Abdul Muqit Chowdhury :
The Arabic word ‘Ramadhan’ has the significance and appeal to ‘burn the evil instincts’ for purification. ‘Siam’ calls to ‘abstain from misdeeds’. The word ‘Ramadhan’ is derived from the root ‘ramd’.
It means heat, excessive heat, high degree of heat, burning. The Persian word ‘Roza’ means fasting. Its Arabic synonym is ‘Sawm’. In plural it is ‘Siam’. ‘Roza’ and ‘Siam’ bears the same significance. ‘Siam’ means ‘abstaining from what breaks fasting’.
Allama Yusuf Ali in ‘The Holy Quran Translation and Commentary’ comments on the 185th verse of the Holy Quran : “The regulations are again and again coupled with an insistence on two things: (a) the facilities and concessions given, and (b) the spiritual significance of the fast, without which it is like an empty shell without a kernel. If we realise this, we shall look upon Ramadhan, not as a burden, but as a blessing, and shall be duly grateful for the lead given to us in this matter.”
The Holy Quran reveals: “And when any servants question thee concerning Me, then surrely I am nigh. I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he crieth unto Me. So let them hear My call and let them trust in Me, in order that they may be led alright. (Verse 186. The meanings of The Glorious Quran by Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall) The other verse in connection is : “And eat not up your property among yourselves in vanity, nor seek by it to gain the hearing of the judges that ye may knowingly devour a portion of the property of others wrongfully.” (verse 188, do)
Allama Yusuf Ali in ‘The Holy Quran Translation and Commentary’ comments : “These verses 186 and 188 are not foreign to the subject of Ramadhan, but emphasise its spiritual aspect. Here, we are told of Prayer and the nearness of God, and in 188 we are asked not to ‘eat up’ other people’s substance.”
In the Hadithe Qudsi Allah says : “Fasting is my own and its gift in return is I Myself. Because, those who perform fasting, sacrifice food, drink and demand of instincts, do so only for My satisfaction.”
One can have food and drink or fulfil sexual appetite secretly, but refrains from this, as one believes that Allah observes all activities. So fasting is performed only for fear of Allah.
But, whoever, without reason approved by Shariat, breaks fasting, violates Holy Injunctions and is warned by Hadith in the following way :
Narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurayra (Ra) : “Rasulullah (Sm) said, “Without proper reason acceptable to Shariat, the person who misses the observance of one fasting even, shall not be able to compensate it by performing fasts through his whole life’. (Musnade Ahmad)
So, we should not miss even a single fasting as we can not compensate it at all.
The Arabic word ‘Ramadhan’ has the significance and appeal to ‘burn the evil instincts’ for purification. ‘Siam’ calls to ‘abstain from misdeeds’. The word ‘Ramadhan’ is derived from the root ‘ramd’.
It means heat, excessive heat, high degree of heat, burning. The Persian word ‘Roza’ means fasting. Its Arabic synonym is ‘Sawm’. In plural it is ‘Siam’. ‘Roza’ and ‘Siam’ bears the same significance. ‘Siam’ means ‘abstaining from what breaks fasting’.
Allama Yusuf Ali in ‘The Holy Quran Translation and Commentary’ comments on the 185th verse of the Holy Quran : “The regulations are again and again coupled with an insistence on two things: (a) the facilities and concessions given, and (b) the spiritual significance of the fast, without which it is like an empty shell without a kernel. If we realise this, we shall look upon Ramadhan, not as a burden, but as a blessing, and shall be duly grateful for the lead given to us in this matter.”
The Holy Quran reveals: “And when any servants question thee concerning Me, then surrely I am nigh. I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he crieth unto Me. So let them hear My call and let them trust in Me, in order that they may be led alright. (Verse 186. The meanings of The Glorious Quran by Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall) The other verse in connection is : “And eat not up your property among yourselves in vanity, nor seek by it to gain the hearing of the judges that ye may knowingly devour a portion of the property of others wrongfully.” (verse 188, do)
Allama Yusuf Ali in ‘The Holy Quran Translation and Commentary’ comments : “These verses 186 and 188 are not foreign to the subject of Ramadhan, but emphasise its spiritual aspect. Here, we are told of Prayer and the nearness of God, and in 188 we are asked not to ‘eat up’ other people’s substance.”
In the Hadithe Qudsi Allah says : “Fasting is my own and its gift in return is I Myself. Because, those who perform fasting, sacrifice food, drink and demand of instincts, do so only for My satisfaction.”
One can have food and drink or fulfil sexual appetite secretly, but refrains from this, as one believes that Allah observes all activities. So fasting is performed only for fear of Allah.
But, whoever, without reason approved by Shariat, breaks fasting, violates Holy Injunctions and is warned by Hadith in the following way :
Narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurayra (Ra) : “Rasulullah (Sm) said, “Without proper reason acceptable to Shariat, the person who misses the observance of one fasting even, shall not be able to compensate it by performing fasts through his whole life’. (Musnade Ahmad)
So, we should not miss even a single fasting as we can not compensate it at all.
