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Muslims: To Thine Own Selves Be True

An African proverb says: When people start throwing stones at a tree, it means that the tree is bearing fruit. This is exactly what’s happening now to Muslims. A major Islamic reform movement is underway in the West. People here have looked at Muslims and said, “We thought they were going to put aside their religion and become assimilated.” But young Canadian and European Muslims are replying, “We are not ready to forget who we are to become who you want us to be.” Instead, they assert: “We are not the other, we are not against the other, we are ourselves and we want to be equal citizens.”

Third-generation Muslims — torn between Canadian society’s liberties and discriminations and their own parents’ traditionalist and spiritual stances — have sensed that to become genuine Canadian citizens, they seem to be expected to renounce their faith. The reality is that in the eyes of many of our fellow citizens, we are still the “other” — faithful to a foreign religion.

In this situation, one has two options: to victimize and isolate oneself or assert one’s otherness. What prevents us from becoming involved in our societies today is not legal frameworks. It is, far more, a matter of perception. Western society’s grim perception of Muslims today determines the way that people read the law and react to the presence of Muslims in their midst.

Muslim youth bear a great responsibility to change this reality. They can change such negative perceptions by knowing who they are, understanding where they are, and interacting with their fellow students, friends, and citizens.

In fact, perceptions are already changing. It’s going to be a long, slow process, but there’s no other way. Human history shows us that it takes time to change mentalities. Past immigrants have undergone the same experience: Each individual must take action at his or her local level, behaving with confidence, patience, and perseverance.

But evolution will also take education, a deep faith, and critical, creative thinking. These are the conditions for people to remain true to themselves and be truly free. There is no freedom without education; there is no dignity without freedom. This is what the Creator asks us to be: educated, dignified, and free.

The Obligations Muslims Owe To The Quran

in other words, what does the Qur’an demand of us?

The Qur’an makes five demands of every Muslim (Men or Women). Put in a simple language, these demands are as follows:

A Muslim is required:

  1. to believe in the Qur’an; (Belief in the Divine origin of the Qur’an and an attitude of reverence towards it)

  2. to read it; (Slow, thoughtful reading of the Qur’an with correct pronunciation)

  3. to understand it; (Recalling through the Qur’an the fundamental truths intuitively recognized by human nature, and reflecting on its meaning)

  4. to act upon its teachings; and (Molding the personal life of the individual and the collective life of the community according to the teaching of the Qur’an)

  5. to convey its message and teachings to others. (Propagation of the Quranic message and its exposition)

There is life opportunity to is an impassioned call to the Muslims “to return to the Qur’an,” to rededicate themselves to its study, and make it the sole guide for their lives. Considering the profound purpose behind the book,

Must read the prospectus attached for you to read and think, change your life, and find FALAH and the best life in this world and hereafter Insha Allah.

Religion Of Ibrahim Alaihi Salaam

[2. Surah Al-Baqarah: Ayah 124] And when his Lord tried Ibrahim (alaihi salaam) with certain words, he fulfilled them. He said: Surely I will make you an Imam of men. Ibrahim (alaihi salaam) said: And of my offspring? My covenant does not include the unjust, said He.

[2. Surah Al-Baqarah: Ayah 125] And when We made the House a pilgrimage for men and a (place of) security, and: Appoint for yourselves a place of prayer on the standing-place of Ibrahim (alaihi salaam). And We enjoined Ibrahim (alaihi salaam) and Ismail (alaihi salaam) saying: Purify My House for those who visit (it) and those who abide (in it) for devotion and those who bow down (and) those who prostrate themselves.

[2. Surah Al-Baqarah: Ayah 126] And when Ibrahim (alaihi salaam) said: My Lord, make it a secure town and provide its people with fruits, such of them as believe in Allah and the last day. He said: And whoever disbelieves, I will grant him enjoyment for a short while, then I will drive him to the chastisement of the fire, and it is an evil destination.

[2. Surah Al-Baqarah: Ayah 127] And when Ibrahim (alaihi salaam) and Ismail (alaihi salaam) raised the foundations of the House: Our Lord! accept from us; surely Thou art the Hearing, the Knowing.

[2. Surah Al-Baqarah: Ayah 128] Our Lord! and make us both submissive to Thee and (raise) from our offspring a nation submitting to Thee, and show us our ways of devotion and turn to us (mercifully), surely Thou art the Oft-returning (to mercy), the Merciful.

[2. Surah Al-Baqarah: Ayah 129] Our Lord! and raise up in them an Apostle from among them who shall recite to them Thy communications and teach them the Book and the wisdom, and purify them; surely Thou art the Mighty, the Wise.

[2. Surah Al-Baqarah: Ayah 130] And who forsakes the religion of Ibrahim (alaihi salaam) but he who makes himself a fool, and most certainly We chose him in this world, and in the hereafter he is most surely among the righteous.

[2. Surah Al-Baqarah: Ayah 131] When his Lord said to him, Be a Muslim, he said: I submit myself to the Lord of the worlds.

[2. Surah Al-Baqarah: Ayah 132] And the same did Ibrahim (alaihi salaam) enjoinon his sons and (so did) Yaqoub (alaihisalaam). O my sons! surely Allah has chosen for you (this) faith, therefore die not unless you are Muslims.

[2. Surah Al-Baqarah: Ayah 133] Nay! were you witnesses when death visited Yaqoub (alaihi salaam) when he said to his sons: What will you serve after me? They said: We will serve your God and the God of your fathers, Ibrahim (alaihi salaam) and Ismail (alaihi salaam) and Ishaq (alaihi salaam), one God only, and to Him do we submit.

Misconception: Muslims Hate Jesus

Many non-Muslims are surprised to find out that according to Muslim belief, Jesus, the son of Mary, is one of the greatest messengers of God. Muslims are taught to love Jesus, and a person cannot be a Muslim without believing in the virgin birth and miracles of Jesus Christ, peace be upon him. Muslims believe these things about Jesus not because of the Bible or any other religion, but simply because the Holy Qur’an says these things about him. However, Muslims always emphasize that the miracles of Jesus, and all other prophets, were by “God’s permission”. This having been said, many Christians feel to not believe that Jesus is the “Son of God”, “God Incarnate” or the “Second Person” of the Trinity. This is because the Qur’an clearly says that Almighty God does not have a “Son” — neither allegorically, physically, metaphorically, or metaphysically.

The Pure Monotheism of Islam rejects the notion of “defining” God (which is basically what the “Doctrine of the Trinity” does), saying that someone is “like” God or equal to him, or praying to someone else besides God. Also, Islam teaches that titles such as “Lord” and “Savior” are due to God alone. In order to avoid misunderstanding, it should be clarified that when Muslims criticize the Bible or the teachings of Christianity, they are not attacking “God’s Word” or Jesus Christ, peace be upon him. From the Muslim point of view, they are defending Jesus and God’s Word — which they have in the form of the Qur’an. Muslim criticism is targeted at writings that some people claim are God’s word, but Muslims simply don’t accept their claim that they are really God’s word in toto. Additionally, Christian doctrines such as the Trinity and the Atonement are criticized by Muslims precisely because they did not originate from Jesus, peace be upon him. In this way, Muslims are the true followers of Jesus, peace be upon him because they defend him from the exaggerations of the Christians and teach the Pure Monotheism that Jesus himself followed.

Misconception: Islam Was Spread By The Sword

Many non-Muslims, when they think about Islam, picture religious fanatics on camels with a sword in one hand and a Qur’an in the other. This myth, which was made popular in Europe during the Crusades, is totally baseless. First of all, the Holy Qur’an clearly says “Let there be no compulsion in religion”. In addition to this, Islam teaches that a person’s faith must be pure and sincere, so it is certainly not something that can be forced on someone.

In debunking the myth that Islam was “spread by the sword”, the (non-Muslim) historian De Lacy O’ Leary wrote: “History makes it clear, however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever accepted.” (Islam at the Crossroads, London, 1923, p. 8.). It should also be known that Muslims ruled Spain for roughly 800 years. During this time, and up to when they were finally forced out, the non-Muslims there were alive and flourishing.

Additionally, Christian and Jewish minorities have survived in the Muslim lands of the Middle East for centuries. Countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan all have Christian and/or Jewish populations. If Islam taught that all people are supposed to be killed or forced to become Muslims, how did all of these non-Muslims survive for so long in the middle of the Islamic Empire? Additionally, if one considers the small number of Muslims who initially spread Islam from Spain and Morocco in the West to India and China in the East, one would realize that they were far too few to force people to be members of a religion against their will.

Additionally, the great empire and civilization established by the Muslims had great staying power — its citizens were proud to be part of it. The spread of Islam stands in contrast to the actions of the followers of Christianity, who since the time of Emperor Constantine have made liberal use of the sword – often basing their conduct on Biblical verses. This was especially true of the colonization of South America and Africa, where native peoples were systematically wiped out or forced to convert. It is also interesting to note that when the Mongols invaded and conquered large portions of the Islamic Empire, instead of destroying the religion, they adopted it. This is a unique occurrence in history – the conquerors adopting the religion of the conquered! Since they were the victors, they certainly could not have been forced to become Muslims! Ask any of the over one billion Muslims alive in the world today whether they were forced! The largest Muslim country in the world today is Indonesia — and there were never any battles fought there! So where was the sword? How could someone be forced to adhere to a spiritually rewarding and demanding religion like Islam?

Misconception: Muslims Worship A Different God

First of all, there is only One God who created the Universe and all of mankind. Throughout history, people have created false gods in their minds and come up with false ideas about Almighty God, but regardless of this there is still only One True God – and He alone is worthy of worship. Unfortunately, some non-Muslims have come to incorrectly believe that Muslims worship a different God than Jews and Christians. This might be due to the fact that Muslims sometimes refer to God as “Allah”, but also because over the centuries there have been many lies and distortions spread by the enemies of Islam. In actuality, Muslims worship the God of Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus — the same God as Christians and Jews. The word “Allah” is simply the Arabic word for Almighty God and it is the same word that Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews use to refer to God. If you pick up an Arabic translation of the Christian Bible, you will see the word “Allah” where “God” is used in English. For more information on the word “Allah”, please read: Who is Allah? But even though Muslims, Jews, and Christians believe in the same God, their concepts about Him differ quite a bit. For example, Muslims reject the idea of the Trinity or that God has become “incarnate” in the world. Also, the teachings of Islam do not rely on or appeal to “mystery” or “paradox” — they are straightforward and clear. Islam teaches that God is Merciful, Loving, and Compassionate and that He has no need to become man (nor do humans need for Him to). One of the unique aspects of Islam is that it teaches that man can have a personal and fulfilling relationship with Almighty God without compromising the transcendence of God. In Islam there is no ambiguity in Divinity — God is God and man is man. Muslims believe that God is the “Most Merciful”, and that he deals directly with human-beings without the need of any intermediary. Actually, the phrase “In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful” is one of the most repeated verses in the Holy Qur’an. Additionally, the pure and straightforward teachings of Islam demand that Almighty God be approached directly and without intermediaries. This is because Muslims believe that God is completely in control of everything and that He can bestow His Grace and Mercy on His creatures as He pleases – no Atonement, Incarnation or blood sacrifice is necessary. In summary, Islam calls people to submit to the One True God and to worship Him alone.

30 Facts About Islam

1) “Islam” means “peace through the submission to God”.

2) “Muslim” means “anyone or anything that submits itself to the will of God”.

3) Islam is not a cult. Its followers number over 1.5 billion worldwide. Along with Judaism and Christianity, it is considered to be one of the three Abrahamic traditions.

4) There are five pillars of practice in Islam. These practices must be undertaken with the best of effort in order to be considered a true Muslim: A) Shahadah – declaration of faith in the oneness of God and that Muhammad is the last prophet of God. B) Formal prayer five times a day. C) Fasting during the daylight hours in the month of Ramadan. D) Poor-due “tax” – 2.5% of one’s savings given to the needy at the end of each year. E) Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once, if physically and financially able.

5) There are six articles of faith in Islam. These are the basic beliefs that one must have in order to be considered a true Muslim. They believe in A) the One God. B) all the prophets of God. C) the original scriptures revealed to Prophets Moses, David, Jesus, and Muhammad. D) the angels. E) the Day of Judgment and the Hereafter. F) the divine decree (or destiny).

6) Islam is a complete way of life that governs all facets of life: moral, spiritual, social, political, economic, intellectual, etc.

7) Islam is one of the fastest-growing religions in the world. To become Muslim, a person of any race or culture must say a simple statement, the shahadah, that bears witness to the belief in the One God and that Prophet Muhammad was the last prophet of God.

8) “Allah” is an Arabic word that means “God”. Muslims also believe that “Allah” is the personal name of God.

9) Allah is not the God of Muslims only. He is the God of all people and all creation. Just because people refer to God using different terms does not mean that they are different gods. Spanish people refer to God as “Dios” and French people refer to God as “Dieu”, yet they are all the same God. Interestingly, most Arab Jews and Arab Christians refer to God as “Allah”. And the word Allah in Arabic appears on the walls of many Arab churches.

10) The Islamic concept of God is that He is loving, merciful, and compassionate. But Islam also teaches that He is just and swift in punishment. Nevertheless, Allah once said to Prophet Muhammad, “My mercy prevails over my wrath.” Islam teaches a balance between fear and hope, protecting one from both complacency and despair.

11) Muslims believe that God has revealed 99 of His names (or attributes) in the Holy Qur’an. It is through these names that one can come to know the Creator. A few of these names are the All-Merciful, the All-Knower, the Protector, the Provider, the Near, the First, the Last, the Hidden, and the Source of Peace.

12) Muslims believe in and acknowledge all the prophets of old, from Adam to Jesus. Muslims believe that they brought the message of peace and submission (Islam) to different peoples at different times. Muslims also believe that these prophets were “Muslims” because they submitted their wills to God.

13) Muslims neither worship Muhammad nor pray through him. Muslims solely worship the unseen and Omniscient Creator, Allah.

14) Muslims accept the original unaltered Torah (the Gospel of Moses) and the original Bible (the Gospel of Jesus) since they were revealed by God. However, none of those original scriptures are in existence today, in their entirety. Therefore, Muslims follow the subsequent, final, and preserved revelation of God, the Holy Qur’an.

15) The Holy Qur’an was not authored by Muhammad. It was authored by God, revealed to Muhammad, and written into physical form by his companions.

16) The Holy Qur’an has no flaws or contradictions. The original Arabic scriptures have never been changed or tampered with.

17) Actual seventh-century Qur’ans, complete and intact, are on display in museums in Turkey and many other places around the world.

18) If all Qur’ans in the world today were burned and destroyed, the original Arabic would still remain. This is because millions of Muslims, called Hafiz (or “preservers”) have memorized the text letter for letter from beginning to end, every word and syllable. Also, chapters from the Qur’an are precisely recited from memory by every Muslim in each of the five daily prayers.

19) Muslims do not believe in the concept of “vicarious atonement” but rather believe in the law of personal responsibility. Islam teaches that each person is responsible for his or her own actions. On the Day of Judgment Muslims believe that every person will be resurrected and will have to answer to God for their every word, thought, and deed. Consequently, a practicing Muslim is always striving to be righteous.

20) Islam was not spread by the sword. It was spread by the word (Islamic teachings) and the example of its followers. Islam teaches that there is no compulsion in religion (the Holy Qur’an 2:256 and 10:99).

21) Terrorism, unjustified violence, and the killing of innocent people are absolutely forbidden in Islam. Islam is a way of life that is meant to bring peace to a society, whether its people are Muslim or not. The extreme actions of those who claim to be Muslim may be, among other things, a result of their ignorance or uncontrolled anger. Tyrant rulers and those who commit acts of terrorism in the name of Islam are simply not following Islam. These people are individuals with their own views and political agendas. Fanatical Muslims are no more representative of the true Islamic teachings than Timothy McVeigh or David Koresh are of Christianity. Extremism and fanaticism is a problem that is common to all religious groups. Anyone who thinks that all Muslims are terrorists should remember that the famous boxer Muhammad Ali, perhaps the most celebrated person of our era, is a practicing Muslim.

22) The word “jihad” does not mean “holy war”. Instead, it means the inner struggle that one endures in trying to submit their will to the will of God. Some Muslims may say they are going for “jihad” when fighting in a war to defend themselves or their fellow Muslims, but they only say this because they are conceding that it will be a tremendous struggle. But there are many other forms of jihad that are more relevant to the everyday life of a Muslim such as the struggles against laziness, arrogance, stinginess, or the struggle against a tyrant ruler or against the temptation of Satan, or against one’s own ego, etc.

23) Women are not oppressed in Islam. Any Muslim man that oppresses a woman is not following Islam. Among the many teachings of Prophet Muhammad that protected the rights and dignity of women is his saying, “…the best among you are those who treat their wives well.” (Tirmidhi)

24) Islam grants women numerous rights in the home and in society. Among them are the right to earn money, financial support, an education, an inheritance, to be treated kindly, to vote, to a dowry, to keep their maiden name, to worship in a mosque, etc., etc.

25) Muslim women wear the head-covering (hijab) in fulfillment of God’s decree to dress modestly. From a practical standpoint, it serves to identify one as attempting to follow God in daily life and, therefore, protects women from unwanted advances from men. This type of modest dress has been worn by righteous women throughout history. Prominent examples are traditional Catholic Nuns, Mother Teresa, and the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus.

26) Arranged marriages are allowed in Islam but are not required. Whereas “forced” marriages, usually stemming from cultural practice, are forbidden. Divorce is permissible, however, reconciliation is what is most encouraged. But if there are irreconcilable differences then Islam permits a fair and just divorce.

27) Islam and the “Nation of Islam” are two different religions. Islam is a religion for all races and enjoins the worship of the one unseen God who, orthodox Muslims believe, never took human form. The “Nation”, on the other hand, is a movement geared towards non-whites and teaches that God appeared in the form of Fard Muhammad in 1930 and that Elijah Muhammad (a man who died in 1975) was a prophet of God. These beliefs clearly contradict the basic Islamic theology outlined in the Qur’an. The followers of “the Nation” adhere to some Islamic principles that are mixed with many other teachings that are alien to Islam. To better understand the difference between the two, read about Malcolm X, his pilgrimage to Mecca, and his subsequent comments to the media. Islam teaches equality amongst all races (Holy Qur’an 49:13).

28) All Muslims are not Arab. Islam is a universal religion and way of life which includes followers from all races of people. There are Muslims in and from virtually every country in the world. Arabs only constitute about 20% of Muslims worldwide. Indonesia has the largest concentration of Muslims with over 120 million.

29) In the five daily prayers, Muslims face the Kaaba in Mecca, Arabia. It is a cube-shaped stone structure that was originally built by Prophet Adam and later rebuilt by Prophet Abraham. Muslims believe that the Kaaba was the first house of worship on Earth dedicated to the worship of one god. Muslims do not worship the Kaaba. It serves as a central focal point for Muslims around the world, unifying them in worship and symbolizing their common belief, spiritual focus, and direction. Interestingly, the inside of the Kaaba is empty.

30) The hajj is a simultaneous pilgrimage to the Kaaba made by millions of Muslims each year. It is performed to commemorate the struggles of Abraham, Ismail, and Hagar in submitting their wills to God.

How To Present A True Picture Of Islam?

Muslims going to America and Europe are faced with a flood of questions about Islam. People have many ways of asking these questions and different motivations for doing so, but their questions are essentially as follows:

Why does Islam permit polygamy?
Why is a woman counted as half a man in matters of inheritance and when she gives testimony?
Why does Islam “belittle” women?
Is Islam a religion of terror since it prescribes jihad

Questions like these are what occupies their minds when they think about Islam since the Western media has actively maligned Islam as a religion of lust and blood and nothing else. When our Muslim youth go to Western countries, they often find such questions awkward and try to evade them.

In many cases, Muslims will come across a strange opinion on a matter and promote it simply because it is more conciliatory.

Many Muslims who did not have correct or sufficient Islamic knowledge suffered from such difficulties. They really did not know what to do. I used to tell them the following: Why should we be on the defensive? Why don’t we adopt a more assertive attitude? If they confront us with one question, we should respond with 10 of our own.

If they ask you about polygamy, ask them about the sexual promiscuity that is rife in their societies that has brought humiliation to so many women and allowed men to absolve themselves of their responsibilities towards them and towards their children.

If they ask you about inequalities in inheritance, ask them about the reality in their own country where a woman earns only 60% of what a man earns for doing the exact same job.

I do not mean that we should be evasive.

However, it is not good for you to respond when you are in a state of weakness and difficulty where there is a danger that you might answer wrongly and misrepresent Allah’s religion in order to appease someone else.

You can move on to a more advanced level of discourse and demonstrate that Islamic teachings are the solution to the problems that they are suffering from.

For instance, according to some assessments, there are 119 women for every 100 men in the United States. In some states, the number is more like 160 women for every 100 men. Polygamy is the solution to the problems that ensue under such circumstances since it requires some men to assume responsibility for more than one woman and to be as just as humanly possible in doing so.

We can stress how Islam treats all people equally.

There is no preference for anyone over anyone else except for a person’s piety and virtue. This is the way to do away with the problem of racism that people in the West suffer from.

The Islamic teachings about jihad are what uproot oppression and guarantee people the freedom to think and to choose their religion for themselves without being under any compulsion. Islam seeks to have people freely submit themselves to their Creator and not be placed under the subjugation of any worldly dictator, race, tribe, or nationality. We don’t need to fancy that the whole world will convert to Islam at our hands.

However, we must be eager to guide them and we must seek to do so in every possible and permissible way. We should perfect our way of presenting Islam to them, taking into account the age, circumstances, and level of knowledge of those whom we are addressing.

We must present to them the noble Islamic values of freedom, justice, and human dignity and prove to them that Islam is superior to everything that they already know.

Above and beyond all of this, we must conduct ourselves in the best ethical manner and present our own lives as a practical example of moral virtue.

Unfortunately, many Muslims call people to Islam with their tongues while pushing them away from it with their ignoble, contradictory conduct and with their narrow-mindedness.

What Is Islam And Who Are The Muslims

What is Islam?

Islam is not a new religion, but the same truth that God revealed through all His prophets to every people. For a fifth of the world’s population, Islam is both a religion and a complete way of life. Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness, and the majority have nothing to do with the extremely grave events which have come to be associated with their faith.

Who are the Muslims?

Over one billion people from a vast range of races, nationalities, and cultures across the globe — from the southern Philippines to Nigeria — are united by their common Islamic faith. About 18% live in the Arab world; the world’s largest Muslim community is in Indonesia; substantial parts of Asia and most of Africa are Muslims, while significant minorities are to be found in the Soviet Union, China, North and South America, and Europe.

What do Muslims believe?

Muslims believe in One, Unique, Incomparable God; in the Angels created by Him; in the prophets through whom His revelations were brought to mankind; in the Day of Judgment and individual accountability for actions; in God’s complete authority over human destiny and in life after death. Muslims believe in a chain of prophets starting with Adam and including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elias, Jonah, John the Baptist, and Jesus, peace be upon them. But God’s final message to man, a reconfirmation of the eternal message and a summing-up of all that has gone before was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him] through Gabriel.

How does someone become a Muslim?

Simply by saying, ‘There is no god apart from God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God.’ By this declaration the believer announces his or her faith in all God’s messengers, and the scriptures they brought.

What does ‘Islam’ mean?

The Arabic word ‘Islam’ simply means ‘submission’, and derives from a word meaning ‘peace’. In a religious context, it means complete submission to the will of God. ‘Mohammedanism’ is thus a misnomer because it suggests that Muslims worship Muhammad [peace be upon him] rather than God. ‘Allah’ is the Arabic name for God, which is used by Arab Muslims and Christians alike.

Do Islam and Christianity have different origins?

No. Together with Judaism, they go back to the prophet and patriarch Abraham, and their three prophets are directly descended from his sons — Muhammad [peace be upon him] from the eldest, Ishmael, and Moses and Jesus [peace be upon him] from Isaac. Abraham established the settlement that today is the city of Makkah, and built the Ka’aba towards which all Muslims turn when they pray.

Ramadan for New Muslims And Non-Muslim Friends

Perfecting one’s Ramadan experience can be a lifetime achievement. We should not expect that we can perform the fasts perfectly or in their entirety when we have not had the benefit of many years of practice. To do so would undoubtedly be counterproductive as it would be overwhelming and cause burnout. Even those who are born Muslim and those who have been Muslim for many years struggle in perfecting the important aspects of Ramadan.

It’s for this reason that for new Muslims, scholars often agree that reverts (and those born Muslim who are rediscovering their Islamic faith) should “ease” themselves into it in whatever way possible. Allah is Most Merciful and Forgiving of our situations and does not hold it against us.

For those who are not Muslim but follow the fast in solidarity or for the experience, it is beneficial to follow the same guidelines as new Muslims. It would take a serious effort for someone not already acclimatized to perform all 30 days of Ramadan fasts perfectly from dawn to dusk and is not necessary for you to benefit from Ramadan.

There are many things to discuss about Ramadan and many more suggestions but I will try to focus on a few to get you started.

The following are some tips on preparing for Ramadan for those who are taking on the fast.

The first thing we should do to prepare for Ramadan is to bring our minds into focus. This is not a requirement of Ramadan per se but is beneficial. A week or two prior to Ramadan, it can be beneficial to place your mind at ease and train it to a peaceful state. An important aspect of Ramadan is that during the fast, you try to keep a peaceful mind and interaction with other people. Becoming angry, impatient, annoyed, etc. can break your fast if indulged to a significant degree. So, practice prior to Ramadan helps us during Ramadan itself. During the course of your day, try to be aware of the happenings around you and notice when your emotions tend to take over. When you sense this, try to refocus your mind and control your emotions and re-establish a peaceful state within yourself. This is not only a spiritual aspect to the benefits of Ramadan, but also very practical and earthly. The rewards of such are not only in this world but in the Hereafter. During your fast, you will practice this throughout the entire fast, from dawn until dusk for 30 days. You can help prepare yourself for the ritual demand of Ramadan by fasting a few days over the few weeks prior to Ramadan if you wish but it is also not necessary.

Second, an important thing is to physically prepare for Ramadan. Many of us are at home in a normal living environment, but some of us travel and otherwise have other issues going on that might hinder our ability to fast. For those at home, purchase in advance plenty of dates or other fruit for iftar (breaking the fast). After you fast each day, your body will be drained. You will be impatient, weak, and very hungry. Also, prepare healthy dinners, or if you eat out try to choose healthy foods rather than the normal foods you might eat. Your body will need proper nutrients to handle more days of fasting. Foods rich in fats and sugars will wear your body down and make it more difficult in the long run. If you have a Masjid (Mosque) or Islamic center nearby, they most likely will be running Iftar programs where you can break your fast and have dinner with the community. If you are not Muslim, you can still attend these programs. Just contact, or walk in, and tell the organizers or community leader that you are not Muslim and are practicing the fast of Ramadan and would like to breakfast with them. In all cases that I am aware of, they are very helpful and willing to have a non-Muslim guest share their experience!

For those traveling who are still going to observe the fast, carry with your dates or dried fruit and bottled water or juice.

Keep watch for the start of Ramadan. It does not necessarily start when the Gregorian calendar says. Ramadan is a lunar month in the Islamic calendar and is identified upon the first sighting of the moon and ends on the next sighting. If you have doubts about when the sighting occurred, ask people in the Muslim community and they can tell you if it has been sighted in your region. Depending on the region, the sighting can vary by one day, so while some may observe Ramadan from the sighting in their region, others may not have sighted it until the following day and will begin their observance then.

Observing Ramadan is one of the five pillars (core tenets) of Islam. In observance of this month, once a year, Muslims are asked to refrain from food, drink, and physical marital relations from before dawn until sunset during the entire month of Ramadan. Since Ramadan is a lunar month, following the Islamic calendar, it moves back eleven days throughout the year and thus is not fixed during one particular season. Due to the lunar calendar sometimes Ramadan falls in summer, sometimes in winter, with the variation in the length of the day and temperature. The fast of Ramadan is a complete fast, but it is only during the daylight hours, which vary from 12 to 16 hours in the summer.

To start the day of fasting, it is important to wake just prior to dawn and have a modest breakfast to give your body the nutrients it needs and hydrate your body. Be sure that you take in plenty of liquids! The fast is all day until sunset when you will break your fast with a small portion of fruit and drink prior to your dinner. It is good practice to give 10 or 15 minutes between breaking your fast and having your dinner as this jumpstarts your digestive system and avoids stomach aches. The stomach naturally shrinks while fasting and needs time to acclimatize to having food put back into it.

The purpose of the fast is to learn self-restraint and control and to learn a heightened appreciation for the good things we enjoy and often take for granted. During this time, Muslims are also supposed to abstain from any negative behavior, such as fighting, backbiting, etc.

Those who cannot fast, such as the elderly, sick, pregnant or nursing women, or travelers, they may make up their fast later or give charity for every day of fast they miss. Children are not required to fast until puberty but often do so in the emulation of their parents. Many children go to public school and continue there fast at school.

During the month of Ramadan, it is common to have large numbers of Muslims at homes, places of worship, and outings when they break the fast. Breaking fast happens at dusk and is a time when family and friends enjoy each other’s company and thank God for His goodness.

Giving charity to the poor during this month is a pinnacle of Ramadan. As we observe the fast we are reminded of the suffering of others and there is great reward in the act of giving.

Suggestions for your first fast
Remember, although you may be eager to perform the fasts perfectly, it is important for you to pace yourself at a healthy pace in order to get a positive experience and take away the most from the fast. Over the years of fasting, as you perfect your fast each year, Ramadan will continue to enlighten you, increase your iman (faith) and deepen your understanding and appreciation of the month of Ramadan.

For our non-Muslim friends, just the little that you do can give you a deeper understanding of the purpose of Ramadan and the Muslim experience and hopefully can benefit you in many other ways.

For your first fast, and for the reasons stated earlier in this article, I would suggest that you not try to perform it to the letter. Observe the fast for 30 days (or the duration of the Ramadan fast since sometimes it can be for 29 days) from dawn to dusk. Choose where you will start. Try abstaining from food and not drinking for the duration of the fast. Remember that Allah is Most Merciful and Most Forgiving and understands our condition. As the years pass, if you continue to fast, during Ramadan, you can increase your observance until you finally can perform the fast perfectly with regards to the ritual aspects of the fast.

Remember that your moral character is very important to fasting. It is important to abstain from all sinful acts, bickering, fighting, anger, etc. These things break your fast.

If you break you’re fast unintentionally, for example, if you accidentally eat something without thinking or if you get overly angry and realize after the fact, your fast is not broken! Continue to keep the fast. Allah is Most Merciful and Forgiving and knows that we are creatures of habit.

If your body cannot handle a complete fast or gets too weak or sick, then break your fast immediately! Allah does not require that by observing the fast you harm your body. The fast is to benefit our body and soul, but not to the degree of self-harm.

For New Muslims, you have many things you are trying to assimilate into your life. Performing prayers (salat) may not be perfect yet. Salat is important in keeping fast. However, don’t overdo yourself. If you have not reached the level of praying five times per day, even though it is paramount to keeping the fast, your fast is not broken and Allah does not hold this as a sin against you. Over time, you will acclimatize yourself to taking on the ritual aspects of Islam, but for now, concentrate on the spiritual aspects while trying to the best of your ability to assimilate the ritual aspects. Always remember, as I have said many times in this article, Allah is Most Merciful and forgiving on you. More so than any human being can ever hope to understand or be.

The most important thing about starting your fast (prayers and anything you do) is your intention (Niyyah) to fast. If you make the intention to fast, then you are fasting and Allah rewards you regardless of your ability to keep the ritual. He does this to encourage you to deepen your practice and strengthen your moral character, and faith in Islam.

Islam is a very spiritual and personal faith. The rituals only seek to deepen your spiritual and personal faith while establishing structure in religion. So, your intention is the most important starting point.

The End of Ramadan
At the end of Ramadan, I would suggest writing down your experience as a permanent record for you to refer to. What did you do in your fast and what it meant to you? How has the experience changed your life for the better? What changes did you make that you can carry on to the remaining months of the year? How has your fasting experience during Ramadan benefited the people around you? What do you intend to do for the next Ramadan?

Refer to your experience from time to time as a reminder and share your experience with others who can benefit from it as well.

At the end of Ramadan, Muslims observe what we call Eid al-Fitr. This is a high holy day where most communities hold a special “Eid” prayer gathering and have dinners with family and friends. Many families share gifts and sweets or hold Quran studies and readings. It is a joyful time of appreciation for what Allah has given us.

Remember, your Ramadan experience doesn’t end here. Carry it for the rest of the year. Consider it like a New Year’s resolution. All that you learned and accumulated during Ramadan, try to emulate that throughout the year.

Insha Allah (God willing) whether you are Muslim or not, you will find the experience of Ramadan beneficial in some way.

May Allah bless you and keep you during this blessed month! Ameen!!