History Of Food And Fasting Religion Essay Example

History Of Food And Fasting Religion Essay Fasting cleanses the psyche, raises the head, subjects one s flesh to the spirit, renders the bosom contrite and low, scatters the clouds of sexual desire, quenches the fire of lecherousness, and kindles the true visible radiation of celibacy. Enter once more into yourself ( Saint Augustine, 354 430 A.D. ) . Food is one of the basic necessities of human sort but has got a batch of dimensions attached to it. Food is used as an look by assorted communities in this universe. When speaking about nutrient and its facets in context to sociology and anthropology fasting and banqueting are two inseparable words. Banquets in all faiths are backed up with fasts, which are due to grounds, but the pattern remains the same. Fasting has a long history, which is associated with faith. There are over 30 mentions to fasting in the Bible ( Old and New Testament ) . Apart from merely Christianity there are other mentions besides, and is found mentioned in the Quran, the Mahabharata, and the Upanishads. As a spiritual observation fasting has been practiced for centuries, and it doubtless, as a pattern, preceded recorded history. Many records from past say that abstention, which could be either partial or complete, from all or certain nutrients, existed in Assyria, Babylon, China, Greece, India, Palestine, Persia and Rome, and the records from the early civilisations of Mesopotamia and Egypt indicate that fasting of some type was an of import portion of spiritual pattern ( Wikipedia, 2010 ) . We will write a custom essay sample on History Of Food And Fasting Religion specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on History Of Food And Fasting Religion specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on History Of Food And Fasting Religion specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Fast is besides concerned with its use as a agency of retrieving and continuing wellness, but the writer s major concern in this essay is non about curative fasting. So author relates to the application of fasting as a spiritual tract, to cognize about its relevancy in cognizing history of nutrient and civilizations. Fasting is chiefly the act of volitionally abstaining from some or all nutrient, drink, or both, for a period of clip. Refering that from which one fasts, and the period of fasting, a fast may be entire or partial. It may be observed unbroken for many uninterrupted yearss, or be observed merely for certain periods during the twenty-four hours, as is the Muslim pattern during the holy month of Ramadan. Depending on the tradition, fasting patterns may prohibit sexual intercourse every bit good as nutrient, in add-on to abstaining from eating certain types of nutrients ; for illustration, meat may be refrained from ( Wikipedia, 2010 ) . The writer in this essay due to restriction of words is traveling to cover merely about one faith, Islam and significance of fasting over it to cognize approximately sociological and anthropological facets of it, which is there since history and the nutrient comes along with it. Content There is both a physical and a religious fast. In the physical fast, the organic structure abstains from nutrient and drink. In the religious fast, the faster abstains from evil purposes, words and workss. One who genuinely fasts abstains from choler, fury, maliciousness, and retribution. One who genuinely fasts abstains from idle and disgusting talk, empty rhetoric, slander, disapprobation, flattery, lying and all mode of vindictive talk. In a word, a existent faster is one who withdraws from all immoralities ( Saint Basil, 329-379 A.D. ) . Muslims start fasting in the holy month of Ramadan which is the 9th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It is the month in which Allah revealed the Holy Quran as counsel for world. Every twenty-four hours during this month, Muslims around the universe spend the daytime hours in a complete fast. Ramadan begins after the month of ShabA?n or with the visual perception of the new Moon of Ramaa?an. This visual perception is established with the testimony of one trustable informant or as some Ulama say, two. Fasting of the Predecessors O you who believe! Detecting As-Sawm [ the fasting ] is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you ( Quran 2:183 ) . There is no such grounds is to precisely when fasting started but it is clear that fasting is the pattern of all the Prophets of Allah and their followings: The Prophet ( i? ) told Muslims that DA?wA «d ( i? µ ) used to fast for half of the twelvemonth. MA «sA? ( i? µ ) observed fast for 40 yearss ( Exodus 24:18 ) . A?sA? ( Jesus ) ( i? µ ) was said to hold fasted for 40 yearss before he was called to prophet goon ( Matthew 4: 2 ) and this is what the Christians termed the Lent . That was the manner of Allah in the instance of those who passed off of old, and you will non happen any alteration in the manner of Allah ( Quran 33:62 ) . Therefore fasting was considered as an extension of the tradition approved by Allah ( i?â„ ¢ ) for all those who submit to him by the Predecessors. Two Aspects There are two facets under which Islam defines the word fasting: Literally: The Arabic word for fasting ( sawm ) is derived from the root sA?ma literally means to keep or to forbear , so fasting is forbearing fromA normal things, such as feeding, imbibing, speaking. If anyone chorus from these thing, he is considered sA?im which means the perceiver of fast. Religiously: Fasting agencies to forbear from things that invalidate the fasting from Morning Prayer clip, with purpose to delight Allah, boulder clay Sunset Prayer clip. Elementss of the Fasting in Islam There are assorted elements which are to be kept in head by a Muslim whilst maintaining fast which are explained by the writer below: Purpose It is obligatory for the fasting individual to corroborate his/her connotation before Morning Prayer ( SalA?t al-Fajr ) clip. The Prophet said: He who does non mean during the dark to fast, so there be no fast for him as cited by An-NasaI ( 2009 ) . However, most of Ulama affirm that one can corroborate 1s purpose one time at the beginning of the month of Ramadan, and this will be sufficient to fast all the yearss of this holy month. The bosom is the topographic point of connotation and to express it verbally is non established from the Prophet or the Companions. Therefore one can do in 1s bosom connotation before traveling to kip. Refraining Food and Drink Sexual activityA Masturbation However, Ramadan is much more than avoiding nutrient, H2O, and abstaining from other physical demands, it is besides: Refraining of the bosom and the head from evil, ideas. Refraining of the lingua from evil words. Refraining of other organic structure parts from evil actions. As consequence, every portion of the organic structure must be restrained. The lingua must be restrained from chitchat, backbiting, dissing and cursing. The eyes must keep themselves from looking at improper things. The manus must non make any out things. The ears must forbear from listening to tick over talk or obscene words. The pess must forbear from traveling to iniquitous topographic points. In such a manner, every portion of the organic structure observes the fast. Therefore, fasting is the entire committedness of the individual s organic structure and psyche to the spirit of the fast. Ramadan is a clip to pattern temperateness. The Prophet said as cited by BukhA?rA « ( 3.127 ) : Whoever does non give up forged address and evil actions, Allah is non in demand of his go forthing his nutrient and imbibe aˆÂ ¦ [ i.e. ] Allah will non accept his fasting . Duration ( of Sawm ) Fasting starts everyday in Ramadan from the slow beginning of morning: Morning Prayer ( SalA?t al-Fajr ) clip till sunset: Sunset Prayer ( SalA?t al-maghrib ) clip. Muslim must keep tight to this continuance, if non his fast will be invalidated. Muslim Fasts As per Ulama the fasts are classified into four classs, defined below: Prescribed fast ( fara? ) Prohibited fast. ( a?arA?m ) Supererogatory fast. ( Sunnah ) Disapproved fast. ( makrA «h ) Prescribed Fast The prescribed fasts are: Fast of the month of Ramadan. Fast of QadA? It is the brand up for the yearss of Ramadan on which the fast was invalidated accidentally. Fast of kaffA?rah It is the expiatory and atonement fasts, among them are fasts for nonvoluntary homicide, fasts for expiation of: A broken curse. A vow. Not holding observed the prescribed fast of Ramadan. Prohibited Fasts 1st of ShawwA?l ( Eid al-Fia? ­r ) . 10th of Zula?ijjah ( Eid al-Aa?a?A? ) . 11th, 12th and 13th of a?’ula?ijjah. On these yearss fasting is purely prohibited. So the fast of qada can non be observed on these yearss. Supererogatory Fasts In Islam fasting is considered recommended on all the yearss of the twelvemonth except those on which it has been prohibited. But there are yearss whose fast has been specifically stressed and they include: 3 yearss of each month, sooner the moonlit yearss ( al-ayyA?m al-bA «a? ) , which are the 13th, 14th and 15th of each lunar month. Day of Arafah ( 9th of Dhul a? ¤ijjah ) . Several yearss of the months of Dhu al-Qidah, Dhu al-a? ¤ijjah, Mua?arram, Rajab. 6 yearss of ShawwA?l. Most of ShabA?n. Mondays and Thursdays. The twenty-four hours of AˆshA «rA? alone or with a twenty-four hours after or before it. Disapproved Fasts It is disapproved to individual out Fridays and Saturdays for fasting. Fasting on the twenty-four hours ( yawm ash-shak ) which is merely before the month of Ramadan or the two yearss merely before Ramadan. Fasting consecutively all yearss of the twelvemonth. The 3 yearss which follow Eid al-Aa?a?A? ( ayyA?m at-tashrA «q ) . Importance of Fasting There are two chief grounds for which a Muslim keeps fast, which are: Principles of Islam As per Allah s Apostle as cited by BukhA?rA « : Islam is based on the undermentioned five rules: To attest that there is no divinity except Allah and that Muhammad is Allah s Messenger. To offer the ( mandatory congregational ) supplications on a regular basis and absolutely. To pay ZakA?h ( i.e. obligatory charity ) . To execute Hajj ( i.e. Pilgrimage to Mecca ) . To ever maintain fast during the month of Ramadan. Fasting is one of the pillars of the Islamic religion. No cogent evidence is required to set up its being obligatory, and whoever denies fasting goes out of the crease of Islam. Obligatory responsibility ( fara? ) The other ground is that, fasting was said on Muslims in the 2nd twelvemonth of the a? ¤ijrah. Significance of Ramadan The Prophet said ( Muslim Book 6: p.2361 ) : When there comes the month of Ramadan, The Gatess of clemencies are opened. The Gatess of Hell are locked. The Satans are chained. All old wickednesss will be forgiven. The Prophet said as cited by Bukhari ( 3.125 ) : aˆÂ ¦ And whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere religion, and trusting for a wages from Allah, so all his old wickednesss will be forgiven. Ramadan comprehends the Night of Power which is better than 1000 months: sing the wagess of executing good workss in it. The Holy Quran revealed in Ramadan Koran which is true counsel for world, as believed by the Muslim community should be recited a batch in Ramadan in order to maintain us in the consecutive way. Umrah with particular wages Umrah preformed in Ramadan peers, in wagess executing, pilgrims journey with the prophesier. Smell of musk: The odor coming out from the oral cavity of a fasting individual is better, in the sight of Allah, than the odor of musk. Jannah is decorated In everyday of Ramadan, Allah decorates the Jannah ( Paradise ) and addresses it stating, It is non excessively far that my righteous retainers shall throw away the loads ( of the secular life ) and shall continue towards you ( Anonymous, 2009 ) . Amnesty In the last dark of this month, the fasting individual is granted amnesty. Who Must Fast A ; Who Can non? Harmonizing to the Islam, Allah has made fasting the month of Ramadan compulsory uponA every: Muslim, Adult, Reasonable, Not going, Muslim who has nil such as a?aya? ( Menstruation ) or nifA?s ( Post-Natal Bleeding ) to forestall him/her from making so. But, there are following individuals who are exempt from fasting, by Islam: The insane, Non adolescent Fast is non required of kids until they reach the age of pubescence. The marks of pubescence are: Growth of pubic hair. Happening of wet dreams. Menstrual period ( female ) . Person with the age of 15 and none of these marks have occurred. The aged and inveterate ill for whom fasting is unreasonably striving. Such individuals are required to feed at least one hapless individual every twenty-four hours in Ramadan for which he/she has missed fasting. Pregnant adult females and nursing can prorogue their fasting. The ailment and the travellers can besides prorogue their fasting. Females during the period of menses or after childbirth parturiency. Fasting during these periods is out and can be made up subsequently, a twenty-four hours for a twenty-four hours. Annulment of Fasts as per Islam Harmonizing to Islamic norms there are certain things which invalidate fast and are ever kept in head by Muslims in the month of Ramadan, which are of two sorts: One requires qaa?A? ( merely doing up lost yearss ) . The other requires qaa?A? and kaffA?rah ( atonement ) , at the same clip. Thingss that require do up ( Qada ) merely are: Feeding deliberately This includes non-nourishing nutrient Doctor of Optometry potable points taken by oral cavity. For illustration, while doing wudu, if a bead of H2O faux pass into the pharynx accidentally. Vomiting Intentionally doing one to throw up. The beginning of menses / post-childbirth shed blooding even in the last minute before sundown ( merely in instance of females ) . Seminal emanation Ejaculation while touching, snoging or fondling adult females for grounds other than sexual Congress. The purpose to stop the prescribed fast Intending to interrupt the fast before sunset even if one changes his head, since purpose is one of the pre-requisites of the cogency of fasting. Mistaken premise Eating, imbibing or holding intercourse after morning on the misguided premise that it is non dawn yet. Similarly, prosecuting in these Acts of the Apostless before Maghrib on the misguided premise that it is already sunset. Injection: Injection invalidates the prescribed fast and requires the fast to be made up. Thingss that require doing up the fast ( Qada ) and besides atonement ( Kaffarah ) are: Eating Drinking Sexual intercourse These 3 Acts of the Apostless are apt to kaffarah when they are committed intentionally after one has started a fast. Kaffarh may be given in the undermentioned three ways severally: Fring a slave. Fasting for two months invariably without a interruption. Giving nutrient to sixty individuals. Since bondage has come to an terminal in today s universe, merely the latter two ways can be adopted today. But Islam says that the individual who has strength adequate to fast for two month invariably has been bound to fast. He can non follow the 3rd manner, i.e. giving nutrient to sixty individuals. If he is excessively weak to fast for such a big figure of yearss, he can give kaffarah be giving nutrient to sixty individuals. The above mentioned things do non annul the fast unless the fasting individual meets the undermentioned three conditions: He must be cognizant of the opinion of what he has done. He must retrieve ( i.e. forgetfulness does non annul the fast ) He must make it deliberately. Ramadan Eve Here are a figure of things which are practiced by a Muslim on Ramadan Eve and which can non be neglected for the successful completion of the forfeits a Muslim brand in the month of Ramadan in footings of nutrient, energy, etc. Tarawih Prayer TarA?wA «h Prayer or the Night Prayer ( SalA?t QiyA?m al-Layl ) is performed by the truster in fold during the month of Ramadan. It can besides be performed entirely at place. Suhoor ( pre-dawn repast ) Moslems should do certain that they eat and drink something at suhA «r and should seek to detain it until merely before al-Fajr Prayer time.A The Prophet said as cited by Al-Bukhaari ( Fath, 4/139 ) : Have suhoor, for in suhoor there is blessing ( barakah ) . The Purpose It is obligatory for the fasting individual to corroborate his/her connotation before Morning Prayer clip. The Prophet said: He who does non mean during the dark to fast, so there be no fast for him . It is the right clip that one should do its connotation after suhoor or before traveling to kip. Etiquettes of Interrupting the Fast The Prophetic etiquettes of interrupting the fast are given below: One should rush to interrupt the fast. Equally shortly as the Call of Sunset Prayer is ( Athan Salat al-Maghrib ) said one should get down to interrupt the fast instantly. The Prophet said: My state will stay in goodness every bit long as they break the fast every bit shortly as it is due [ Muslim ] . Stating Bismillah and the fast breakage dua : Demanding Allah anything in demand because the supplication ( dua ) upon interrupting fast is answered. Interrupt the fast by eating 3 rutabs ( damp day of the months ) , or tamr ( dry day of the months ) , or even drinking H2O. The Prophet said: Break your fast with a day of the month or with H2O because it is pure [ Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi ] . Using 1s right manus while feeding. Gluttony is violative and unhealthy after fasting and full tummy will non assist you o pray TA?rA?wA «h. The Prophet said: Enough for a human being to hold luqaymat ( from 3 to 9 mouthfuls ) that prop up his spinal column and, if he must hold more [ in his tummy ] , so one tierce of nutrient, one tierce of H2O, and one tierce of air . Not holding nutrients ( such as garlic, onions, etc. ) that cause bad breath, bubbling and gas, is out of regard for the mosques and those who attend them. Performing Sunset Prayer at mosque, if it is close, or in a group at place. Night of Power As per Quran, the Night of Power is better than a 1000 months. Therein descends the Angels and the Spirit by Allah s permission, on every errand and state Peace ( continuously ) till the rise of Morning! ( Quran 97:1-5 ) . Quran was revealed in Ramadan in Night of Power ( Lailat-ut Qadr ) . Muslims believe that the title in this dark is better than the wagess of workss of 1,000 months ( about 83.3 old ages ) . The dark is in the last 10 yearss of Ramadan and normally in one of the uneven yearss ( i.e. 21, 23, 25, 27 and 29th ) . At this dark a Muslim is expected to: Perform nawafil ( voluntary supplications ) . Make Quran recitation. Say invocations ( duas ) . Attending talks on spiritual subjects. Do itikaf: Moslems are expected to be in privateness ( itikaf ) during the last 10 yearss of Ramadan because no 1 knows exactly which of the uneven yearss is the dark of Power, and the best topographic point to be in privacy is in the mosque. Retreat ( ItikA?f ) Retreat is to prosecute and to give something either good / bad or to prosecute in a retreat in the mosque and remain at that place with the purpose of delighting Allah. It has no clip bound ; either short or long periods of clip are acceptable. ZakA?t al-Fitr ZakA?t al-Fitr is frequently referred to as Sadaqah al-Fitr. The word Fitr means interrupting a fast and it comes from the same root word as Futoor ( Arabic ) which means breakfast. Therefore, Islamically, ZakA?t al-Fitr means fast-breaking or fast-ending contribution which is paid at the terminal of Ramadan. Sadaqah al-Fitr is a responsibility which is obligatory on every Muslim, whether male or female, minor or grownup every bit long as he/she has the agencies to make so. A The cogent evidence that this signifier of charity is mandatory can be found in the Sunnah whereby Ibn `Umar reported that the Prophet made Zakaah al-Fitr compulsory on every slave, freewoman, male, female, immature and old among the Muslims ; one Saa` of dried day of the months or one Saa` of hardly ( Bukhari Arabic/English, vol. 2, p. 339, no. 579 ) . The caput of the family may pay the needed sum for the other members. Abu Saeed al-Khudree said, On behalf of our immature and old, free work forces and slaves ; we used to take out during Allah s Messenger s life-time one Saa` of grain, cheese or raisins ( Muslim English transl. vol. 2, p. 469, no. 2155 ) . The chief intent of Zakaah al-Fitr is to supply those who fasted with the agencies of doing up for their mistakes during the month of fasting. Zakaah al-Fitr besides provides the hapless with a agencies with which they can observe the festival of interrupting the fast ( `Eed al-Fitr ) along with the remainder of the Muslims. This signifier of charity becomes obligatory from sunset on the last twenty-four hours of fasting and remains obligatory until the beginning of Salaah al-Eed ( i.e. shortly after dawn on the undermentioned twenty-four hours ) . However, it can be paid prior to the above mentioned period, as many of Companions of the Prophet ( i? ) used to pay Sadaqah al-Fitr a couple yearss before the `Eed. If one misses the clip period without a good ground, he has sinned and can non do it up. The sum of Zakaah is the same for everyone regardless of their different income brackets. The minimal sum is one SA?` ( two kg and 40 gms of good wheat ) of nutrient, grain or dried fruit for each member of the household. Night of Eid It had been the pattern of the Prophet Muhammad that he would non kip in the dark predating the twenty-four hours of Eid al-Fitr, the terminal of Ramadan. This dark has been named in a tradition as the Night of Reward . God bestows his wagess on those who have spent the month of Ramadan staying by the dictates of Islamic jurisprudence, and all their supplications and supplication in this dark are accepted. Therefore, it is desirable to execute voluntary supplications in this night.A As per Prophet: Whoever stands up in worship in the darks predating the two Eids anticipating wagess from his Lord, his bosom will non decease when the other Black Marias will decease. To profit from this chance, one should execute as much worship in this dark as one can, and should pray for all one s demands and desires. Eid al-Fitr Eid al-Fitr, frequently referred to as Eid, is the three twenty-four hours festival that marks the terminal of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Eid is an Arabic word significance celebration , while Fia? ­r means to breakfast ; and symbolizes the breakage of the fasting period. It is celebrated after the terminal of the Islamic month of Ramadan, on the first twenty-four hours of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar. Eid ul-Fitr is sometimes besides known as the Smaller Eid as compared to the Eid ul-Adha that lasts four yearss and is called the Greater Eid . Moslems are commanded by the Quran to finish their fast on the last twenty-four hours of Ramadan and so declaim the Takbir all throughout the period of Eid ( Quran 2:185 ) . Muslim greet each other by stating A?d mubA?rak ( Blessed Eid ) or A?d saA «d ( Happy Eid ) . In add-on, many states have their ain salutations based on local linguistic communication and traditions. Typically, Muslims wake up early in the forenoon and have a little breakfast ( as a mark of non being on a fast on that twenty-four hours ) of sooner the day of the month fruit, before go toing a particular Eid supplication ( salat ) that is performed in fold at mosques or unfastened countries like Fieldss, squares, etc. By and large all Muslims frock in their best apparels ( new if possible ) at this twenty-four hours. The Eid supplication is followed by the khutbah ( discourse ) and so a invocation ( dua ) inquiring for forgiveness, clemency and aid for all living existences across the universe. The khutbah besides instructs Muslims as to the public presentation of rites of Eid, such as the zakat. It is so customary to encompass the individuals sitting on either side of one, whilst recognizing them. After the supplications, people besides visit their relations, friends and familiarities and some people besides pay visits to the cemeteries ( ziyarat al-qubur ) .