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In general terms, the Islamic view of life is the knowledge, discipline, and science of humanity’s rights and obligations and of what is good and bad for humanity on the individual and collective levels. Thus the Islamic view of life consists of a set of rights and obligations by whic

There are two cardinal causes of social turmoil: the ideas of “let everyone work so I can eat,” and “I don’t care if others die of hunger so long as I am full.” Islam eliminates the first by banning all interest-based and usurious transactions, and the second through zakah,1 which ser

The foremost feature of a good social order from an Islamic perspective is twofold: All people are God’s creatures and therefore no one enjoys any superiority coming from birth (race, family, and color, etc); and the authority’s power is neither absolute nor designed to enslave people

The fourth pillar of Islam is the Ramadan fast, during which Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, and sexual relations or satisfaction from dawn until sunset. Concerning the order to fast, the Qur’an declares: The month of Ramadan, in which the Qur’an (began to be) sent

FASTING IN THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN This section consists of Nine Points, which explain Divine purpose for ordering the fasting during the month of Ramadan. “In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. It was the month of Ramadan in which the Quran was bestowed from on

There are two types of fasting: Obligatory Voluntary Obligatory fasts can be further subdivided into The fast of Ramadan, The fast of expiation and the fast of fulfilling a vow.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. A lunar month is approximately 29.5 days, which is the time it takes for the moon to orbit Earth. Since a lunar month is, on average, one day shorter than a solar month, a lunar year is 10 to 12 days shorter than a solar year.

Most scholars say that it does not matter if the new moon has been seen elsewhere. In other words, after the new moon is seen anywhere in the world, all Muslims must begin fasting.

The Ramadan fast ends when the new moon (Shawwal) is seen. Most jurists state that the new moon must have been reported by at least two just witnesses.

According to the Qur’an, the fasting hours are as follows: You can eat and drink until you can discern the white streak (of dawn) against the black streak (of night); then complete the Fast until night sets in (2:187). Thus, the fast should start at the first thread of light at