Fasting

[kmaherali]

Threats for breaking Morocco fast

A Moroccan man campaigning to change the law banning eating in public during the Muslim Ramadan fast says he has received 100 death threats this week.

Radi Omar denied that his group was anti-Islam. "We are in favour of individual freedom," he told the BBC.

Six of his colleagues are in custody after planning to eat in public last Sunday and he demanded their release.

Mr Omar said they were being well treated but he assumed they were not being fed during the fasting hours.

The group, known as the Alternative Movement for Individual Freedoms (Mali), has more than 1,200 members on its Facebook site.

They planned a public defiance of the law at the train station in Mohammedia near Casablanca last Sunday but were dispersed by the police.

The protesters were prevented from eating and so should not have been detained, Mr Omar said, adding that they have not been charged.

Under Moroccan law, eating in public during the hours of daylight, when Muslims are supposed to observe a fast, can lead to a fine and up to six months in prison.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/a ... 262787.stm

[m0786]

Kmaherali wrote

As I mentioned in it, our Sharia is not based on the Sunna, rather it is based on the Firmans of the Imam.

So what is Farman?

Fast on Beej?

Do not fast?

Fast in any month except Ramadan?

It is OK to fast in Ramadan?

[kmaherali]

So what is Farman?

Fast on Beej?

Do not fast?

Fast in any month except Ramadan?

It is OK to fast in Ramadan?

The Farmsn is mentioned on page 6 of this thread. Read it for yourself.

[shiraz.virani]

ginan by PIR SADR DIN = BUJ NIRANJAN

Jo nafsaniyat ku nakhe
sab roze Ramzanke rakhe
man thi hoi shahadat bhakhe
tab lizzat Islamki chakhe
Char mazhab burhaqq kari mane
char kitabku sahi pichhane
aur Nabi sab haqq kar jan
tab tuj hove durrast iman
Wajib farz jo sat kari jane
sab ehkam arkan pichhane
roz qiyamat sahi kari mane
sab kahuku manme thane
Pade Qur'an Kitaba booje
to tuje rah Nabi ki sooje
jo mukh Ahmed kera booje
rah Niranjan ape sooje
Jo booje marag Pir Sadar'din kera
Jo hai sada kabool reh
Sab Nabiyoke Sartaj hai
Soh dule Nabi Rasul reh.


Translation:

If [you] can control your instincts,
keep all the fasts of Ramadhan,
recite Shahadah with belief,
then can relish Islam.

When [you] truly accept the four
religions [of four Prophets],
truly acknowledge the four books
[of four Prophets], and truly
recognize all the Prophets,
then you can have upright faith.

Admit the obligatory duties as Truth,
comprehend all the [Qur'anic] Commands
and Pillars,sincerely believe in the Day of Judgment,
keep all these things in mind;Read the Qur'an, understand the Book,
then you will visualize the path ofNabi [Prophet].

If [you] comprehend the mouth [teachings] of Ahmed [Muhammad], the pathway to invisible [Allah] will manifest itself. Understand the path of Pir Sadr-din which is always an accepted path. The crown of all the prophets is that beloved Nabi Rasul [Muhammad].

[kmaherali]

Alternate translation....

jo nafsaaniyat ku(n) naakhe
sab rozhe ramzhaan ke raakhe......................................1

When a person gains control over his/her lower self(nafs-e-amaaraa), indeed is to be regarded as having fasted the whole month of Ramadhan.

manathee hoee shahaadat bhaakhe
tab lizzat eeslaamkee chaakhe.....................................2

Then, if he recites the Kalima with the conviction of mind, he get's the taste of Islam(constant peace).

chaar mazhab barhak karee maane(jaane)
chaar kitaabku(n) sahee peechhaane................................3

When he/she regards the four religions as true and considers the four holy scriptures as true...

or(apane) nabee sab(ku) hak kar jaane
tab tuj hove durast eemaan........................................4

and when he/she believes in all the prophets, then he/she may be regarded as one with strong Imaan.

vaajab farazh jo sat karee jaane(maane)
sab ehakaam arkaan pichhaane......................................5

If he/she accepts all the religious duties and obligations, and knows all the articles of faith.

rozh kayaamat sahee karee maane(jaane)
sab kaahuku(n) maname(n) tthaane..................................6

And when he/she believes in the Day of Judgement and keeps all these matters in his/her heart...

padde kuraan kitaabaa buje
to tuje raah nabeekee suje........................................7

And then he/she studies the Holy Quran, he/she gets the real understanding of the Path of the Prophet.

jo mukh ahmad keraa buje
raah nira(n)jan aape suje.........................................8

When a person understands the teachings of Muhammed, he/she gets the realization of the path towards the unknowable(God).

re tu(n)hee, ...
jo buje maarag peer sadardeen keraa
jo hae sadaa kabul re
sab nabee-o(n)ke sartaaj hae
so dule nabee rasul re....................................XXXIII

O You, ... If one knows the path shown by Peer Sadardeen, which has been ackowledged by the Lord as being everlasting (and hence knows the Right Path). Prophet Muhammed is the most exalted of all prophets and Peer Sadardeen is his progeny.

Variant: Those who recognise the path taught by Pir Sadardeen know the sirat-ul-mustaqeem(True Path): Pir Sadardeen is like a crown on Hazrat nabi's head and nabi is the King...Salvaat.

[shabrina]

Ya Ali Madad to everyone. I have read this thread and feel sad that some of the answers here are so very fanatic and not compassionate. Islam and Ismailism with guidance of Hazar Imam teaches us Unity, Purity, Love, o­neness with Allah, Uplifting our soul and balance our spiritual and material life.

I remember speaking to Abu Ali Missionary when I was 15 yrs old and I had asked him, If I come to Parorie khane and evening khane, and go to school, I can't fast because I am tired... I was young and needed excuse to not fast and I wanted to hear from Missionary to tell me it's ok. And most people in this thread seem to want to hear or say it's ok not to fast during the month of Ramadhan... ... I thought I was silly at the age of 15... but I guess things don't change for many...

Missionary sahebs answer was.... Mowla says, Ibadat is not complete if you foresake o­ne or the other... meaning zaheri or batuni life. If you don't do your worldly duties, you can never achieve your spiritual salvation. I understood the simple logic.

When Mowlana Sultan Muhammad Shah (Salwat) said we should not o­nly fast 1 month but 365 days... He was trying to make us realize that we need to be better then others. We fast ramadhan and then some... But we are soooo smart, like teenagers who outsmart their parents, that we turned his words and say - We are not supposed to fast.

You don't want to fast, then don't. Don't try and proove a point and mislead others.

I remember Hazar Imam saying in o­ne of recent farmans that by us getting a little freedom from him, our jamat has missused and abused the freedom!

Instead of concentrating to remove more goodness from Islam, we should concentrate removing the bad part... SUCH AS:- Revealing dresses in Khane, Ninda, Baad Najaar, Trying to slander someone's name while IN KHANE! But when Deedar time comes, We behave like we are the most Behaved and with utmost respact for Hazar Imam... Tell your children how to dress in Khane, How not to drink Alcohol, How not to sleep around with multiple partners... How to respect your own parents and elders of family and jamat... teach them about bandagi and dua... tell them to fast and come to khane atleast for the holy month. This month is holy because Qur'an was revelead during this month, Lail-tul-Qadr is in this month... what you teach is what you should see the future... by teaching wrong things, noone will suffer but yourself and your future generations.

All who try to talk non-sense about We should not fast, start thinking bettering your life and others... not wasting the chance that has been given to you by being a muslim with Qur'an as our Holy book and an ismaili with hazar imam's guidance!

Ramadhan forces you to be humble, thankful for all the materialistic blessings from Allah, and humility to understand someone else's misfortune for not having what you have. This is a way to help your soul reach an enhanced stage.

If Hazar Imam is our spiritual guide, then we should follow what he does... he fasts... so should we.

These are my feelings. You might feel different. That is ok. Allah gave us Akl, so we all use it in different manner. Use it the way it makes your ending a better o­ne

Ya Ali Madad!

[agakhani]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on fasting. Let me tell this fasting or not fasting is totally up to the any individual's own choice.
In my opinion fasting is good for our health and it stop us to do more sins specially when we fasting and it help us to attain salvation for our soul,
I also believe that being a true Muslims we should fast in Ramadan . It is never prohibited by any imam or any missionary.
Not only Muslims but other religious peoples also fasting becasue they know the benefits of fasting.
If we believe in holy Quran then we should fast because it is quoted in Quran.

Allah clearly say in holy Quran:

Code: Select all

 O you who believe, fasting is decreed for you, as it was decreed for those before you, that you may attain salvation. 

So every one should fast except sick persons, travelers e.t.c.

Code: Select all

Specific days (are designated for fasting); if one is ill or traveling, an equal number of other days may be substituted. Those who can fast, but with great difficulty, may substitute feeding one poor person for each day of breaking the fast. If one volunteers (more righteous works), it is better. But fasting is the best for you, if you only knew. 

This is a forum and every one has right to share their ideas, opinions on any topics ( it is different story for readers to beleive or not) but they can post their thoughts. I personally not accept or agree with some thoghts of other readers specialy on fasting in this post but I read all posts.

[kmaherali]

Chandraat Reading: Fasting and the Month of Ramadan

Fasting and the Month of Ramadan

This week marks the beginning of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar. Muslims of various communities of interpretation across the world commemorate the month of Ramadan through additional religious practices such as reading the Qur’an, supererogatory prayers, acts of charity, dhikr or invoking the Names of God, spiritual reflection, and fasting.

The Holy Qur’an Surah 2, Ayat 185 states:

“The Month of Ramaḍān in which was revealed the Qur’ān – a guidance for mankind, and manifest proofs of the guidance and the criterion (between truth and falsehood). So whomever among you witnesses the Month, let him fast for it.”

The word for fasting in Arabic, sawm, literally means “to abstain”. The practice of fasting from food and drink during sunrise to sunset during the month of Ramadan was first established when the early Muslim community lived in Medinah among Jewish and Christian tribes. Before the Qur’anic instruction to fast for the month of Ramadan was revealed, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) had instructed his followers to fast on the tenth day of the month of Muharram as the Jews did, as well as on some other occasions. Evidently, these former practices of fasting were replaced by the Ramadan fast – whose exact rules also underwent further modification by the Prophet.1

For Sunni Muslims, fasting consists of one of the Five Pillars. For the Ismaili Muslims of the Fatimid era and thereafter, fasting is among the Seven Pillars of Islam

After the time of the Prophet, both Sunni and Shia Muslim communities came to regard fasting as one of the foundational practices of Islam. For Sunni Muslims, fasting consists of one of the Five Pillars. For the Ismaili Muslims of the Fatimid era and thereafter, fasting is among the Seven Pillars of Islam – the other Pillars being walayah (faith and love for the Imam), salah (prayer), taharrah (purification), zakah (purifying alms), hajj (pilgrimage), and jihad (struggle).2

The concept of fasting means more than not eating or drinking.

According to the Holy Qur’an, fasting was prescribed for the believers so that they may learn taqwah – a word which can mean piety, mindfulness, or God-consciousness. The great Islamic philosopher and scientist of Alamut, Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, writes that fasting from food and drink “restrains the soul from its base inclinations.” He explains that this form of fasting is practiced for thirty days in a year so that a form or behavioural pattern will become imprinted on the human soul – to the point that all of one’s faculties and desires “become restrained from the pursuit of improper things.”3

As the Imam explains, the fasting of the haqiqati mu’min does not only take place in Ramadan but is performed on every day of the year.

The concept of fasting means more than not eating or drinking. The Holy Qur’an in Surah 19 Ayat 26 uses the same Arabic word for fasting, sawm, to refer to the vow of silence taken by Mary, the mother of Jesus. In this spirit, the Ismaili Muslims, under the guidance of the Imams, have also emphasised the inner or batini form of fasting. Just as zahiri fasting consists in refraining from food and drink during the month of Ramadan, the batini or haqiqi fasting consists in abstaining from all impure thoughts, words, and deeds for every single day of one’s life. Our thirty-fourth Imam, Hazrat Mawlana Shah Gharib Mirza (salwatullahi ‘alayhi), as recorded in his “Counsels of Chivalry” (Pandiyat-i Jawanmardi), has said:

“The whole year you must fast, just as the Exoterists (ẓāhiriyān) fast one month. The meaning of this fast is austerity. Control yourselves; keep yourselves away from bad qualities, evil and indecent actions and devilish acts, so that the mirror of your hearts may be gradually polished.”4

In modern times, our forty-eight Imam Hazrat Mawlana Sultan Muhammad Shah (salwatullahi alayhi) has likewise emphasized the spiritual or haqiqi fasting as a spiritual discipline, which consists of always being mindful and keeping away from sins such as lying, cheating, slander, jealousy and other negative deeds.5 As the Imam explains, the fasting of the haqiqati mu’min does not only take place in Ramadan but is performed on every day of the year.6

In conclusion, the month of Ramadan serves as a time of heightened spirituality and devotion for all Muslims. Fasting during the Ramadan from food and drink is an exoteric form of fasting, but the esoteric forms of fasting embrace additional spiritual disciplines.

Just as the Prophet Muhammad prescribed and interpreted the exact forms of prayer and fasting in his lifetime, the Imam of the Time, as the bearer of the knowledge and authority of the Prophet, continues this role of ritual interpretation in every age.

In every age, it is the Imam of the Time who sustains the proper balance between the exoteric and the esoteric dimensions of religious practices.7 Just as the Prophet Muhammad prescribed and interpreted the exact forms of prayer and fasting in his lifetime, the Imam of the Time, as the bearer of the knowledge and authority of the Prophet, continues this role of ritual interpretation in every age. Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah has stressed the inner meaning and spirituality of the Pillars of Islam, as reflected in the contemporary Ismaili Tariqah practices which emphasize spiritual purification of the human soul and the recognition (ma‘rifah) of the Imam. In closing, we refer to a public statement of Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah which states:

“If, rightly, the Muslims have kept till now to the forms of prayer and fasting at the time of the Prophet, it should not be forgotten that it is not the forms of prayer and fasting that have been commanded, but the facts, and we are entitled to adjust the forms to the facts of life as circumstances changed. It is the same Prophet who advises his followers ever to remain Ibnu’l-Waqt (i.e. children of the time and period in which they were on earth), and it must be the natural ambition of every Muslim to practice and represent his Faith according to the standard of the Waqt or space-time.”8

Author IsmailiGnosis

For Further Reading:
Ramadan: From Physical Fasting to Spiritual Fasting: ismailignosis.com
The Seven Pillars of Islam: The Esoterics of Walāyah

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.Francis E. Peters, Muhammad and the Origins of Islam, 215-216
2.Qadi al-Nu‘man, Da‘a’im al-Islam, tr. Poonawalla, prologue.
3.Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, The Paradise of Submission, tr. Badakhchani, 149.
4.Imam al-Mustansir bi-llah II (Shah Gharib Mirza), Pandiyat-i Jawanmardi, tr. Ivanow, 37.
5.Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah, Kalam-i Imam-i Mubin Vol. 1, Farman No. 128.
6.Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah, Kalam-i Imam-i Mubin Vol. 1, Farman No. 65.
7.Aga Khan Development Network: An Ethical Framework, 2.
8.Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah, Foreword, Al-Hajji Qassim Jairazbhoy, Muhammad: A Mercy To all the Nations, London: Luzac 1937, 14

https://ismailimail.wordpress.com/2015/ ... ilimail%29

[zznoor]

Ramadan Karim
Ramadan Mubarak

To all Ismaili Brothers and sisters

[Admin]

AS RECEIVED

In Ismaili Muslim interpretations - there are THREE LEVELS of Fasting (sawm): Exoteric (zahir), Esoteric (batin), and Real (haqiqi). As one of the Ismaili Imam's explains:

"Whereas in the realm of the shari‘ah, out of twelve months which make up the year, for one month, from dawn to dusk, one closes his mouth against eating and drinking, the rule of this [Ismaili] Jamat requires that during the whole of one’s life one is not permitted to abandon the Real Fast even for the twinkling of an eye. They keep not just one organ of the body closed, but rather all seven external and internal organs against that which God has prohibited, so that they may always preserve a state of Fasting. ”
– Imām ‘Alā al-Dīn Muḥammad

[zznoor]

Benefits Of Ramadan


The purpose of Abstaining from Lawful things? Benefits of Ramadan

Should we call it the month of fasting or the month of abstinence? Well, our scholars say that "the word saum means "to abstain from something" and according to the Fiqh it means abstaining from eating, drinking, sexual acts and all evil actions with the intention of pleasing Allah, from true dawn to sunset." This definition needs further explanations.

1. All those who are fasting are required not to eat and drink from dawn to dusk. They can eat during night.
2. Only the married couples are required not to indulge in conjugal relations during the time of fasting.
3. Physical intimacy between unmarried male and female members of the Muslim community is prohibited regardless of the month.
4. Intention to please Allah is not confined from dawn to dusk. It is a part of one's life.
5. Avoiding evil is also not confined to dawn to dusk in the ninth lunar month of Islamic calendar. It is a commandment that is valid for all time and all months.

So what is so significant with this month of abstinence?

The main purpose is to empower each individual to take control of him or herself and ensure that they emerge stronger in every aspects of their life. So Ramadan is not the peak of one's commitment to Islam. It is the beginning as it prepares those who abstain for the next 11 months as well to live a meaningful and disciplined life.

Before the season begins for National Football League or Baseball or Basketball, the players go through a vigorous and rigorous training schedule to prepare them for the season. Similarly, those abstaining have a month long training to prepare them for the rest of the year.

There are two aspects to the abstinence.
1. Physical endurance
2. Spiritual enhancement

Physical endurance is a very subjective issue. For instance those living in Australia or South Africa would have 9 to 10 hours fasting in 2015 and it would not be as hard for them to abstain from food and drink as it would be for people in Nordic countries. Depending on the climatic conditions one lives, the physical endurance would be different for different people. So one cannot say that the fasting was primarily for the purpose of physical fitness or detoxification.

We cannot also argue that it is to help us go through the feelings of those who live in constant poverty and hunger. The fact of the matter is that despite whatever we say, we hardly care for finding a solution to poverty and hunger. Every year Muslims spend millions of dollar in serving food to those who are already fed. During the last 1400 years we have not found any institutional solution to hunger as the gap between poor and rich has been on the rise in Muslim majority countries. If going through the hunger and thirst was meant to help us identify with poverty struck people, then we did not fulfill the purpose, not only us but the very learned and very pious as well.

Let us understand the real purpose of abstinence as described by the Quran that reminds us that "you may act responsibly or become conscious of Allah." Being conscious of Allah means we adhere to his guidance in all aspects of life and we respect the fellow human beings as we are required to do. It means living a disciplined life in this world.

Hence, the Prophet was very clear about the purpose of abstinence. He recognized that people will abstain from food and drink and will go through the cycle of hunger and thirst and he advised that unless there is a qualitative change in the behavior, attitude and action, abstinence from food or water would not be considered valid act of worship.

Thus the prophet said that those who lie, who backbite, who make false oaths, who complain all the time and who lustfully look at their fellow human beings would lose the essence of abstinence as the saum would become invalid for them.
It is a simple statement that fasting is more than physical endurance. It is spiritual mainly. It is for this reason that those abstaining are advised to spend most of their time in reflecting on the message of the Quran.

It is a ritual on the part of Muslims to finish reading or listening to the entire Quran during this month regardless of their level of understanding. Sometime, even those who recite the Quran in their melodious voice do not understand what they are reciting. The guidance comes when we know what the guidance is and what it is all about. So we need to focus on the process of understanding the Quran in whatever language we speak or understand in addition to our readings in Arabic language.

If we find an improvement in our behavior and attitude towards ourselves and others, and if we find ourselves a better person, the purpose of this training would be served and the reward for this would be immense in this life and the life hereafter. Otherwise, it would be just a ritual and rituals often do not produce desired results.

-http://aslamabdullah.blogspot.in/2015/0 ... l.html?m=1-

[zznoor]

AS RECEIVED

In Ismaili Muslim interpretations - there are THREE LEVELS of Fasting (sawm): Exoteric (zahir), Esoteric (batin), and Real (haqiqi). As one of the Ismaili Imam's explains:

"Whereas in the realm of the shari‘ah, out of twelve months which make up the year, for one month, from dawn to dusk, one closes his mouth against eating and drinking,
Beside fasting Muslims are suppose to do all which Esoteric requrements are. It's Quranic command for Muslims to control all senses.
Don't tell me 15+million Ismaili Muslims never cheat, control their mouth, eyes, hands and thing between their legs 24/7/365. All 15+million Ismaili Muslims show up in Jk every morning, noon and evening. Ismaili Muslims are no different than other people
the rule of this [Ismaili] Jamat requires that during the whole of one’s life one is not permitted to abandon the Real Fast even for the twinkling of an eye. They keep not just one organ of the body closed, but rather all seven external and internal organs against that which God has prohibited, so that they may always preserve a state of Fasting. ”Rule is one thing but strict observation is another thing. Same rules are proscribed for Muslim, Christian, Jews and other religions. People are people
– Imām ‘Alā al-Dīn Muḥammad

Fast in Ramadan are proscribed in Quran. Quranic commands cannot be changed by anybody except Prophet. No other Prophet will be born after Muhammad SAW. Muhammad SAW is seal of the Prophets. This is Islamic belief.

[kmaherali]

China bans Ramadan fasting in mainly Muslim region


Civil servants, students and teachers prevented from fasting and restaurants ordered to remain open in Xinjiang region.

18 Jun 2015 09:21 GMT | Islam, China, Uighur

ethnic tensions in the region [AP]


More to this story
•Chinese Uighurs defy Ramadan ban

China has banned civil servants, students and teachers in its mainly Muslim Xinjiang region from fasting during Ramadan and ordered restaurants to stay open.

Most Muslims are required to fast from dawn to dusk during the holy month, which began on Thursday, but China's ruling Communist party is officially atheist and for years has restricted the practice in Xinjiang, home to the mostly Muslim Uighur minority.

"Food service workplaces will operate normal hours during Ramadan," said a notice posted last week on the website of the state Food and Drug Administration in Xinjiang's Jinghe county.

Officials in the region's Bole county were told: "During Ramadan do not engage in fasting, vigils or other religious activities," according to a local government website report of a meeting this week.

Each year, the authorities' attempt to ban fasting among Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang receives widespread criticism from rights groups.







China imposes restrictions on Muslim Uighurs


Uighur rights groups say China's restrictions on Islam in Xinjiang have added to ethnic tensions in the region, where clashes have killed hundreds in recent years.

China says it faces a "terrorist threat" in Xinjiang, with officials blaming "religious extremism" for the growing violence.

"China's goal in prohibiting fasting is to forcibly move Uighurs away from their Muslim culture during Ramadan," said Dilxat Rexit, a spokesman for the exiled World Uyghur Congress.

"Policies that prohibit religious fasting is a provocation and will only lead to instability and conflict."

As in previous years, school children were included in directives limiting Ramadan fasting and other religious observances.

The education bureau of Tarbaghatay city, known as Tacheng in Chinese, this month ordered schools to communicate to students that "during Ramadan, ethnic minority students do not fast, do not enter mosques ... and do not attend religious activities".


RELATED FEATURE - China to neighbours: Send us your Uighurs


Similar orders were posted on the websites of other Xinjiang education bureaus and schools.

Officials in the region's Qiemo county this week met local religious leaders to inform them there would be increased inspections during Ramadan in order to "maintain social stability", the county's official website said.

Ahead of the holy month, one village in Yili, near the border with Kazakhstan, said mosques must check the identification cards of anyone who comes to pray during Ramadan, according to a notice on the government's website.

The Bole county government said that Mehmet Talip, a 90-year-old Uighur Communist Party member, had promised to avoid fasting and vowed to "not enter a mosque in order to consciously resist religious and superstitious ideas".

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/06/c ... 16245.html

******
Chinese Uighurs defy Ramadan ban

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/featur ... 07552.html

[kmaherali]

Karachi Heat Wave Death Toll Tops 650 During Ramadan Fast

Excerpt:

"In many ways, the emergency is the product of a perfect storm of meteorological, political and religious factors in Karachi.

Chronic shortages of water and electricity have exacerbated the impact of the heat wave, which has brought temperatures up to 45 degrees Celsius, or 113 degrees Fahrenheit, in a crowded city of 20 million people that is normally ventilated by a sea breeze.

The health dangers are further exacerbated by the demands of the annual Ramadan fast, when most Muslims abstain from eating or drinking water during daylight hours.

For most people, that means about 15 hours with no source of hydration — a factor that has particularly affected manual laborers and street vendors, who work outside under the sun.

..........

At Jinnah Hospital, Dr. Jamali said members of her staff had treated more than 5,000 patients from Saturday to Monday. The heat, not the fasting, was the principal factor in the deaths, she said.

Although many continued to fast, others quietly allowed that they were unable to cope with the demands of their faith. Subah Sadiq, a fruit vendor and father of seven, said it was impossible to stand in the street all day without drinking.

“This is the only way to survive,” he said.

Even for those not fasting, staying hydrated is a challenge: Under Pakistani law, in public places, eating and drinking are illegal during Ramadan, although some clerics said their followers could break the fast if their health was in danger.

Mr. Rehman, the building watchman, was refusing to give up.
......

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/24/world ... d=45305309

[kmaherali]

In Karachi, a Fatal Mix of Heat and Piety

KARACHI, Pakistan — WHEN I go to buy my drinking water, I don’t ask for water. I ask for Nestlé. Then I drive home with five 20-liter plastic bottles and make sure that we make every cup of tea, and all our ice, from this water. Like other people in this city, I believe the tap water is poisonous. During the summer, many of us follow the practice of putting out a water cooler on the street for passers-by. There are chic restaurants, cafes and art galleries in my neighborhood, but not a single public source of clean drinking water. Street vendors, security guards, trash pickers and maids rushing from one job to another often stop by to have a drink from this cooler. Like most such water coolers, mine is secured with a padlock; even the plastic tumbler is tied to it with a small chain.

Ramzan, the holy month of fasting known as Ramadan in the Arabic-speaking world, started last week, and like everyone else, I stopped putting out the water cooler. I did think about the people who wouldn’t be fasting and the non-Muslims not obliged to fast. But I didn’t think much. I removed the cooler because everyone does. There is the Respect of Ramzan Ordinance, which says you may be sent to prison for a few months if you eat or drink during fasting hours, or if you give someone something to eat or drink. I don’t really think I removed the cooler for fear of the ordinance: God knows, like every middle-class, privileged Pakistani, I flout enough laws. I did it because it would hurt the sensibility of those who fast.

Many of the 1,000 people who have died in the recent heat wave in Karachi died because of this sensibility: Some people were reluctant to ask for a drink of water, others were reluctant to offer it to them. You can’t blame them. Even if they could get past their inhibitions, there was no water to be had. All the little tea stalls, roadside restaurants, small juice or snack vendors disappear from the streets during fasting hours. In this month you can walk miles without finding a sip of water. And Karachi has developed in a way that you can also walk miles without finding any shade to cool down. Trees have been cut down to widen roads, overpasses have gobbled up footpaths; there are few shaded bus stops. Without water and without shade, while fasting or pretending to fast, people going to and coming back from work just fell on the streets and died.

Karachi is known for killing its residents, but weather had never been its weapon of choice. It is the world’s third-largest city, and its population has nearly doubled in the last 15 years, to 20 million. People come here to survive even though they know it can be a dangerous place. They leave bombed-out villages in the tribal north or parched hamlets in South Punjab to come settle at the edge of sewers in unplanned slums and make a living, mostly in daily wages, building malls or guarding them. Karachi hosts refugees from countries as diverse as Afghanistan and Myanmar. One reason so many have flocked to the city is that the weather has always been hospitable. You can sleep on the streets year round. Winter is only a rumor. Summer is hot and humid, but usually bearable out in the open with the breeze from the Arabian Sea.

The highest recorded temperature during the current heat wave in Karachi was 45 degrees Celsius, or 113 degrees Fahrenheit. Other towns in Pakistan have recorded temperatures of 50 degrees Celsius, or 122 degrees Fahrenheit, without ever suffering the kind of catastrophe that struck here. The victims, mostly poor and working class, needed some shade, a drink of water and a bit of time to slow down. But shade and a respite from work are hard to come by in Karachi — even in the month of Ramzan, the work of being a megacity must go on.

Thousands of construction workers dangle from high-rises. Traffic constables stand on city squares. Private security guards sit outside banks and offices. All in the heat, with no shade. When it is not Ramzan, these workers usually carry a bottle of water. When it is Ramzan, they don’t. When it is Ramzan, the eateries where they could score a free drink are shut. And when it is Ramzan, all the kindhearted people take away their coolers.

Since an overwhelming majority of those who died were poor, nobody is calling for an investigation or rethinking how the city is growing. The victims were just dehydrated and not sensible enough to protect themselves against the harsh weather. They don’t count as martyrs, according to religious authorities, even though they died during the holy month, many of them while fasting. The media express indignation, but over power breakdowns: the assumption being that with enough electricity these people wouldn’t have left their air-conditioned rooms and would have had chilled water to drink. Just as we kindhearted people do.

But it really wasn’t the lack of electricity or even the heat that killed these 1,000 people. What killed them was the forced piety enshrined in our law and Karachi’s contempt for the working poor. These people died because we long ago removed any shade that could shelter them from the June sun and then took away their drinking water. When they were about to die, we rushed them to hospitals in ambulances paid for by charities and gave them medicines paid for by charities. We gave them white sheets to recuperate in if they survived, and when they didn’t, those white sheets became their shrouds. Karachi’s hospitals are now awash with chilled bottles of Nestlé water donated by the kindhearted people of the city, but you still can’t get a drink of water on the streets.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/26/opini ... 05309&_r=1

[zznoor]

Ismaili103 posted

Jungli Khan aka Mazhar,

Imam Sultan Mohd Shah tell us in his farman that fast is not only to not eat and drink but keep your self away from wrong deeds.

This is the Farman you are referring to

The True Spirit of Fasting
Rajkot, 21-10-1903
"The life in this world is of two days (meaning a short time). So you should think of getting purified through worship of God. A true momin does not fast only during the month of Ramadan but all 365 days of the year. He does not commit any sin during all these 365 days of the year. This is the true spirit of fasting. It is not (the spirit) of fasting not to eat anything and indulge in evil acts at the same time. It is an illusion."
(Source: Kalame Imame Mobin Volume 1, page 168)

Read properly, I have highlighted in red it says you are to fast not only in Ramadan but over and above that you are suppose to control all senses 24/7/365 . This is part of major commandments of Quran enjoined on all Muslims. For MAJOR COMMANDMENTS see Quran 6:151-153 and Quran 17:22-39


Definitely fast does not mean keep away from food, even animals donot eat for more than one days. If a person keep fast and donot keep him or her away from wrong deeds then that person is like animal. And most of the muslims uses the second approach in fasting , for them fast is only to not eat. And definitely they became animal, they kill each other on the name of religion.
What other Muslim do or not do should be not be used as excuse. If they jump in lake you are not going to do it. You do what Quran and your Imam tells you. It is clear that if you are able to fast then you must fast and control all your senses all the time.

[zznoor]

for some reason i agree with biryani because it is very clearly mentioned in quran that fasting is a must no matter you are shia/sunni/ismaili etc etc...




Here is 48th Imam, Mowlana Sultan Mahomed Shah's view:

"The healthy human body is the temple in which the flame of the Holy Spirit burns, and thus it deserves the respect of scrupulous cleanliness and personal hygiene. Prayer is a daily necessity, a direct communication of the spark with the Universal flame. Reasonable fasting for a month in every year, provided a man's health is not impaired thereby, is an essential part of the body's discipline -through which the body learns to renounce all impure desires. Adultery, alcoholism, slander and thinking evil of one's neighbour are specifically and severely condemned. All men, rich and poor, must aid one another materially and personally. The rules vary in detail, but they all maintain the principle of universal mutual aid in the Muslim fraternity. This fraternity is absolute, and it comprises men of all colours and all races: black, white, yellow, tawny; all are the sons of Adam in the flesh and all carry in them spark of the Divine Light. Everyone should strive his best to see that this spark be not extinguished but rather developed to that full "Companionship-on-High" which was the vision expressed in the last words of the Prophet on his deathbed, the vision of that blessed state which he saw clearly awaiting him. In Islam the Faithful believe in Divine justice and are convinced that the solution of the great problem of predestination and free will is to be found in the compromise that God knows what man is going to do, but that man is free to do it or not."


2-183 - O you who believe, fasting is prescribed on you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you may become self-restrained.

2:185 - The prescribed fasting is for a fixed number of days, but whoso among you is sick or on a journey, shall fast the same number of other days; and for those who are able to fast only with great difficulty, is an expiation - the feeding of a poor man. And whoso does good of his own accord it is better for him. And fasting is good for you, if you only knew.

If this is not clear than only present Imam can give Farman to fast or not to fast

[kmaherali]

If this is not clear than only present Imam can give Farman to fast or not to fast

The statement is very clear. The fasting should be reasonable and it should not effect your health - people should not die as a result! The most important thing is the intent of the fast - to learn to renounce your impure desires. That learning happens all the time and is not restricted to the month of Ramadhan.

[Admin]

If this is not clear than only present Imam can give Farman to fast or not to fast

ZZNOOR whatever you have written is a repeat of what is already in this thread of many pages. Please do not repeat posts and arguments which have already been contradicted many times and we definately do not want to get again a repeat of the last 100 posts.

if you have new arguments, please feel free to post. If not, please do not feel obliged to post.

[zznoor]

If this is not clear than only present Imam can give Farman to fast or not to fast

The statement is very clear. The fasting should be reasonable and it should not effect your health - people should not die as a result! The most important thing is the intent of the fast - to learn to renounce your impure desires. That learning happens all the time and is not restricted to the month of Ramadhan.

Those who are not capable to fast should not fast at all. Fast is not compulsory on sick, minor and travelers. There are provisions to atone for missed fast.

[agakhani_1]

"HAQIQATI MOMIN NOT ONLY FAST IN THE MONTH OF RAMADAN--

Khan Saab,

You quoted above sentence from one of farman of SMS! but you left it incomplete, intentionally!! and with your mean purpose.

but Kher, the complete sentence is as follows.

HAKIKATI MOMINS DOES NOT ONLY KEEPS ROZAS IN MONTH OF RAMADAN! BUT THEY KEEPS ROZAS ALL 360 DAYS(A FULL YEAR) IT MEANS THEY KEEPS ROZA EVERYDAY because they always remain very careful about their good and bad deeds.

What does this means? it means: Roza are not important but the good deeds are important!! so, stop making wrong meaning and interpretations of farmans , as per your old habits! Don't forget that most of SMS farmans has its ruhani ( esoteric) meaning. which majority peoples ( like you and ZZ) does not understand its properly and always takes its simple meaning.

[agakhani_1]

Mazhar,

Here is another farman of SMS : which is supporting above farmans, which you intentionally left incomplete!

For a haquiqatis a whole year Rozas are compulsory and those Rozas are

1, Not to lie.
2, Not to cheats each other.
3, Not to backbiting to others.

The above and others (good deeds ) like these are a rozas for a true Ismailis but they do not have to keep these good deeds in only month of Ramadan but they must have to keep it for 360 days,
so, basically for Ismailis 360 days are rozas if, they do the good deeds and do not do any bad deeds!!!

So, Rozas are basicallly not only for 30 days and it is not necessay that we have to have keep inl month of Ramadan but for a true Muslims he must have to keep rozas for 360 days not in form of fasting but doing other good deeds, this is my personal opinion.

T

[agakhani_1]

ZZNoor,

Manjewadi: date 4/11/1903

You should thinks that there are many other sects too, but they all are on Zaheri (Shariyatis) paths, but your religion is Batuni (esoteric) and peoples from esoteric religion only get benefits!!

Even Hevan ( animals ) also can do the shariyati things!!! if you tied up the mouth of animals and not give food and water then this is "ROZA" for hevan too!!! if human beings also does same like this?* then what benefits they can receives keeping Rozas?? (No exact words) .* my observation is this, many brothers/sisters from other sects are keeping same kind hevanic rozas,
agakhani.

[zznoor]

ZZNoor,

Manjewadi: date 4/11/1903

You should thinks that there are many other sects too, but they all are on Zaheri (Shariyatis) paths, but your religion is Batuni (esoteric) and peoples from esoteric religion only get benefits!!

Even Hevan ( animals ) also can do the shariyati things!!! if you tied up the mouth of animals and not give food and water then this is "ROZA" for hevan too!!! if human beings also does same like this?* then what benefits they can receives keeping Rozas?? (No exact words) .
* my observation is this, many brothers/sisters from other sects are keeping same kind hevanic rozas,
agakhani.

Do not be guided or fooled by what other sects do. You are not going to jump in Quva (well) if they do.
If you are Muslim then your primary responsibility is to Obey Quran/Prohet/Imam. No where Imam has said not to fast in Ramadan. What he is saying is be good, truthful and pious 24/7/365.
Your Sunni friends are not strict Shariti if they are healthy and not fasting. They are Bug Bhagats, you know what I Mean.

[Admin]

Polite request: Please do not use red color in your post unless you are a teacher correcting tests, exams, papers of your students.

[agakhani_1]

Your Sunni friends are not strict Shariti if they are healthy and not fasting. They are Bug Bhagats, you know what I Mean.

About Shariyats!!

Leave it just for you! we Ismailis do not need Shariyats any more! because:-


1,One of our Imam name, Imam Hassan AlaZikrihia Salam in one day of Ramadan he had removed the burden of Namaz. Roza and Shariyats for Ismailis, so don't worry about Ismailis we are free, Hurrahs..... so, if think I am jumping in well then let me jump in well. OK.

2, Ismailis are above Shariyats, we are practicing more on Tariqat level then Shariyats.

3, Many Shariyati things are not possible to keep in this modern time and if you can not keep all Shariyats, which Rasoolullah used to keep it, then you can not consider as a true Muslim.

[nuseri]

Ya Ali madad.
Shariatis are reminded for a petty single digit contribution for fellow being humanity for one month only but Ismailis have obligation. on prorata daily basis (365 days)
of contribution for humanity in double digits.It come to 60 times more than a broke shariati in yearly count.
Roza is one of stale candles which shariati look at physical acts and not moral acts of it.
The amount of food saved is just just 12% by covering during break of the fast,they eat like hogs to cover the one missed meal.

[zznoor]

3, Many Shariyati things are not possible to keep in this modern time and if you can not keep all Shariyats, which Rasoolullah used to keep it, then you can not consider as a true Muslim.

According tomProphet:

Narated By Ibn 'Umar : Allah's Apostle said: Islam is based on (the following) five (principles):

1. To testify that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah (Quran 2:163) and
Muhammad is Allah's Apostle.(Quran 48:29)
No need if you are born Muslim. Or you say a Shahada when you accept Islam
2. To offer the (compulsory congregational) prayers dutifully and perfectly. (Quran 6:71-72, 20:14 and many more)
No problem. You can offer each prayer in 5 minutes
3. To pay Zakat. (i.e. obligatory charity) (Quran 35:29-30, 9:60 and many more)
No problem
4. To perform Hajj. (i.e. Pilgrimage to Mecca) (Quran 3:97)
No Problem if you can afford it and health permits
5. To observe fast during the month of Ramadan. (Quran 2:183-185)
No Problem. There is ease for sick, travelers, pregnant or suckling mothers.
You can even pay somebody to keep your fast if situation arises


Many Muslim including Ismailies do not do what Quran/Prophet/Immam tells them to do. They are Hippocrates

[agakhani_1]

Thats it? but I have a list of other Shariya which are not possible to keep in this time:-

I, have a big list but I only point out only three Sahriyas (laughable) to just open your damn closed eyes!. Your answer will be appreciate.

1, A man can beat his wife for insubordination.

Sorry! to ask you but : Does your hubby beat you!? because this is shariya too!!

2, A man can marry an infant girl and consummate the marriage when she is 9 years old.

Do you think this is possible to marry infant girls who is only 9 years old! in this time?
All Shariyati Muslims should follow this because prophet Mohd already did that and whatever actin Mohd had taken is called Shariya!!


3, A woman can have 1 husband, but a man can have up to 4 wives

Is this possible in this modern time? again sorry to ask you but does your hubby has 4 wives?

[junglikhan4]

"HAQIQATI MOMIN NOT ONLY FAST IN THE MONTH OF RAMADAN--

Khan Saab,

You quoted above sentence from one of farman of SMS! but you left it incomplete, intentionally!! and with your mean purpose.

but Kher, the complete sentence is as follows.

HAKIKATI MOMINS DOES NOT ONLY KEEPS ROZAS IN MONTH OF RAMADAN! BUT THEY KEEPS ROZAS ALL 360 DAYS(A FULL YEAR) IT MEANS THEY KEEPS ROZA EVERYDAY because they always remain very careful about their good and bad deeds.

What does this means? it means: Roza are not important but the good deeds are important!! so, stop making wrong meaning and interpretations of farmans , as per your old habits! Don't forget that most of SMS farmans has its ruhani ( esoteric) meaning. which majority peoples ( like you and ZZ) does not understand its properly and always takes its simple meaning.

Reply,

The mega city in which I live thousands of Khoja Ismailis fast in the month of Ramadhan. In the beginning the number was low, but as word was out that Imam and his family members fast in the month of Ramadhan the numbers became four fold. The Farman of MSMS on fasting in the month of Ramadhan is well known in our community that's why I gave only reference.
In my post, you have missed my crucial quote, let me repeat it again. I wrote
" Ismailis have double responsibility, first they have to fast in the month of Ramadhan and second they have to behave as a momin not to commit any sin whole year."