Ramadan

6 items across 3 content types

Questions (3)

beginner

Islamic Practices

What is Taraweeh prayer and why is it special in Ramadan?

Taraweeh (Arabic: تراويح — relaxation, rest between units) is the supererogatory night prayer performed exclusively in Ramadan, after Isha prayer. It is a recommended Sunnah — not obligatory but strongly recommended. Taraweeh is typically performed in congregations at mosques with the aim of completing the entire Quran over the 30 nights of Ramadan. It is among the most beloved and spiritually powerful practices of Islamic devotion — the long standing prayer, beautiful Quran recitation, and communal atmosphere of Ramadan nights make Taraweeh an experience unique in the Muslim calendar.

Taraweeh Ramadan Pillars of Islam

beginner

Islamic Practices

What is the purpose of fasting in Ramadan — why do Muslims fast?

Muslims fast in Ramadan in obedience to Allah's direct commandment in the Quran: *'O you who believe! Fasting has been prescribed upon you as it was prescribed upon those before you, that you may attain taqwa.'* (Al-Baqarah 2:183). The purpose is *taqwa* — God-consciousness, piety, and moral awareness. Fasting is not punitive; it is transformative — a monthly training programme that disciplines the body, purifies the soul, cultivates gratitude, builds empathy for the hungry, and reconnects the believer with worship and Quran.

Fasting Ramadan Pillars of Islam

beginner

Islamic Practices

What is Zakat in Islam — who must pay it, how much, and why?

Zakat (Arabic: زكاة — purification, growth) is the obligatory annual wealth tax that is the Third Pillar of Islam. Every Muslim who possesses wealth above the *nisab* (minimum threshold, approximately the value of 85 grams of gold) must give 2.5% of that wealth to the eight designated categories of recipients. Zakat is not charity — it is a precisely defined divine obligation. It purifies the wealth that remains, strengthens social solidarity, and reduces inequality. It is one of the most sophisticated built-in wealth redistribution systems in any religious tradition.

Zakat Pillars of Islam Islamic Practices

Articles (1)

Article

Fasting, Taraweeh & Zakat

Shaykh Salih Al Uthaymeen

A comprehensive guide to the rulings of fasting in Ramadan, the night prayer (Taraweeh), and Zakaat — covering obligations, nullifiers, concessions, and the recipients of charity.

Hadith (2)

Hadith

Sahih al-Bukhari 1903

Sahih

مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ

Man sama Ramadana imanan wahtisaban ghufira lahu ma taqaddama min dhanbihi

The Prophet said: 'Whoever fasts during Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's rewards, all his past sins will be forgiven.'

Narrated by Abu Hurairah

This hadith connects the act of fasting to sincere intention and divine reward, echoing the principle from the first hadith that actions are judged by intentions. Fasting in Ramadan is not mere abstention from food — it must be accompanied by genuine faith and conscious devotion.

Hadith

Sahih al-Bukhari 1904

Sahih

قَالَ اللَّهُ كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ إِلاَّ الصِّيَامَ، فَإِنَّهُ لِي، وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ

Qala Allahu: Kullu 'amali ibni Adama lahu illa as-siyam, fa innahu li, wa ana ajzi bihi

The Prophet said: 'Allah said: All the deeds of Adam's sons are for them, except fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it. Fasting is a shield from the fire and from committing sins. If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual relation with his wife and quarreling. By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the unpleasant smell coming from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. There are two pleasures for the fasting person: one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord.'

Narrated by Abu Hurairah

This is a Hadith Qudsi — a divine saying transmitted through the Prophet. God claims fasting as uniquely His because, unlike prayer or charity which can be observed by others, fasting is an entirely private act between a person and God. No one can verify whether someone is truly fasting — making it the purest expression of sincerity. The promise that God Himself will determine its reward (rather than specifying a fixed reward) suggests that fasting's reward is limitless. The mention of the fasting person's breath being 'better than musk' to God further elevates this act of self-denial into something beautiful in the divine estimation.