Glossary of Islamic Terms for the Month of Ramadhan

"O who believe, fasting is decreed for you as it was decreed for those before you;
perchance you will guard yourselves....
The month of Ramadan is the month in which the Qur'an was sent down, a guidance for the people, and clear verses of guidance and criterion." [Quran: Chapter 2, 183]
Bab Al-Raiyan
The name of one of the gates of Heavens (Jannah) through which the people who often observe fasting will enter on the Day of Judgement.
Eid Al-Fitr
Three-day festival markingthe end of Ramadan. It begins on the 1st of Shawal, the 10th month ofthe Islamic calendar.
Fidya
Compensation for missing or wrongly practicing necessary acts of worship. Fidya usually takes the form of donating money, foodstuffs, or sacrificing ananimal. Contrast with Kaffara (making amends).
Iftar or Futoor
Breaking of the fast immediately after sunset. Iftar takes place at Maghrib as soon as the Callto Prayer (Adhaan) is given.
Imsak
Start of the fasting time. Imsak begins when the first light of dawn becomes visible, and ends at Fajr when the Adhaan iscalled. Literally means"holding back."
I'tikaf
I'tikaf refers to the religious practice of spending the last ten days of Ramadan (either whollyor partly) in a mosque so as to devote oneself exclusively to worship. In this state one may go out of the mosque only for theabsolutely necessary requirements of life, but one must stay away from gratifying one's sexual desire. The minimum period for i'tikaf is twenty-four hours. I'tikaf is not valid if one is not keeping the fast or if it is done outside the month of Ramadan.
Kaffarah
Kaffarah means atonement, expiation. In Ramadhan this would refer to the expiation for breaking the fast.
Lailatul-Qadr
'The Night of Power,' concealed in one of the odd nights in the last ten days of Ramadan; the night on which the Qur'an was first revealed by Jibraeel to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and which the Qur'an itself describes as "better than a thousand months." [Al-Qadr (97:3)]
Ramadhan or Ramadhan
The ninth month of the Islamic (lunar) calendar. The month in which Muslims fast.
Sawm or Siyam
The Arabic word for fast. Plural: Siyam. Literally in the Arabic language it means "to abstain."/ - - - :-> Transtors: 1.http://free-translation.imtranslator.net/lowres.asp 2.http://translate.google.com/m?twu=1&hl=en&vi=m&sl=auto&tl=en

Glossary of Islamic Terms for the Month of Ramadhan

"O who believe, fasting is decreed for you as it was decreed for those
before you;
perchance you will guard yourselves....
The month of Ramadan is the month in which the Qur'an was sent down, a
guidance for the people, and clear verses of guidance and criterion."
[Quran: Chapter 2, 183]
Bab Al-Raiyan
The name of one of the gates of Heavens (Jannah) through which the
people who often observe fasting will enter on the Day of Judgement.
Eid Al-Fitr
Three-day festival markingthe end of Ramadan. It begins on the 1st of
Shawal, the 10th month ofthe Islamic calendar.
Fidya
Compensation for missing or wrongly practicing necessary acts of
worship. Fidya usually takes the form of donating money, foodstuffs,
or sacrificing ananimal. Contrast with Kaffara (making amends).
Iftar or Futoor
Breaking of the fast immediately after sunset. Iftar takes place at
Maghrib as soon as the Callto Prayer (Adhaan) is given.
Imsak
Start of the fasting time. Imsak begins when the first light of dawn
becomes visible, and ends at Fajr when the Adhaan iscalled. Literally
means"holding back."
I'tikaf
I'tikaf refers to the religious practice of spending the last ten days
of Ramadan (either whollyor partly) in a mosque so as to devote
oneself exclusively to worship. In this state one may go out of the
mosque only for theabsolutely necessary requirements of life, but one
must stay away from gratifying one's sexual desire. The minimum period
for i'tikaf is twenty-four hours. I'tikaf is not valid if one is not
keeping the fast or if it is done outside the month of Ramadan.
Kaffarah
Kaffarah means atonement, expiation. In Ramadhan this would refer to
the expiation for breaking the fast.
Lailatul-Qadr
'The Night of Power,' concealed in one of the odd nights in the last
ten days of Ramadan; the night on which the Qur'an was first revealed
by Jibraeel to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and which the Qur'an
itself describes as "better than a thousand months." [Al-Qadr (97:3)]
Ramadhan or Ramadhan
The ninth month of the Islamic (lunar) calendar. The month in which
Muslims fast.
Sawm or Siyam
The Arabic word for fast. Plural: Siyam. Literally in the Arabic
language it means "to abstain."

--
- - - - - - -

Ramadaan - How to Attain Taqwaa

The concept of taqwaa is always linked to ibaadah in the Qur'an. 'Ibaadah can be defined as doing what Allah has commanded and avoiding what He has prohibited. 'Ibaadah has also been defined as a concept that includes all actions that Allah loves and approves of, whether they are actions of the heart, the toungue or the limbs. So taqwaa is linked with doing what is correct and avoiding that which is wrong. Taqwaa is the fruit of doing the actions of 'Ibaadah. In other words, ifone does what Allah has commanded him to do, and abstains from that which he has been forbidden, he will achieve taqwaa. Allah mentions in His Book (that means):
"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become muttaqoon (those who have taqwaa or piety)." [ Al-Baqarah 2:183 ]
In this aayah and in many others, Allah has shown us that taqwaa is the result or fruit of doing actions of ibaadah.
The Meaning of Taqwaa
Now that we have clarifiedhow to achieve taqwaa, we define what the concept of taqwaa means. Taqwaa means: to cleanse or purify the heart and thesoul. This fact is proven by some ayaat in Surat Ash-Shams in which Allah (T) says (what means):
"By the sun and its brightness, by the moon asit follows it, by the day as it shows its brightness, by the night as it conceals it, by the heaven and its wondrous make, by the earth and all its expanse, and by the soul and He Who perfected it in proportion, then He showed it what is wrong for it and what is right for it - indeed he succeeds who purifies it, and he failswho corrupts it." [Ash-Shams 91:1-10]
Allah begins this soorah bytaking seven oaths. Whenever Allah begins a soorah or an ayaah with an oath, He (T) does so to bear witness to the fact that whatever follows this oath is very important andessential for us to understand. Therefore, we should pay very close attention to what is being said, and reflect upon its meanings. To cleanse one'sheart and to purify the soul, one must perform righteous actions that Allah has enjoined upon us, and our destruction liesin doing the actions that Allah has forbidden. As Allah is the Guardian and Protector of the Soul, we should do every good deed hoping for Allah's Mercy and fearing His Punishment, having full reliance and trust in Him (T).
Purification of the Soul
Among the missions of theProphet (saws), Allah sent him with the command to purify the souls of the Muslims in particular, and of mankind in general. Allah (T) says (what means):
"He it is who sent among the unlettered ones a Messenger from among themselves, reciting to them His ayaat, purifying them, and teaching them the Book and the Hikmah, while before they had been in error."
[Al-Jumu'ah 62:2]
In this ayaah the word
1. To teach the Qur'an.
2. To teach the Sunnah.
3. To show the means of purifying the soul.
This purification is obtained by doing the proper acts of 'ibaadah and by avoiding sins and disobedience.
Conditions for Attaining Taqwaa
How does a person know that his acts of 'ibaadah are helping him to achievetaqwaa? To develop taqwaa, one must fulfill the following conditions:
1) Ikhlaas, sincere intention that the act is performed purely for the pleasure of Allah, out of love for Him, while hoping for His reward and mercy, as well as fearing His anger and punishment if He is disobeyed.
2) To do the deed in accordance with the authentic Sunnah. To have the necessary knowledge of the 'ibaadah that is being performed. To knowhow the Prophet (saws) performed the action and proper times for the performance of that action.
Concerning Ikhlaas, it mustbe present both before and after performing the deed, with no riyaa or sum'ah (doing things to beseen or heard by people). For instance, after doing a good deed, one must not say to others, "Look at all the good I have been doing", or "I'm such a marvelous person because I do such and such."
This formula, if used to achieve taqwaa, is scientific, in that if you follow it, while fulfilling allof its conditions and their rights, you will achieve taqwaa insha/ - - - :-> Transtors: 1.http://free-translation.imtranslator.net/lowres.asp 2.http://translate.google.com/m?twu=1&hl=en&vi=m&sl=auto&tl=en

Diet During Ramadan

"To be healthy, one must consume food from the major food groups: bread and cereal, milk and dairy product, meat and bean, vegetable and fruit. During the month long fast of Ramadan the metabolic rate of a fastingperson slows down and other regulatory mechanisms start functioning. Body and dietary fat is efficiently utilized. Consuming total food intake that is less than the total food intake during normal days is sufficient to maintain a person's health. Intake of fruits after a meal is strongly suggested. A balanced diet improves blood cholesterol profile, reduces gastric acidity, prevents constipation andother digestive problems, and contributes to an active and healthy life style."
- (Int. J. Ramadan Fasting Research, 3:1-6, 1999)
INTRODUCTION
Fasting during the Islamic month of Ramadan can be good for one's health and personal development. Ramadan fasting is not just about disciplining the body to restrain from eating food and drinking water from predawn until sunset. The eyes, the ears, the tongue, and even the private parts are equally obligated to be restrained if a Muslim wants to gain the total rewards of fasting. Ramadan is also about restraining anger, doing good deeds, exercising personal discipline, and preparing oneself to serve as a good Muslim and a good person during and after Ramadan.
This is why the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him, Pbuh) has been attributed, by Hazrat Abu Hurairah in hadith, to say: "He who does not desist from obscene language and acting obscenely (during the period of fasting), Allah has no need that he didn't eat or drink." (Bukhari, Muslim). In another hadith by Hazrat Abu Harairah, the Prophet (Pbuh) said: "Fasting is not only from food and drink, fasting is to refrain from obscene (acts). If someone verbally abuses you or acts ignorantly toward you, say(to them) 'I am fasting; I am fasting." (Ibn Khuzaoinah). Restraint from food, water, and undesirable behavior makes a person more mentally disciplined and less prone to unhealthy behavior. In an investigation in Jordan (1), a significant reduction of parasuicidal cases was noted during the month ofRamadan. In the United Kingdom, the Ramadan model has been used by various health departments and organizations to reduce cigarette smoking among the masses, especially among Africans and Asians(2).
Ramadan fasting has spiritual, physical, psychological, and social benefits; however, manmade problems may occur, if fasting is not properly practiced. First of all, there is no need to consume excess food at iftar (the food eaten immediately after sunset to break fast), dinner or sahur ( the light meal generally eaten about half an hour to one hour before dawn). The body has regulatory mechanisms that activate during fasting. There is efficient utilization of bodyfat. [El Ati et al. (3)]. Basal metabolism slows down during Ramadan fasting. [Husain et al. (4)]. A diet that is less than a normal amount of food intake but balanced is sufficient enough to keep a person healthy and active during the month of Ramadan.
Health problems can emerge as a result of excess food intake, foods that make the diet unbalanced, and insufficient sleep (5, 6). Ultimately also, such a lifestyle contradicts the essential requirements andspirit of Ramadan.
DIET DURING RAMADAN
According to Sunna (the practices of Prophet Muhammad, Pbuh) and research findings referred in this report, a dietary plan is given:
1. Bread/Cereal/Rice, Pasta,Biscuits and Cracker Group:6-11 servings/day; 2. Meat/Beans/ Nut Group: 2-3 servings/day. 3. Milk and Milk Product Group: 2-3 servings/day. 4. Vegetable Group: 3-5 servings/day; 5. Fruit Group: 2-4 servings/day. 6.Added sugar (table sugar, sucrose): sparingly. 7. Added fat, polyunsaturated oil 4-7 table spoons.
Breakfast, iftar :
*. Dates, three
*. Juice, 1 serving (4 oz.)
*. Vegetable soup with some pasta or graham crackers, 1 cup
The body's immediate need at the time of iftar is to get an easily available energy source in the form of glucose for every living cell, particularly the brain and nerve cells. Dates and juices are good sources of sugars. Dates and juice in the above quantity are sufficient to bring low blood glucose levels to normal levels. Juice and soup help maintain water and mineral balance in thebody. An unbalanced diet and too many servings of sherbets and sweets with added sugar have been found to be unhealthy. [Gumma et al. (7)]./ - - - :-> Transtors: 1.http://free-translation.imtranslator.net/lowres.asp 2.http://translate.google.com/m?twu=1&hl=en&vi=m&sl=auto&tl=en