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A rewarding lifestyle for a fasting woman
Modesty and decency are key for a Muslim woman during Ramadhan. Photo by Abubaker Lubowa.
What you need to know:
RAMADHAN. How can a woman make the most of their Ramadhan so that they reap the ultimate rewards from Allah? Leilah Nalubega finds out.
As Muslim women fasts from dawn to dusk during this month of Ramadan, they are supposed abstain from several things which may spoil their fast.
These are very important facts that aid a Muslim to be rewarded by God (Allah), but unfortunately some women either do not know or care to consider them.
As any woman is preparing to meet the countless vents of the day during Ramadhan, there are important facts to remember so as to protect your fast. Mansourah Abdunoor, leader of the Muslim women at William Street mosque, Noor (Masjid Noor) offers the following guidelines;
• Prayer (Swalaat) is the major form of Islamic worship which must be observed with all its formalities including ablution (wudhu) before performing prayer.
• A woman cannot fast during her monthly periods for this will not be accepted by God. The missed days are, however, paid back after Ramadhan. That is to say, after the Holy month, you fast the days not fasted.
• Even though you cannot fast during your menstrals, for the need to communicate with God (Allah), one can be reciting prayers and remembrance of Allah (Zikre Illahi) at any time of the day in order to get more rewards in this holy month of Ramadan.
• For women who believe they should only fast when they are willing, it is wrong. To skip fasting in Ramadhan without a permissible excuse (per the Quaran) is unacceptable in Islam.
• When a woman misses any of the 30 days of fasting in Ramadhan, she must cover up as advised in the holy Quran. For instance, if it is because of acts such as sexual intercourse during the day, repentance for the unperformed fasts is by fasting 60 days straight after Ramadhan. Avoid all the acts that may lead her to unperformed fasts.
• Avoid such acts such as backbiting and wrangles because Ramdhan is a month of repentance and forgiveness.
Sheikh Abdulbast Butane, religious counsellor at Rwenzori Islamic Voluntary Development Forum (RIVODEF) also tips;
• Women are a very treasured creatures who should protect their modesty and dignity at all costs. They should not talk to the opposite sex seductively unless it is to their husband.
• Women should speak to men a steady tone so that men don’t get any deceitful ideas such as seduction because it also spoils ones fast, or may portray a woman as an irresponsible person.
• During the meeting and greeting times, women should only make body contact with fellow women when they greet or hug.
• It is extremely valuable for a woman to be creative when preparing breaking fast meals (Iftar) for her husband. Make an effort to keep your husband and family happy; Allah blesses a family that is always happy.
Ramadhan tip
Muslims are encouraged to give as much as they can in form of charity during this period, in form of dates, breaking fast meals, money or other gifts to strengthen networking grounds.
