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• Fasting (Saum)
O/N 2010
3 (a) What are the daily observances of the Ramadan fast? [10]
M/J 2012
5 (a) Outline the features of the Ramadan fast, and identify which Muslims are exempted
from fasting during this month. [10]
Answer (Learn and write):
• Fasting during the month of Ramadan is obligatory on all Muslim adults, male and female. The Quran says,
“ O you who believe ! Fasting is prescribed to you, as it was prescribed to those before you, so that you
may learn self restraint.” [2:183]
• The hours of fasting are from first light (before dawn) until sunset.
• It is desirable to have a meal before keeping a fast till dawn which is referred as Sehri.
• Muslims should make an intention for the fast i.e. “I intend to keep tomorrow’s fast of Ramadan.”
• With this, a person is subject to all restrictions and prohibitions associated with a fast till the setting of the
sun. Muslims must abstain from food, drink etc. during daylight hours. They should also refrain from
smoking, marital relations, medicines etc. This is known as Imsak.
• They should live their lives as normal, making no concessions to lack of food. Muslims should be
particularly pious and visit mosques regularly. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said, “Whoever does not give up
forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink.”
• Muslims break their fast with a meal at sunset in the evening reciting the prayer, “O Allah! I fasted for you
and I believe in you and I put my trust in you and with the sustenance you have given me, I now break
the fast.” This is known as Iftar. Many Muslims follow the Holy Prophet (PBUH)’s example of taking a drink
and eating a date and then pray. They follow this with a meal often eaten with friends.
• Muslims should try to be present at recitations of the Holy Quran in the tarawih prayers during the course
of the month.
• On the Night of Power they should attend mosques and spend the night in prayer. It is one of the last 5
odd nights of Ramadan and the reward for praying in it is better than the worship of one thousand months.
Many Muslims believe it to be the 27th night.
• Some Muslims withdraw to mosques for the last ten days of Ramadan which is called Itikaf and dedicate
their time to prayer and worship. The fasts of Ramadan continue until new moon of Shawal.

Exemption from Fasting

• Children under the age of puberty and discretion.
• Insane people who are unaccountable for their actions: no compensation or any other substitute is
enjoined on these two categories of people.
• Men and women who are too old or feeble to undertake the obligations of fasting are exempt.
However, they have to give fidya, which is feeding a poor person twice a day or to give grain or its
equivalent in cash to needy.
• Sick people whose health is likely to deteriorate by fasting; they may postpone the fast for as long as
they are ill and then make up for it at a later date, a day for a day.
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• They travelers may be exempt during their travel but should make up for the missed fasts later on.
• Pregnant women/breastfeeding may also not fast if their health or the infant’s health would be at risk by
doing so. They too need to make up for the missed fasts later on.
• Women, at the time of their mensuration or confinement due to childbirth must postpone the fasts and
make up for them by fasting afterwards.

Benefits / importance of Fasting

O/N 2014
5 (a) What are the moral, spiritual and other benefits of fasting in Ramadan? [10]
O/N 2016
4 (a) What are the benefits to individuals and the community of fasting in the month of
Ramadan? [10]
M/J 2021
4(a) Fasting in Ramadan benefits Muslims in many ways. Write about the major benefits
of fasting in Ramadan.[10]
Answer:
Fasting has been the universal religious institution. It was made obligatory on the followers of other religions
too. It has numerous merits and benefits for the individuals and the community.
• The believer renounces food, drink, and abstains from all other enjoyments willingly in obedience to the
command of Allah, to seek His pleasure. It helps in building up a man’s moral character as it teaches him
self control and self restrain. As Muslims fast, they should control own temper, they should remain calm
and refrain from harming others, verbally or physically. They should refrain from backbiting, stealing,
cheating , gossip, lies, obscenity, vulgarity and physical, mental and spiritual sins. Abu Huraira reported
the Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, “Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in
need of his leaving his food and drink.”
• Fasting ensures the harmony and unity of society. Fasting raises awareness of the situation of poor people
who live in our society. Fasting teaches the rich, who eat good, nutritious food and never suffer from
hunger, what hunger is. When they stay hungry and thirsty for a specific period they begin to think about
the poor and feel empathy for them. The sense of empathy makes it easier for them to make friends and
socialize. On the other hand, because of the kindness and compassion of the rich, the poor are less likely to
feel envy and hatred toward those who are better off. Thus, a change of attitude on both sides can occur.
The enmity between both social strata can be brought to an end in this way with peace and security
prevailing in society. Fasting brings the rich closer to the poor and links them in a bond of responsibility and
respect for each other. Ramadan is also a time of generosity. People are more generous, more cordial, and
more ready than at other times of the year to do good and charitable work. Muslims often invite one
another, friends and guests, Muslims and non-Muslims, in particular neighbors, regardless of creed, to
share the evening meal and exchange gifts and best wishes.
• Abstention from food and drink for a full month is beneficial for a person’s health as it gives rest to
stomach, the whole system is cleansed of undesirable material, and the body gets rid of fat, cholesterol and
other toxic matters.
• Fasting brings a man closer to Allah, Allah says, “. Fasting is like a shield, and he who fasts has two joys:
a joy when he breaks his fast and a joy when he meets his Lord.” (Hadis Qudsi) Believers are ordered to
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observe fast to be near Allah and gain “Taqwa”. Fasting strengthens the spiritual powers of the believer; it
protects man from all kinds of temptations. The reward of all good deeds are multiplied by ten times to
seven hundred times, the Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, “Allah said, “All the deeds of Adam’s sons (people) are
for them, except fasting which is for me, and I will give the reward for it. The reward of good deeds is
multiplied ten times to seven hundred times.”

• The previous sins of a person are forgiven, the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, “Whoever fasts in the month
of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be
forgiven.”

• Fasting brings economic benefits for the Muslim community. During the month of Ramadan the rich
people spend generously on the poor to seek the blessing of Allah. These enable the poor to fulfill their
needs. The old and the permanently sick people also feed the poor and the needy generously during the
month of Ramadan, Allah says. “For those who can do it (with hardship) is a ransom the feeding of one
that is indigent. But he that will give more of his own free, it is better for him.” (Al-Baqarah 2:184) The
Prophet (p.b.u.h) said; “During Ramadan, the provisions of the believers are increased.”

M/J 2019 (21)

5(a) Describe how Muslims observe the fast of Ramadan and how this month
should be spent. [10]
O/N 2020 (22)
5(a)Describe how the fast in the month of Ramadan should be observed by Muslims? [10]
Answer:
Method of Fasting (Repeated)
Rules of Fasting
• One observing the fast should be conscious of keeping his/her mind and body clean, by avoiding wasting
time useless pursuits, by being conscious of eating only halal foods at sehri and iftar and to keep one’s
tongue free of all verbal sins like gossiping and swearing.
• Display of danger, aggression and violence is forbidden during the month of Ramadan, especially when one
is fasting. One should show patience and forbearance towards others and control one’s temper and
tongue.
• More time should be spent in the recitation of the Quran, trying to complete the whole Quran at least
once during this month. Prophet (P.B.U.H) said, “Everything has a best season and the best season of the
Quran is Ramadan.”
• Being punctual regarding salat, making an effort to attend tarawih prayers, and spending as much time as
possible in worship is recommended. One should also, whilst fasting, keep busy in the remembrance of
Allah and seek forgiveness. Praying during the nights of Qadr foe oneself and other are activities that
Muslim should observe during the fast and in the month of Ramzan. In Sura Baqarah Allah states: “And
when my servants asks you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the
supplicant when he calls upon Me, so they should answer My call and believe in Me That they may walk
the right way.”(2:186)
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• Be very charitable and generous, help the needy and the poor, participate in social and community welfare
projects etc.
• maintain cordial relations with all. Forget your quarrels and reconcile your difference in this month; do not
be involved in backbiting anything that is wrong. Be good to all.
• Ramzan is the month of reflection think, reflect, and plan to improve your moral and spiritual conduct.
Think how u can be better Muslim, and convert those thoughts into actions. Think how u can contribute to
the betterment of the Ummah and the world at large.

4(b) Explain why the Night of Power (Layla-tul-Qadr) is so important for Muslims.[4]
• the Night of Power is considered to be a night of immense blessings for it was on this night that the last of
God’s books, the Qur’an, was revealed to the Prophet (pbuh).
• The Qur’an itself mentions the immense blessings of this night. This is a night of reading, understanding and
reflecting upon the teachings given in the Qur’an.
• The reward of worship on this night is more than the reward for worshipping for a thousand months. Hence
Muslims have special arrangements for extra prayers on this night.
• The Prophet (pbuh) has said that those who spend Layla-tul-Qadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of
reward, will have his previous sins forgiven.
• It is believed, as stated in the Qur’an in Sura al Qadr, that the angels and the Spirit descend to earth by God’s
permission and that peace prevails until the rise of dawn.
It is for these reasons that Muslims consider the Night of Power to be the most important night of Ramadan and
indeed of the year.