Rules and regulations of the Holy Ramadan

"Muslims, fasting has been prescribed to you, just like to your ancestors, so that you can be precautious. Whoever among you gets this month, he/she should fast." - Al-Quran

Merits

Allah says, "Fast is only for me and I will give it's rewards."

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "A personal (nofol) prayer in the month of Ramadan is equal to a prayer for Allah in the other months and a prayer for Allah in the month of Ramadan is equal to 70 (seventy) prayers for Allah in the other months." - Al-Hadith

Sehri

To eat sehri for fasting is sunnah and is encouraged by hadith but not important to eat much.

It's good to eat sehri in the final section of night just before the dawn. One must due the fast for that day if he/she eats after the time ends for sehri and must fast the whole day like another fasting person, without eating or drinking anything!

Fasting intention

Making intention for the fast is a must. Making intention silently is called a niyah and it's a must for every Muslim fasting in the month of Ramadan. Just make it clear in your mind and make an intention like this, "I am intending to fast for tomorrow" and your fasting will be as clear as you are!

Iftar

It’s unfair to late for iftar after the sun sets. But it’s best to late for cautions if the sky is cloudy. Read this dua just before you begin iftar, “O, Allah! I fast for you and am having iftar with your provisions.”

Tarawih

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Allah prescribed the fast of Ramadan to you and I made the tarawih salah as sunnah to you.”

To the maximum Muslim sunnahs, the tarawih salah consists of 20 (twenty) rakahs. There is nothing like 8 (eight) or 10 (ten) rakahs. To complete the Quran at least once with a group of praying Muslims (jamaat) is sunnah and to complete more than once is one of the best deeds.

I’tikaf

To do i’tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan in a main mosque (head of other mosques in an area or locale) is sunnah-muakkadaye-kefaya, meaning, at least one person will do i’tikaf in a main mosque. Otherwise, the whole locale or area people will be reasoned to let go of sunnah-muakkadah, which is a kobira gunah.

Zakat

To give away zakat for every sensible adult Muslim with nesab amount wealth [which is, 7.5 (seven and a half) weigh of gold, 52.5 (fifty two and a half) weigh of silver or owner of such amount], is obligatory.

Sadkatul Fitr

Details: It’s obligatory for every Muslim owner of nesab amount for sadkatul fitr. But that nesab amount should be excess of a Muslim’s most important things, like food, clothes, home, transportation, etc. A father is responsible to pay sadkatul fitr for his little child. Adult son or daughter is responsible for his/her own payment of sadkatul fitr. A husband is not responsible for the payment of sadkatul fitr for his wife. She will pay the sadkatul fitr if she owns the nesab amount.

Amount: The amount of sadkatul fitr is 1.75 (one and seventy five) kilograms of wheat or flour or its equal market price.

Time to pay: The payment should be made clear before going to Eidgah on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr, for it’s a mustahab. But the payment can be made later on.

Who are given the Zakat and Fitr

The Islamic Law gives the legality to pay for zakat and fitr to 7 (seven) types of people:

1.      Orphan

2.      Poor

3.      The nobleman chose by the Khalifah

4.      A debt person

5.      To end the slavery

6.      A muzahid of Allah

7.      Musafir, who are out there on the path of Allah

The orphan and poor are the first choices in our country (Bangladesh) and as our madrasahs take the responsibility for the educational and upbringing of orphans, poor and helpless, it can be hoped that the referral amount given in the madrasahs and mosques raise the rewards about 2 (two) times.