THE FASTING

This paper was prepared to fulfil one of the course assignment

English

Supporting lecturer:

Drs. Khoerrurofie, M.Ag

Complied by : group…

(nama) (nim)

ISLAMIC EDUCATION DEPARTEMENT

YAMISA ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY

2023-2024 ACADEMIC YEAR

 TABBLE OF CONTENTS

TABBLE OF CONTENTS......................................................i
FOREWORD..........................................................................ii
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION.............................................1
A. Background of the paper.................................................1
B. Problems formulation.....................................................1
C. Purpose of the paper.......................................................1
CHAPTER II THEORY AND DISCUSSION........................2
A. The spiritual meaning of Islamic Fasting.......................2
B. Fasting in Comparative Perspective...............................3
C. The period of Fasting......................................................4
D. Who must Fast................................................................5
E. Exemption from Fasting.................................................5
F. General recommendations during Fasting of Ramadhan6
CHAPTER III CONCLUSION...............................................7
A. Conclusion......................................................................7
B. Suggestions.....................................................................7
REFERENCE..........................................................................8

i
 FOREWORD

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Praise and gratitude to the presence of Almighty God, who has bestowed
His mercy and grace so that we can complete this paper assignment with the title
“FASTING (SHAUM)”

We complied this report quickly with the help and support of various parties,
including Drs. Khoerrurofie, M.Ag as a lecturer in the English course. Therefore
we would like to express our gratitude for the time, energy, and thoughts that have
been given, may God Almighty repay all the help that have been given to us.

We realize that the writing of this paper is far from perfect. Therefore the
author expect constructive criticism and suggestion in order to produce a good
paper.

With all humility, we hope this paper is useful for all parties.

Soreang 01-07-2024

Author

ii
 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the paper

Siyam is one of the main pillars of Islam. It is mentioned in

the Holy Qur'an, "O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you,
as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may (learn)
self-restraint." (Quran 2:183)
Based upon the Qur'an, it has been the consensus of
Muslims throughout history that a Muslim who rejects the
legitimacy of Siyam rejects Islam as well. The Holy Prophet is
reported to have said about the significance of the month of
Ramadan: "A great month, a blessed month, containing a night
which is better than a thousand months. If someone draws near
to The Almighty during it with some good act, he will be like one
who fulfills an obligatory duty in another month, and he who
fulfills an obligatory duty in it will be like one who fulfills seventy
obligatory duties in another month."

B. Problems formulation

1. What is the spiritual meaning of the Islamic fasting?

2. Fasting in Comparative Perspective
3. The period of fasting
4. Who must fast?
5. Exemption from fasting
6. General recommendations during fasting

C. Purpose of the paper

1. Knowing the definition of fasting

iii
 2. Knowing the importance of fasting
3. Knowing the purposes and benefits of fasting

CHAPTER II
THEORY AND DISCUSSION

A. The spiritual meaning of Islamic Fasting

When Islam introduced this matchless institution, it planted an

evergrowing tree of infinite virtue and invaluable products. Here is an explanation
of the spiritual meaning of the Islamic Fasting:
1. It teaches man the principle of sincere deep love for God.
2. It equips man with a creative sense of Hope and an optimistic outlook on
life while hoping to please God and seeking His Grace.\
3. It imbues man with a genuine virtue of effective Devotion, honest
Dedication and closeness to God.
4. It cultivates in man a vigilant and sound Conscience; because in the fasting
person keeps his fast in secret as well as in public.
5. It indoctrinates man in Patience and Unselfishness; because when he fasts
he feels the pains of deprivation but endures patiently.
6. It is an effective lesson in applied Moderation and Willpower. The person
who observes his Fasting properly is certainly a man who can discipline his
passionate desire and place his self above physical temptations.
7. It provides man with a Transparent Soul to transcend, a Clear Mind to think
and Light Body to move and act.
8. It shows man a new way of Wise Savings and Sound Budgeting; because
normally when he eats less quantities or less meals he spends less money
and effort.
9. It enables a man to master the art of Mature Adaptability. Fasting make a
man change the entire course of his daily life. A man who values

iv
 constructive adaptability and courage will readily appreciate the effects of
fasting in this respect.
10. It grounds man in Discipline and Healthy Survival. Fasting applying a high
form of discipline and a superb sense of order, not to mention the soul
against all harm that result from stomach overcharge.
11. It originates in man the real Spirit of Social Belonging, of Unity and
Brotherhood, of Equality before God as well as before the Law. Fasting
makes a muslim feels he is joining the whole muslim society in observing
the same duty in the same manner at the same time for the same motives to
the same end.
12. It is a Godly prescription for self-reassurance and self-control, for
maintenance of human dignity and freedom, for victory and peace.

B. Fasting in Comparative Perspective

In some other cases, fasting can be different for some other philosophies,
religions, or even doctrines. Here are some comparation about fasting:
1. In other religions and dogmas, in other philosophies and doctrines, the
observer of fast abstain from certain kinds of foods or drinks or material
substances, but he is free to substitute for that and fill his stomach to the top
with the substituting stuff, which is also material nature.
In Islam ones abstains from the things of material nature-food, drink, smoking,
etc, in order to have spiritual joys and moral nourishment.
2. The purpose of Fasting in other religions and philosophies is invariably partial.
It is either spiritual aims, or for physical needs, or for intellectual cultivations;
never for all combined. But in Islam it is for all these gains and many other
purposes.
3. The non-Islamic Fasting does not demand more than partial abstinence from
certain material things. But the Islamic type is accompanied by extra devotion

v
 and worship, extra clarity and study of the Qur’an, extra sociability and
liveness, extra self-discipline and conscience-awakening.
4. Other moral philosophies and religions teach the man that he cannot attain his
moral aims or enter the Kingdom of God unless and until he uproots himself
from the stem of worldly affairs, which fasting is an essentials element, and
this type may be used-and it has been used-as a pretext to cover the
humiliating retreat from the normal course of life. But Fasting in Islam is quite
the opposite, it is not a divorce from life but a happy marriage, it penetrate
with spiritual armaments, it’s a moral enrichment. It unite religion from the
daily life and the soul from the body. It harmonize, transfuse, and a bridge /
redeems a man from the religion.
5. In other cases the time of fasting is fixed at a certain time of the year in a most
inflexible way. But in Islam the time comes with the month of Ramadhan, the
ninth month of the year.

C. The period of Fasting

It has already been indicated that the period of obligatory Fasting is the
month of Ramadhan. The daily period of observance start before the break of
dawn and end immediately after sunset.
The Fasting of Ramadhan is obligatory on every responsible and fit
Muslim ( Mukallaf ). But there are other times when it is strongly recommended,
after the tradition of Prophet Muhammad (saw). Among these times are Mondays
and Thursdays of every week, a few days of each month in the months heralding
the coming of Ramadhan, and six days after Ramadhan.
Knowing what fasting can do to a man, God has enjoined as an alternative,
the fast of three days on anyone who breaks an oath. Similarly, if someone
declares his wife as forbidden for him, he must pay for his carelessness and
irresponsibility.

vi
D. Who must Fast

The Fasting of Ramadhan is compulsory upon every Muslim, male or female,

who has these qualifications:
1. To be mentally and physically fit, which mean be sane and able.
2. To be of full age, the age of puberty and discretion, which is normally
about fourteen.
3. To be present at your permanent settlement, your home, your home town,
etc. This means not to be travelling on a journey of about fifty miles or
more.
4. To be fairly certain that the Fasting is unlikely to cause you any harm,
physical or mental.

E. Exemption from Fasting

These said qualifications exclude the following categories:

1. Children under the age of puberty and discretion;
2. The insane people who are unaccountable for their deeds;
3. Men and women who are too old and feeble to undertake the obligation of
fast and bear it’s hardship;
4. Sick people whose health is likely to be severely affected by the observance
of Fast.
5. People in the course of travelling of distance about fifty miles or more;
6. Expectant women and women nursing their children may also break the
fast.

vii
 7. Women in the period of menstruation ( of maximum of ten days ) or of
confinement ( of maximum of forty days ).

F. General recommendations during Fasting

It is strongly recommended by the Prophet Muhammad (saw) to observe these

practices especially during Ramadhan:
1. To have a light meal before the break of the dawn, known as Suhoor;
2. To eat three dates and have a drink of water right after sunset;
3. To make your meals as light as possible;
4. To observe the supererogatory prayer known as Taraweeh;
5. To exchange social visits and intensify humanitarian services;
6. To increase study and recitation of Qur’an;
7. To exert the utmost in patience and humbleness;
8. To be extraordinarily cautious in using the senses, the mind, and especially
the tongue.

viii
 CHAPTER III
CONCLUSION
A. Conclusion

Fasting above all is an act of obedience and submission to God. This

submission and commitment is based upon the love of The Almmighty and the
earnest effort to gain His pleasure.

Although Fasting is one of the pillars in Islam, there are still some
comparative things to other beliefs, such as other religions, philosophies, dogmas,
or even doctrines.

And in Islam, fasting have some condition that must be fulfil including the
period, who must fast, the recommendations, and even there are some exception
for some conditions that a Muslim can break the Fast.

B. Suggestions

Of course the author realize, that what is in this paper is still far from perfect.
Therefore the author hopes that the reader and the listeners of this paper will be
willing to provide a constructive criticism or suggestions so that we can improve
in the future

ix
 REFERENCE
Abdalati. Hammudah. Islam In Focus. Crescent Publishing CO.