing his internal cycle for his inertia. And traveling with very fast plains passing quickly from different time zones either from east to west or from west to east or from south to north or from north to south all these quick change will disturb many people by restlessness, nausea and vomiting. And the best treatment for such situation is to bring them into the same condition in which their original place is, and give them water and sugar to be able tolerate the new situation gradually. For instance if the destination is night but their starting point is day right now, their new place should be changed into a day by turning on many lights. As a result the philosophy of the Devine decrees is not as easy as people can easily understand.
8-How about fasting in north or in the south-pole?
The north and the south poles are not the right place for human being to live for there is no vegetation in those areas. But people, living in the arctic and antarctic circle parallel to equator 66*, 33” north or south, are addicted to there are during months before fasting month. If the day or night in these area are too long in summer or too short in winter, the weather is so cold and dry that they can tolerate their lengthy fasting day with no big problem. For instance flowers in this area flourish well because of long day sunlight as well as dry and cool weather. And the body of people living in such area is adapted with notorious daily change of 8 minutes difference as plants and animals in this area are suitable for living.
9-Is there any physical health with waking hours at night and eating and sleeping less?
The fasting month is a month full of all-purpose blessings from God, the Most Compassionate. According to Imam Sajjad (AS), in his famous book known as “the Psalm of Islam”, in a long chapter as his supplication in the departure of fasting month, he reminds us some of its spiritual blessings in chapter 45. Indeed, this month stood among us with a praise standing, it accompanied us like a blessing companion free of guilt which made us get the best possible benefit of the world, but at its completion, it was separated from us. So we feel sorrowful its farewell because it was good opportunity for us to cover what we had omitted (failed, neglected) in the past and improve good conduct with ourselves, others and our creator as well as cultivation our physical health.
You may know that all organs of our body work continuously even we take rest and sleep but digestive system which takes rest when fasting. While this system is the largest one in the body, takes 20% of total body energy for its job. During fasting month, when fasting days are long (in summer), saving this 20% of energy will improve other organs which are very active such as immune system. Waking at night for meditation and turning on the light for eating would curtail the number of brain strokes in fasting month, while all strokes would happen early in the morning when the blood pressure is higher. As it was mentioned before, the human body would start increasing its internal secretion such as blood pressure when ambient darkness starts and reach its highest point is at dawn. But waking hours before will break the body’s normal process therefore it has been prove that a number of strokes in fasting month fall down much more than other months of the year. Another health benefit is standing, stooping (bending the body forward) and squatting (sitting on the heels with the knees fully bent) for more than 15 times each night is a very good exercise while kneeling down itself means absolute humility before the Creator of the world.
10-why the night of power is roughly within the last third portion of fasting month?
On the one hand the Night of Power is described by God as this, ‘do you know how awesome (how respectful and wonderful but fearful) is the Night of Destiny? “The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by the leave of their Lord to deliver of all peaceful commands.” 97: 2, 3, 4
وما ادریک ما لیله القدر؟ لیله القدرخیرمن الف شهر، تنزّل الملائکه والروح فیهامن کلّ امرسلام.
On the other hand, God has revealed as the following: ‘Indeed, I am the Most Forgiving for those who repented, believed, did good deed provided they are on the right way of guidance, or are rightly guided (guided by the prophet or his household). 20: 81
انّی لغفارّ لمن تاب وآمن وعمل صالحاً ثمّ اهتدی.
“The prophet is more entitled to believers than they are to their own selves.” 33: 6
النبیّ اولی بالمومنین من انفسهم.
“Surely God will accept from the devoted (guard themselves against devil).” 5: 27
انماّ یتقبلّ اللخ من المتقینّ.
Considering the above revelations, those who expect to be included by the Devine providence at the Night of Destiny, must prepare themselves for such a great and wonderful night. So they should first purify themselves of all impurities, guilt and sins to be qualified to ask God for His forgiveness. That is why they usually ask Him fearfully and hopefully for they are not sure whether they are forgiven or not. But God has emphatically promised that He will forgive those who are rightly guided.
That is why the Most Compassionate God did not make the Night of Destiny known but He postponed it until late of this month until His servants have more opportunity to return to God more consciously and God forgives more.
11- To whom do angels and the soul come down every year at the Night of Power?
“When those who believe in Our revelations come to you say, “peace be upon you”, Your Lord has prescribed Mercy upon Himself.” 6: 54
واذا جائک الذین یومنون بآیاتنا فقل سلام علیکم، کتب ربکّم علی نفسه الرحمه.
“We made busy previous people with Our punishment then we saves Our messengers and those who believed. Therefore, it is Our duty to save the faithful.” 10: 103
ثمّ ننجیّ رسلنا والذین آمنوا، کذلک حقاً علینا ننجی المومنون.
“And indeed We sent before you messengers to their people with clear revelations but We revenged those who committed crimes and believers’ victory was incumbent upon Us.” 30: 47
ولقد ارسلنا من قبلک رسلا الی قومهم فجاءوهم بالبیناّت، فانتقمنا من الذین اجرموا، وکان حقاً علینا نصرالمومنین.
“It is not for God to leave believers and disbelievers to be similar to one another until separating the evil from the good by test, nor is it for God to inform believers with the unseen, but God chooses whoever He wills from His messengers. Thus believe in God and His messengers and if you guard yourself against evil a great reward is yours.” 3: 179
ما کان الله لیذرالمومنین علی ما انتم علیه حتیّ یمیزالخبیث من الطیّب، وما کان الله لیطلعکم من الغیب ولکنّ الله یجتبی من رسله من یشاء، فآمنوا بالله ورسله وان تومنوا وتتقواّ فلکم اجرعظیم.
Though the above revelations display that God sponsors believers all the times, He never informs them with the unseen. Therefore at the night of Power (night of Destiny), when the angels and the Spirit descend therein by the leave of their Lord to deliver of all peaceful commands, they deliver them (the unseen) to no one but the Imam of the age (AS) who is alive. 97: 4
تنزّل الملائکه والروحّ فیها باذن ربهم من کلّ امر.
12-Why should eulogize the Prophet before asking God?
To recognize the distinguished dignity of the Honored Prophet of Islam, through him God honored us with Islam and made us fully acquainted with our true nature, suffice it to see how God, the Most High has considered him.
“Indeed God and His angels continuously bless the prophet. O believers! Pray for God to bless him and submit with due submission.” 33: 56
انّ الله وملائکته یصلوّن علی النبیّ ، یا ایها الذین آمنوا صلواّ علیه وسلموّا تسلیما.
According to the word of God, the criterion by which people’s faith can be judged is their belief in the prophet’s decision, when they themselves find no objection to accept his judgment about their dispute.
“Not even, by your Lord; they do not believe unless they make you judge in their dispute, then themselves find no objection to what you have judged and submit with due submission.” 4: 65
فلا وربکّ لا یومنون حتیّ یحکمّوک فیماشجربینهم قمّ لایجدوافی انفسهم حرجاً مماقضیت ویسلمواّ تسلیما.
“Indeed God graciously bestowed blessing over believers by raising a messenger among them from them to recite His revelations to them, purify them, and teach them the book and wisdom, though they were before this in manifest error.” 3: 164
لقد منّ الله علی المومنین اذبعث فیهم رسولاًمن انفسهم یتلواعلیهم آیاته ویزّکیهم ویعلّمهم الکتاب والحکمه وان کانوا من قبل لفی ضلال مبین.
To prove the purity of the Honored Prophet of Islam that God introduced him as an illuminating torch and mercy for the whole world, this true example may help us. The difference between a piece of diamond (pure carbon) and a piece of charcoal (impure carbon) is this that the former (diamond) reflects the sun-light in full while the latter (charcoal) reflects nothing. That is why diamond is brilliant whereas charcoal is totally dark. Therefore for his immaculate (perfect) purity, the prophet reflects God’s Mercy and light to the universe, as God’s Mercy and light is for the whole world. In other words, the Honored Prophet of Islam, after being annihilated in Allah in his spiritual move and behavior, is molded with the nature of Allah to be a perfect pattern for the mankind..
“Allah is the light of the heavens and earth.” 24: 35
الله نورالسموات والارض.
“Those who bear the Throne (the center of the Devine authority) and all those around it continuously glorify their Lord’s praise (by elimination human’s attributes from God, praise their Lord), believe in Him, and ask forgiveness for those who believed, saying, ‘Our Lord! Since Your Mercy and knowledge has included all things, forgive then those who turned to you in repentance and followed your path and save them from the torment of the Hell.” 40: 7
الذین یحملون العرش ومن حوله یسبحوّن بحمد ربهّم ویومنون به ویستغفرون للذین آمنوا، ربنّا وسعت کلّ شیئ رحمه وعلما، فاغفرللذین تابوا واتبّعوا سبیلک وقهم عذاب الجحیم.
The Honored Prophet of Islam on the path of his spiritual move and behavior toward Allah (ascending arch), passed the 7 valleys of love successfully. And on his course in Allah, he became absolutely purified and annihilated in Allah. Finally, on his path from Allah (descending arch), he was qualified to guide the whole world as an illuminating torch and mercy.
“O prophet! Indeed We sent you as a witness, a bearer of good news, as well as a warner to invite people to God by His permission and guide them like an illuminating torch.” 33: 45, 46
یا ایها النبیّ اناّ ارسلناک شاهداً ومبشراً ونذیراً وداعیاً الی الله باذنه سراجاً منیرا.
“And We did not send you but as a bearer of good news and a warner to all people without exception but most people do not know.” 34: 28
وما ارسلناک الاّ کافهّ للناس بشیراونذیرا ولکنّ اکثرالناس لایعلمون.
“And We did not send you but as a mercy for the whole world.” 21: 107
وما ارسلناک الاّ رحمهً للعالمین.
“Thus, We revealed to you a spirit of Our command (the Qur'an). You had no idea about the book and faith (had no detail knowledge of religious laws prescription) but We made it (the Qur'an) a light through which We guide whomever We will of Our servant, and surely you guide into the straight path.” 42: 52
وکذلک اوحینا الیک روحاً من امرنا، ماکنت تدری ما الکتاب ولاالایمان لکن جعلناه نوراً نهدی به من نشاء من عبادنا، وانّک لتهدی الی صراط المستقیم.
This revelation proves that the Honored prophet of Islam had no detail knowledge of faith, and was not bound to any duty to deliver it before being authorized to deliver the practical principles of religion. But because he is endorsed by God after this revelation he is bound to guide people to the right path in detail, so we have to greet him and his family before praying God as God Himself and angels greet him and He has instructed us to greet him and submit with due submission.
Are our daily prayers acceptable without greeting Mohammad and his family?
When a greeting (a message of special regards for bearing fruit of true human characters in us) in our prayers for Mohammad and his family is necessary to be acceptable by the Highness of the unity of God, how could our supplication be granted without their greeting?
In addition, since human is usually forgetful, and routinely try to avoid his religious responsibilities; addressing to the prophet; God, the Most Compassionate revealed,
“So remind, surely you are a reminder only without having any power upon them.” 88: 21, 22
فذکرّ، انماّ انت مذکرّ، لست علیهم بمصیطر.
Therefore we have to greet him and his family when the following revelation is about the special character of the prophet and his family concerning people.
“Indeed, a messenger of yourselves came to you; hard for him, what suffer you; greedy upon you for your faith; and has compassion and mercy upon believers.” 9: 128
لقد جائکم رسول من انفسکم عزیز علیه ما عنتّم حریص علیکم بالمومنین روف رحیم.
Peace, Mercy, and God’s Blessings are upon those who follow true guidance.
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