33 Blessings of Ramadhan Fasting (Benefits): How many will you reap?

The benefits of the Ramadhan month of fasting are too many to be counted. If one does recognize them and realize their importance, he wishes to have the month of Ramadhan to be throughout the whole year.

These blessings are given by Allah to the fasting Muslims, who are to fast with full faith and expectation.

These blessings and benefits of the month of fasting during Ramadhan have been grouped and summarized into different categories. They are summarized here without commentary. It should be remembered that all of these blessings were taken directly from Holy Quran and Hadith.

The following is a partial list for the blessings and benefits of the month of fasting during Ramadhan:

01. Taqwa:

 

1.    Fearing Allah (SWT)

2.    Practicing the Revelations of Allah (SWT)

3.    Accepting the little things that one has achieved

4.    Preparing for departure from this world to the Hereafter

5.    Self-discipline

6.    Self-control

7.    Self-restraint

8.    Self-education

9.    Self-evaluation

By accepting these criteria and by practicing them, the Muslim will achieve the concept of Taqwa in his private and public life.

02. Protection: 

1.    Avoiding Immorality

2.    Avoiding anger/outcry/uproar

3.    Avoiding stupidity

4.    Avoiding all makrooh/mashbooh/haram

By achieving these good manners, a Muslim will come out of fasting a better human being in the society.

03. Revelation of Holy Quran: The Holy Quran was revealed during the month of Ramadhan. The Holy Quran is meant to be:

1.    A Guidance to mankind

2.    A Manifestation of right from wrong

3.    A Summation and culmination of all previous revelations

4.    A Glad-tiding to the believers

5.    A Healer

6.    A Mercy

04. Doors of heaven are open

05. Doors of hell are closed

06. Devils are chained down

07. Fasting with Iman (faith) and expectation: Such type of intention leads to forgiveness by Allah (SWT) to the individual's sins.

08. Door of Rayyan: There is in Paradise a door called Al-Rayyan. It is for the fasting Muslims. Only those who fasted the month of Ramadhan are the ones to enjoy the bliss of Paradise inside that area.

09. Rejoices: There are two types of rejoices for the Muslims who fast. These are:

1.    When breaking fast

2.    When meeting Allah (SWT) on the day of Judgment

10. Mouth Smell: The smell of the mouth of the fasting Muslim will be better than the smell of musk during the day of Judgement. (Bad Breath)

11. Glad-Tidings: These glad-tidings are given to the well-wishers while the ill-wishers are to be stopped during fasting.

12. Ramadhan -to- Ramadhan: Whoever fasts two consecutive months of Ramadhan with good intention will receive forgiveness for the mistakes committed throughout the year.

13. Multiplication of Rewards: Doing good = 10x, 70x, 700x or more during the month of Ramadhan.

14. Feeding Others: Whoever invites others to break the fast, and whoever takes care of the hungry, needy, during the last ten days of Ramadhan will receive equal rewards to the fasting person(s).

15. Blessing of Iftar: Dua is accepted by ALLAH (SWT) at Iftar time.

16. Blessings of Sahoor (The late night meal): This meal time gives the opportunity for:

1.    Night Prayers

2.    Zikr, Remembrance, Contemplation

3.    Recitation of Holy Quran

4.    Fajr Salat in Jamaat

5.    Dua of Fajr

17. Night Prayers: Whoever performs the Night prayers with sincerity and good intention will receive forgiveness of his past mistakes.

18. Shafa'at (Pleading One's Case for Forgiveness): Whoever fasts Ramadhan will receive on the 

day of Judgement the Shafa'at of:

1.    Ramadhan

2.    Holy Quran

19. Ihya (Passing Nights Awake): Last ten days of Ramadhan. When a Muslim makes this type of effort, he will get rewards, forgiveness, and multiples of blessings.

20. Itikaf (Retreat): A Muslim who performs Itikaf during the last ten days of Ramadhan will get:

1.    Blessings and rewards

2.    Peace of mind

3.    Contemplation and evaluation

4.    Better citizen

21. Lailatul Qadr (The Night of Power): Whoever observes it with sincerity and good intention will get the following benefits:

1.    Forgiveness of mistakes

2.    Better than 1,000 months

3.    Dua

4.    Zikr

5.    Prayers

6.    Reading Holy Quran

7.    Rewards

8.    Blessings

9.    Better human being

22. Generosity: Kindness, hospitality, visitation, etc. All of these and many more are among the benefits of Ramadhan.

23. Zakat al-Fitrah (Charity on Eid Day): The benefits of paying such as charity to the needy are tremendous, among which are the following:

1.    Purity

2.    Feeding the needy

3.    Sharing happiness

4.    Improving human relations

5.    Improving society

24. Sadaqah (Charity): The benefits of paying sadaqah are many. These are summarized as follows:

1.    Purity

2.    Flourishing of wealth

3.    Improving economy

4.    Circulation of wealth

5.    Elimination of inflation

6.    Elimination of poverty

25. Fasting and Health: By fasting, one gets the following benefits:

1.    Purification of body from toxins

2.    Reducing of weight

3.    Purity of brain

4.    Rejuvenation of body

5.    Living of life with happiness

6.    Looking younger

26. Change of Lifestyle: By living a different life style, one gets rid of the monotony of life and hence enjoys his life span.

27. Sharing: Of hunger, thirst and rituals with others in the society.

28. Eid-ul-Fitr (Feast): Sharing of happiness and visitation of one another as members of the society.

29. Graveyards Visitation: One will get the following benefits by visiting graveyards.

1.    Dua for the deceased

2.    Preparing oneself for departure from this world

3.    Feeling respect for the deceased

4.    Making the person to be humble in his life

30. Every breath is Tasbiih. Every breath and even sleep is Ibadah and awarded.

31. Umrah in Ramadhan: Visiting Makkah during the fasting month of Ramadhan is:

1.    Equal to one Hajj (pilgrimage)

2.    Equal to one Hajj with Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

32. Historical Successes and Victories in Ramadhan: Muslims throughout their history received many benefits during Ramadhan the month of fasting, among which are the following:

1.    Battle of Badr

2.    Battle of Khandaq

3.    Opening of Makkah

4.    Battle of Tabuk

5.    Tariq Ibn Ziyad opened Europe

6.    Salahuddin liberated Jerusalem from the crusaders

7.    Egypt and Israel, 1973 - Egyptians kicked the Israelis out of Egypt during Ramadhan the month of fasting, etc. 

33. Learning lessons from historical incidents that happened during Holy Ramadhan the month of fasting, e.g.

 

1.    Wafaat Hazrat Khadijeh (as).

2.    Wiladat Imam Hassan bin Ali (as).

3.    Shahadat Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (as).

4.    Youm-al-Quds.

Ramadan Diet and Health Guidelines

During the holy month of Ramadan, our diet should not differ very much from our normal diet and should be as simple as possible. The diet should be such that we maintain our normal weight, neither losing nor gaining. However, if one is over-weight, Ramadan is an ideal time to normalize one's weight.

In view of the long hours of fasting, we should consume slow digesting foods including fibre containing-foods rather than fast-digesting foods. Slow digesting foods last up to 8 hours, while fast-digesting foods last for only 3 to 4 hours. 

• Slow-digesting foods are foods that contain grains and seeds like barley, wheat, oats, millet, semolina, beans, lentils, whole meal flour, unpolished rice, etc. (called complex carbohydrates).
• Fast-burning foods are foods that contain sugar, white flour, etc. (called refined carbohydrates).
• Fibre-containing foods are bran-containing foods, whole wheat, grains and seeds, vegetables like green beans, peas, sem (papry), marrow, mealiest, spinach, and other herbs like methie, the leaves of beetroot (iron-rich), fruit with skin, dried fruit especially dried apricots, figs and prunes, almonds, etc.

The foods eaten should be well-balanced, containing foods from each food group, i.e. fruits, vegetables, meat/chicken/fish, bread/cereals and dairy products. Fried foods are unhealthy and should be limited. They cause indigestion, heart-burn, and weight problems. 

AVOID

• Fried and fatty foods.
• Foods containing too much sugar.
• Over-eating especially at sehri (the meal before beginning the fast).
• Too much tea at sehri. Tea makes you pass more urine taking with it valuable mineral salts that your body would need during the day.
• Smoking cigarettes. If you cannot give up smoking, cut down gradually starting a few weeks before Ramadan. Smoking is unhealthy and one should stop completely.

EAT

• Complex carbohydrates at sehri so that the food lasts longer making you less hungry.
• Haleem is an excellent source of protein and is a slow-burning food.
• Dates are excellent source of sugar, fibre, carbohydrates, potassium and magnesium.
• Almonds are rich in protein and fibre with less fat.
• Bananas are a good source of potassium, magnesium and carbohydrates.

DRINK

• As much water or fruit juices as possible between iftar and bedtime so that your body may adjust fluid levels in time.

CONSTIPATION

Constipation can cause piles (haemorroids), fissures (painful cracks in anal canal) and indigestion with a bloated feeling. 

Causes: Too much refined foods, too little water and not enough fibre in the diet.

Remedy: Avoid excessive refined foods, increase water intake, use bran in baking, brown flour when making roti.

INDIGESTION AND WIND

Causes: Over-eating. Too much fried and fatty foods, spicy foods, and foods that produce wind e.g. eggs, cabbage, lentils, carbonated drinks like Cola also produce gas.

Remedy: Do not over-eat; drink fruit juices or better still drink water. Avoid fried foods; add ajmor to wind-producing foods.

LETHARGY ('low blood pressure')

Excessive sweating, weakness, tiredness, lack of energy, dizziness, especially on getting up from sitting position, pale appearance and feeling faint are symptoms associated with "low blood pressure". This tends to occur towards the afternoon. 

Causes: Too little fluid intake, decreased salt intake.

Remedy: Keep cool, increase fluid and salt intake.

Caution: Low blood pressure should be confirmed by taking a blood pressure reading when symptoms are present. Persons with high blood pressure may need their medication adjusted during Ramadhan. They should consult their doctor.

HEADACHE

Causes: Caffeine and tobacco-withdrawal, doing too much in one day, lack of sleep, hunger usually occur as the day goes by and worsens at the end of the day. When associated with "low blood pressure", the headache can be quite severe and can also cause nausea before Iftar.

Remedy: Cut down caffeine and tobacco slowly starting a week or two before Ramadhan. Herbal and caffeine-free teas may be substituted. Reorganize your schedule during the Ramadan so as to have adequate sleep.

LOW BLOOD SUGAR

Weakness, dizziness, tiredness, poor concentration, perspiring easily, feeling shaky (tremor), unable to perform physical activities, headache, palpitations are symptoms of low blood sugar.

Causes in non-diabetics: Having too much sugar i.e. refined carbohydrates especially at suhur (sehri). The body produces too much insulin causing the blood glucose to drop.

Remedy: Eat something at sehri and limit sugar-containing foods and drinks.

Caution: Diabetics may need to adjust their medication in Ramadan, consult your doctor.

MUSCLE CRAMPS

Causes: Inadequate intake of calcium, magnesium and potassium foods.

Remedy: Eat foods rich in the above minerals e.g. vegetables, fruit, dairy products, meat and dates.

Caution: Those on high blood pressure medication and with kidney stone problems should consult their doctor.

PEPTIC ULCERS, HEART BURN, GASTRITIS AND HIATUS HERNIA

Increased acid levels in the empty stomach in Ramadhan aggravate the above conditions. It presents as a burning feeling in the stomach area under the ribs and can extend up to the throat. Spicy foods, coffee, and Cola drinks worsen these conditions.

Medications are available to control acid levels in the stomach. People with proven peptic ulcers and hiatus hernia should consult their doctor well before Ramadhan.

KIDNEY STONES

Kidney stones may occur in people who have less liquid to drink. Therefore, it is essential to drink extra liquids so as to prevent stone formation.

JOINT PAINS

Causes: During Ramadhan, when extra salah are performed the pressure on the knee joints increases. In the elderly and those with arthritis this may result in pain, stiffness, swelling and discomfort.

Remedy: Lose weight so that the knees do not have to carry any extra load. Exercise the lower limbs before Ramadhan so that they can be prepared for the additional strain. Being physically fit allows greater fulfillment, thus enabling one to be able to perform salah with ease.