Friday Prayer Versus Work and Fasting Ramadan Versus Health
How can people fast?
Hello again,
I have two questions regarding fasting during the month of Ramadan and about friday prayer. I am not yet muslim but soon to be...
Im just curious how are people able to go to Friday prayer when they have work? Because I work every Friday till 4 or 5pm and only have hour lunch. Last Friday i decided to stop by a mosque during my lunch to hear the Friday prayer and to see how they do it so I can learn but I barely had enough time to drive there and back without being late.
How do I deal with this obligation? And also for fasting, I am a pretty thin 20 year old boy and I'm not sure if fasting for a full month is safe or healthy for me, a year ago part of my lung collapsed, it was random but i was told it usually happens to people who are growing at a faster rate than what they eat ... Or something like that
So I was needed to take weight gainer shakes and stuff to help me gain weigh to reduce the chance of it happening again. I still currently weigh about the same but I'm trying to put on some pounds before its needed to fast...
~ Kevin
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Salamualaikum Kevin,
Praying all 5 everyday, fasting the entire month of Ramadan, seem difficult to everyone who does not practice them. My non Muslim friends get surprised and ask how a person can manage to do 5 prayers a day and fast the entire month of Ramadan?
It happens with the Help of Allah which is not even felt, sometimes.
Let me first tell you how one manages doing the Friday prayer and attending work.
Whenever I go for Friday prayers, I get late by some time, but people know that I be late due to the prayers. From my experience, whenever I got late from mosque on the Friday, I could make up for the time missed, or even better. This is a Blessing from Allah. He Says:
As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths (i.e. Allah's Religion - Islamic Monotheism). And verily, Allah is with the Muhsinun (good doers)." (29:69)
You will even find support like I did and still do, Alhamdulillah. You can inform the concerned people that you could be a little late due to the Friday prayers. This is if they are not aware that you do. Otherwise, they will understand it themselves.
Other than Friday prayers, you should try to do is mosque (or in a congregation), but it is possible to pray them elsewhere (or alone). But Friday prayers should be prayed in congregation.
Just take your step forward and in sha Allah, you'll find Allah Help.
Regarding fasting and your health, I don't think it will have an effect, except what is normal.
I know men who are ultra lean, but patiently fast the month of Ramadan with good health. Fasting keeps you healthy, rather than deteriorating your health, as generally perceived. Yes, general issues such as feeling of hunger etc. will happen, but one learns to have patience during this month. Ramadan is one month which trains an individual to behave in the next 11 months.
And you deserve to know that fasting was prescribed for people even before the Prophethood of Muhammad Peace be upon him. Allah Says:
O you who believe! Observing As- Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for
you as it was prescribed for those
before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious) [Noble Quran 2:183]
You can read further about wisdom behind fasting from this article:
http://www.fastramadan.com/wisdom_behind_fasting.php
But having said that fasting becomes easy with Allah's Help, it may sometime be difficult, being a part of Allah's Test, to see whether one is sincere in his belief or not, to see whether one thanks Allah or not.
If you are ill by any chance, you are not obliged to fast until you recover. Allah Says:
The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an, a
guidance for mankind and clear
proofs for the guidance and the
criterion (between right and
wrong). So whoever of you
sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan
i.e. is present at his home), he
must observe Saum (fasts) that
month, and whoever is ill or on a
journey, the same number [of
days which one did not observe Saum (fasts) must be made up]
from other days. Allah intends
for you ease, and He does not
want to make things difficult for
you. (He wants that you) must
complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah [i.e. to say Takbir (Allahu-Akbar; Allah is the Most Great) on seeing the crescent of the months of Ramadan and Shawwal] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him. (2:185)
I am not aware of your lung collapse. may Allah Help you. Perhaps a person with a better understanding will deal with precautions in mind.
Whatever good you do, you'll find Allah's Help Always. You just need conviction and Hope.
Muhammad Waseem
IslamicAnswers.com Editor:
Salamualaikum Kevin,
Praying all 5 everyday, fasting the entire month of Ramadan, seem difficult to everyone who does not practice them. My non Muslim friends get surprised and ask how a person can manage to do 5 prayers a day and fast the entire month of Ramadan?
It happens with the Help of Allah which is not even felt, sometimes.
Let me first tell you how one manages doing the Friday prayer and attending work.
Whenever I go for Friday prayers, I get late by some time, but people know that I be late due to the prayers. From my experience, whenever I got late from mosque on the Friday, I could make up for the time missed, or even better. This is a Blessing from Allah. He Says:
As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths (i.e. Allah's Religion - Islamic Monotheism). And verily, Allah is with the Muhsinun (good doers)." (29:69)
You will even find support like I did and still do, Alhamdulillah. You can inform the concerned people that you could be a little late due to the Friday prayers. This is if they are not aware that you do. Otherwise, they will understand it themselves.
Other than Friday prayers, you should try to do is mosque (or in a congregation), but it is possible to pray them elsewhere (or alone). But Friday prayers should be prayed in congregation.
Just take your step forward and in sha Allah, you'll find Allah Help.
Regarding fasting and your health, I don't think it will have an effect, except what is normal.
I know men who are ultra lean, but patiently fast the month of Ramadan with good health. Fasting keeps you healthy, rather than deteriorating your health, as generally perceived. Yes, general issues such as feeling of hunger etc. will happen, but one learns to have patience during this month. Ramadan is one month which trains an individual to behave in the next 11 months.
And you deserve to know that fasting was prescribed for people even before the Prophethood of Muhammad Peace be upon him. Allah Says:
O you who believe! Observing As- Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for
you as it was prescribed for those
before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious) [Noble Quran 2:183]
You can read further about wisdom behind fasting from this article:
http://www.fastramadan.com/wisdom_behind_fasting.php
But having said that fasting becomes easy with Allah's Help, it may sometime be difficult, being a part of Allah's Test, to see whether one is sincere in his belief or not, to see whether one thanks Allah or not.
If you are ill by any chance, you are not obliged to fast until you recover. Allah Says:
The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an, a
guidance for mankind and clear
proofs for the guidance and the
criterion (between right and
wrong). So whoever of you
sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan
i.e. is present at his home), he
must observe Saum (fasts) that
month, and whoever is ill or on a
journey, the same number [of
days which one did not observe Saum (fasts) must be made up]
from other days. Allah intends
for you ease, and He does not
want to make things difficult for
you. (He wants that you) must
complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah [i.e. to say Takbir (Allahu-Akbar; Allah is the Most Great) on seeing the crescent of the months of Ramadan and Shawwal] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him. (2:185)
I am not aware of your lung collapse. may Allah Help you. Perhaps a person with a better understanding will with help you in this, with precautions in mind.
Muhammad Waseem
IslamicAnswers.com Editor
Assalamu alaykum brother i know a muslim guy who fast during ramadan(he has diabetes and had to do a therapy.The therapy involves three daily injections everyday.he talked to his doctor about this and he said he could try for one day. His parents were worried as he is young and a convert mashAllah. He started fasting.The first day he was ok and he continued ,after few days he went to the doctors and the doctor was really surprised as his health became better than it was before and that without the injections!he continued the whole ramadhan subhanAllah. He was really happy he always remembers everyone to thank ALLAH for our health and dont take it for granted. Brother just trust in Allah and make lots of Duas and inshAllah Allah will make it easier for you.
Today is the first day of Dhul Hijjah and our prophet SWS was use to fast the first 9days.you could try to fast these days aswell. im gona share this with you inshAllah: The ten days of Dhul-Hijjah include Yawm al-`Arafah (the Day of `Arafah), on which Allah perfected His Religion. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Fasting the day of `Arafah expiates the sins of two years: the past one and the coming one. And fasting the day of Ashura expiates the sins of the past year.” [Muslim]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “ No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these days.” His companions asked “ Not even Jihad in the way of Allah?” He said: “Not even jihad, except for the man who puts his life and wealth in danger and returns with neither.”
Salaam brother.
Do speak to your manager about Friday Prayers and offer to make up the missed time because of course Juma in the mosque is ideal. Do you by any chance have any other Muslim brothers in your workplace? If there are a small group and it's difficult to get to the mosque one option you have is to ask for a room for 30 mins or so and conduct Jumah yourselves.
They did this at one of my workplaces. One brother a week prepared a short Khutbah and they all read Juma jumaat so do consider this if your manager does not approve.
As for the fasting, I wouldnt worry too much about your weight and fasting. But I do strongly advise you to visit your doctor before you start fasting just in case it will affect the lung collapse, God forbid. It is true that fasting can help health in a lot of people - it's amazing. But for a few people with certain conditions it can cause problems which is why it is essential you get medical advice. Allah never places a burden upon one that they cannot bear.
Sara
IslamicAnswers.com Editor