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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board

QUESTION
Sara
11/07/00 at 22:33:01
Assalam, This Ramadan is going to be my first one that I'm actually going to fast. My parents have always fasted since they were young. But me and my bros. and sisters never did. At first we didn't fast at all, then we pretended to fast just to get money. When we went to school-we always ate and we hid food in our rooms. I know,we're all pathetic! My excuse-then-was that I was embarresed when my stomache grumbled in class. I have no will power. NOW,since I'm learning how to pray(it's harder than I thought), I WANT to fast (sawm-is that how you spell it?) I'm in college right now and my final exam falls on Dec. 14-during Ramandan. And it's going to be EMBARRESING when my stomache starts grumbling during the exam! My QUESTION is how do you guys deal with it? YES, I know it's a lame question...I guess I'm just curious.

Re: QUESTION
Saleema
11/07/00 at 22:41:13
Assalamoalykum, I never even paid attention or thought of such things! :) I dont think my stomach grumbles. ??????!!?? wassalam

Re: QUESTION
Sara
11/07/00 at 22:52:27
Assalam, Whenever I'm hungry my stomache GRUMBLES!!!! It sounds like a machine gun going off!!! Usually when this happens,I eat a snack. See but during Ramadan I can't. Am I the only one who thinks about this ? I know I'm weird,but.......

Re: QUESTION
jannah
11/07/00 at 23:04:12
Sara you are actually quite lucky that ramadan falls during the times it does this year -- it is so short!!! it hardly feels like anything. it's like just skipping a meal. i think that once you start fasting the first few days of ramadan you'll get used to it and like everyone else, your diet and stomach adjusts. make sure you wake up for suhoor and eat well at night and you should be fine. as for final exams, i recently heard or read something where people thought that their clarity of mind was much better during fasting because your body is not trying to metabolize or process food or busy with digestion. also you should keep in mind that you are doing this for Allah and will be getting the blessings for it, even if not in this life, much better in the next.

Re: QUESTION
Amatullah
11/08/00 at 06:21:05
Just have a bigger suhur i guess?

Re: QUESTION
humble_muslim
11/08/00 at 10:41:59
Sister Sara, May Allah SWT help you in your fasting.  After you've done two or three, you actually don't start feeling hunger or thirst pangs anymore.  Like someone said, just make sure you have plenty to eat (and drink) at suhoor.

Re: QUESTION
bhaloo
11/08/00 at 10:58:51
slm The first 2 or 3 days might be like that where your stomache is grumbling, but as the others mentioned it goes away after a few days.  As sister Jannah pointed out this time of the year the days are short, and the time goes by very quickly.  You really don't even know you are fasting.  Yes, make sure you get up and have something for suhoor, that makes a big difference. Let us know if there are any difficulties you are encountering when praying.  I'm sure many of us have probably gone through the same challenges, but alhumdullilah have been able to deal with those, when talking with others.
NS

Re: QUESTION
saifullah
11/08/00 at 13:03:39
I konw what Sr. Sara is talking about. I have had the grumbles before, so what i do is simple, i just start starign at someonelse, and put them on the spot... "What the heck was that (insert muslim brothers name here) ???" Its very easy, try it out Sr. Sara. Of course during exams NO ONE CARES!!!! they are trying to focus on their exam. You can sacrifice a goat in class and no one will notice. wa salaamu alaikum

Answer
SuperHiMY
11/08/00 at 14:56:47
AsalamAlayKum... I think your mind will be so worried about the answers you'll be writing in your exam that your stomach will just shut up until the exam's over. Anxiety, worry, tension, the time on the clock ticking down until there's no time left to write any more answers.... Whenever things like this happen in my life My subconscious usually tells the rest of my body to shut up let it do its job. ..Besides, if your stomach DOES grumble, no one else will notice or care as they have their own problems on their own exams. ~ HiMY! ~ p.s. if you don't know the answer, choose (c).

Re: QUESTION
Kashif
11/08/00 at 18:20:46
I don't think that you should have a bigger suhoor. First, because a Muslim shouldn't really eat excessively, and second, because the point of fasting isn't to make up for your daytime meals by eating heavy at suhoor and iftaar time. Anyhow, at personal expense, i shall tell you my trick. I hold my breath and pull my stomach in. You actually now reminded me of the loudest stomach grumble i ever heard in my life. It was during a uni lecture. Subhanallah! I don't know what that guy in front of me ate the nght before (or perhaps didn't eat) but you could hear it five rows back!
NS

Re: QUESTION
Sara
11/08/00 at 20:25:07
Assalam, *LOL* You people crack me up!! Thanks for your answers.

Re: QUESTION
rhlammert
11/09/00 at 15:03:02
Forgive my ignorance... Why is Ramadan so special to Muslims. I have been trying to learn Islam, and so want to understand this part of it. Thanks.

Re: QUESTION
Arsalan
11/09/00 at 17:34:41
Hi Ruth, I can try to express the answer to your question to the best of my ability, but I am convinced that the feeling that a Muslim experiences in Ramadan is impossible to explain in words.  It is something that you have to live to truly comprehend and appreciate.   Let's start with the basics.  Fasting during the month of Ramadan is an obligation on every sane, adult, healthy, resident Muslim.  The month of Ramadan may be either 29 or 30 days, depending on the cycle of the moon.  The fasting period lasts from dawn to dusk, and no food, drink or intimate relationships are allowed in that period. The wisdom behind fasting is the same as all other forms of worship - self purification.  The whole idea of fasting is that if one can stay away, for 29-30 days, from things that are allowed for him normally, then it becomes easier for the person to stay away from things that are forbidden to him throughout the year!  In other words, Ramadan teaches you self-restraint and self-control in the most practical way.   But fasting does not only mean staying away from food and drink.  If that was the case, the term "fasting" would be synonymous to "starvation!"  A fasting Muslim is expected to engage in more worship than usual, and try extra hard to stay away from temptations and sin.  A Muslim strives to get close to his Lord during the month of Ramadan by voluntary prayers, recitating the Quran, repenting to Allah, engaging in supplications and indulging in seclusion and meditation. There is an authentic narration of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) which states that the Shayaateen (devils) are chained during the month of Ramadan.  This is a blessing from Allah, because it makes it easier for a Muslim to concentrate on his worship and not be distracted by the whisperings of Satan and his adversaries. The month of Ramadan has its own merits, besides being the month of fasting.  It is the month in which the Quran was revealed in its entirety from the 7th heaven to the 1st heaven.  It is the month in which the first revelation was brought down to Muhammad (pbuh) from the 1st heaven.  It is the month whose first part is mercy, the second part is forgiveness, and the last part is safety from the Fire.  It is the month which contains a night which, according to the Quran, is better than a 1000 nights.   Obviously Ramadan is a month full of spiritual food for the soul.   But that is not all! Traditionally, Ramadan is a month in which Muslim communities come closer to each other and the bonds of brotherhood/sisterhood are strengthened.  Every night, the people of the community gather in the Mosques to break fast together, followed by congregational prayers known as Tarawih, which are special prayers of the month of Ramadan.  The Tarawih prayers are often followed by short religious talks, mostly focusing on the virtues of Ramadan, Heaven and Hell, Repentance, and other similar spiritual topics.  Attendance at the Mosques during the month of Ramadan is significantly higher than any other month, so much so that the building of bricks and walls seems to come "alive" in the month - for the whole month!  Again, it's a feeling words cannot convey. The end of Ramadan is marked by one of the only two celebrations that a Muslim has.  Eid al-Fitr.  On this day, the entire Muslim community celebrates the completion of their obligation (fasting).  They pray, together, that their worship was accepted by Allah, and that their sins for the previous year and the year to come were forgiven.  The people invite each other for lunch and dinners, and the children are rewarded with presents and money!  The celebration usually lasts anywhere from 2, 3 days to an entire week.   Yet, amongst the immense rejoicement of Eid al-Fitr, you would find many people who experience bitter-sweet moments upon the end of Ramadan.  That is because these people realize that the blessings of the month of Ramadan have left for another year.  The opportunities to earn rewards, to worship with ease, to ask for forgivenss, are all gone for a whole year.  The devils are once again released, and they will roam around for another year, tempting and deceiving people everywhere.   The training period is over, and the real life begins - until 11 months when the next Ramadan will arrive.  And thus the Muslim begins to carry out those commitments that he/she had made in the month of Ramadan, and looks foward to the next Ramadan. May Allah make us all witness the Ramadan that is just around the corner ... Wassalaamu 'alaa man ittaba'al hudaa.
NS

Re: QUESTION
rhlammert
11/10/00 at 01:46:10
humm...sounds like the Christian Lent, although I've never heard of Christians being excited like this!! :-)   Too bad there's not a masjid anywhere near me, 'cause it sounds like a marvelous, growing time!

Re: QUESTION
Saleema
11/10/00 at 14:57:53
Assalaoalykum, Arsalan that was beautifully put. This is the second time I am crying now since coming on this board. I remember, that the first time that I ever knew what it meant to be a Muslim and what it meant to be at peace with yourself and with your Creator was in the month of Ramadan. Anyway, so Ruth, what is Lent? Maybe you can explain to us now. wassalam

Re: QUESTION
jannah
11/11/00 at 00:18:40
Lent is the 40 days before easter where traditonally christians try to follow Christ's example of sacrifice. They usually give up something during this time and sometimes increase the number of masses they attend. I had a friend who was Roman Catholic who gave up swearing one lent and then chocolate on another :)  Interesting though one year she tried fasting with me and even though we broke fast at 5pm she couldn't believe how hard it was!! I think for christians it is really a time of sacrifice, atonement even for Christ's suffering, while for Muslims Ramadan is more like a celebration of Islam and spirituality. Perhaps that's why we look forward to it.

Re: QUESTION
haaris
11/13/00 at 11:17:46
Salaam Ruth, Yes we Muslims do get excited by it all.  During Ramadhan there is the hope that we will earn the pleasure of Allah and it does serve to focus our minds on the good things. My boss at work (a non-Muslim) is visiting Dubai during Ramadhan.  He went a few years ago and loved it because, in his words, the people were just so friendly, like they were going out of their way to be nice.

Re: QUESTION
mahsou411
11/13/00 at 21:00:20
Mashallah Arsalan!!!  That response gave me butterflies in my stomach just thinking about how close this blessed month is!!! I CAN"T WAIT!!!! I love going to the masjid for iftar and tarwih. I love sitting with the sisters and talking about Allah, I love listening to the recitation of the Qur'an, and the talks from the learned brothers, I love sharing food and smiles with fellow believers, I love the overnights we have at eachothers houses or at the masjid, I LOVE waking up in the middle of the night to the sound of the athan being called for tashahud prayer, stumbling to the bathroom sleepy eyed but refreshed to make wudu and join the ranks of those who glorify Allah in the night hours..... I CAN"T WAIT!!!!!  INSHA'ALLAH I will live to see many more Ramadans!!!! As Salaam Alaikum!!

Re: QUESTION
haaris
11/14/00 at 10:02:04
Salaam, Sister Sara, I was thinking about your problem (of grumbling stomach).  Instead of trying to find ways in which to lessen the grumbling (embarassing as it is) why not look at it from this perspective. We all know that Islam means "submission", specifically submission to the will of Allah.  We all also know that the whole of creation is in submission to that same will (subhana' Allah).  We also know that man has a choice, free will, as to whether he submits. However, I was listening to a tape of a lecture by Hamza Yusuf the other day (masha' Allah, that brother's knowledge just knocks me sideways) and he was saying that we still have elements of our nature in which we have no choice but to submit: the need to sleep, for example, and the need to eat. Therefore, when (insha' Allah) we make the conscious decision to fast we submit to the will of Allah by delaying these impulses.  When your stomach grumbles it is only because it is complying with the will of Allah.  It is almost as though your stomach is saying "I am hungry I need food that is the will of Allah, that is how I am made.  I am in submission to the will of Allah.  I AM MUSLIM!!!!!" Subhana' Allah, the conscious decision to obey Allah and fast makes us more aware of our fundamental nature: being submissive to the only One who deserves submission in ways we never think of usually.  By doing something that appears contrary to nature we are re-inforcing that very nature. So, when your stomach rumbles (believe me, it is not grumbling) don't look embarassed!  Agree with it and say "I am Muslim".  Subhana' Allah. May Allah forgive me if I have said anything wrong here.

Re: QUESTION
Malika
11/14/00 at 12:03:30
Assalam Alaikum Just thinking about Ramadan makes me go weepy.  I look forward to this time when I feel like  Alhumdullliah! I am a Muslim!  I feel this way all year but at this time it seems magnified.  If you can understand that.  I hope Allah (swt) gives us all the blessings and mercy that we strive for not only during Ramadan but everyday ameen. As for stomach growling I don't get much of that but I wonder why it is I also don't lose not 1 pound? ???

Re: QUESTION
hermit
11/14/00 at 15:10:27
Assalam-u-Alaikum,  Ramadan is just two weeks away!  So close!  I can't wait either.  About the grumbling stomach, don't worry about what other people say or think about you, just be yourself and be patient with Allah.

Re: QUESTION
bhaloo
11/14/00 at 16:01:20
slm Is there anything different any of you are planing on doing this Ramadan?  Maybe something you didn't do last year, but this year you want to make sure you do it?

Re: QUESTION
tq
11/14/00 at 16:25:00
Assalamo elikuim Yes , Fruit chat with less chat masallah :) . No, seriously I would like read the translation of the whole Quran (I usually read whole in Arabic) but this ramazan I would  like to read translation/tasfeer. I know I can only do one thing complete either translation/tasfeer or in Arabic. What would be more beneficial?? Any suggestions ? Wasalam tq

Re: QUESTION
jannah
11/14/00 at 17:18:18
tq you've never read the quran translation in english??? then you must.. but it's also good to read arabic.. i would suggest that you start reading the quran in arabic AND in english.. and if you end up doing half the quran that's fine. there is no law that says YOU HAVE to complete the Quran in Ramadan. If you go to a mosque regularly for Taraweeh I would recommend reading the english along with the reciter ie before going to the mosque or during the days. That way when you go to taraweeh you know what he is reciting generally.

Re: QUESTION
tq
11/15/00 at 09:13:23
Assalamo elikuim Jannah I have read the translation of couple of surahs but never the whole Quran itself. Thanks for the suggestion Inshallah I will read both this time i.e. Arabic and translation. And no I don't go to masjid for taraweeh the younger one disturbs everyone (Last year I did go for the first 2-3 days, my younger son was making too many sujdahs with loud Allah-o-Akbar - when he did this at first everybody thought that it was cute but after 25-50 times it wasn't that cute anymore :) Wasalam tq

Re: QUESTION
maryam
11/15/00 at 13:08:35
Salaams, Since we are on the topic of questions, I have one. This is kinda of late to ask, after all these years, but I hope you guys can correct me insha Allah. I'm going home this December, do I start fasting with all the people in Nigeria, or with people here in the U.S.? Last year, I went home for Ramadan (well the last 10 days of it) so I was told by an Imam that I could start fasting with people in Nigeria. For some reason, they always start a day earlier. Okay, It confuses me why everyone starts fasting on different days, not to mention what it would mean if I'm travelling all over the place. Basically I don't understand the ruling on this. I guess my question is, what is the Islamic standpoint on when to start fasting and what are the conditions? Am I making sense? Redundant? Thanx. Wassalam, Maryam

Re: QUESTION
Arsalan
11/15/00 at 13:53:22
Assalamu alaikum, Are you going to arrive in Nigeria before Ramadan begins or after it? If you arrive in Nigeria before Ramadan has begun, then you should follow what the people are doing there.  You should fast with the people that you are living with - not those who are living 1000's of miles away. If you arrive in Nigeria DURING Ramadan, the situation is a little different.  When you leave the USA for Nigeria, you will be on the plane.  You shouldn't fast because of the inconvenience during the travel.  Then, when you reach Nigeria, you should continue fasting.  Now comes the time of Eid.  You should celebrate Eid with the Nigerians, regardless of how many fasts you have done.  AFTER Eid, make up the number of days that you missed.  Remember, fasting is either 29 days or 30.  No less, no more. The only thing that I'm not sure about is this: if the US has Ramadan of 30 days, and Nigeria has Ramadan of 29 days, and you started your fast in the US but had Eid in Nigeria, how many days of fasting is obligatory on you?  29 or 30?  I would think that it would be 29 - because you should go with the place where you FINISHED your fast.  But I'm not sure.  I'll have to ask my imam. Wassalamu alaikum.

Re: QUESTION
maryam
11/15/00 at 20:52:15
Assalam Alaikum, Br. Arshad thanx for the answer. I'm scheduled to leave sometime during Ramadan. They usually fast 29 days in Nigeria, so I would have fasted only 27 days when we have Eid, iA :-( I'll be very grateful if you could give me information on how many fasts I would have to make up.  JAK Wassalam, Maryam

Re: QUESTION
bhaloo
11/15/00 at 20:59:48
slm I feel obligated to answer because the sister thanked me, I think you meant Arsalan thought. :)  Anyways, Sheikh Munajidd was asked: What should a Muslim do if he moves from one country to another during Ramadaan, where the people started fasting on a different day? He answered: Praise be to Allaah. If a person finds himself in a country where the people have already started fasting, he must fast with them, because he must follow the ruling of the country he is in. The Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Fast when the people fast, break your fast when the people break their fast, and offer your sacrifice when the people offer their sacrifice.” (Reported by Abu Dawood with a jayyid isnaad; there are corroborating reports narrated by Abu Dawood and others). Suppose that he moved from a country where he had begun fasting with the people there, and went to another country. He has to either break his fast or continue fasting according to the ruling of the people in the country to which he has travelled, even if they end their fast earlier than the country where he started fasting. But if it turns out that he has fasted less than twenty-nine days, he must make up the fasts later on, because the hijri month cannot be less than twenty-nine days. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 10/124).

Re: QUESTION
Asim
11/15/00 at 23:54:37
Assalaamu alaikum, [quote]They usually fast 29 days in Nigeria, [/quote] LOL :D. So true! I don't remember we ever had a 30 day Ramadan during my 11 year stay in Nigeria! In the beginning we used to wait till late at night to hear the news. But in later years we *knew* that Eid would be after 29 days! We would sleep and without fail the night watchman would come around 12-1 am to tell us that the Emir has announced that Eid would be tomorrow. Yeah right, big surprise :) Wasalaam.

Re: QUESTION
maryam
11/16/00 at 15:47:59
Assalam Alaikum, I'm so sorry! I always get Br. Arlsalan's name mixed up with yours Br Arshad. So I guess thank you both for answering my questions. Br Asim isn't that the truth! :-) There was one day, a few years back, where the moon hadn't been sighted and it was nearing 1.30am. We were so excited that this was actually going to be a 30-day Ramadan, but of course our hopes were shot about 2 mins later. Also, didn't you ever wonder why it was always sighted in this remote area in Gusau? My Mother said that she has only fasted 30days once, and she is 55!!!! Wassalam
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