Welcome to Ahmadiyyat, The True Islam — Page 146
− obligatory fasts. The voluntary fasting is so well promoted that it becomes a part of the righteous Muslim's way of life. As it is expected that the Prayers offered in fasting are more productive, some people keep extra fasts to ward off their problems, but some do it only for the sake of winning Allah's special favors. − The institution of fasting is extremely important because it cultivates the believer in almost every area of his spiritual life. Among other things, he learns through personal experience about what hunger, poverty, loneliness and discomforts mean to the less fortunate sections of the society. Absentation from even such practices during the month of Ramadan as are permissible in everyday life plays a constructive role in ± − refining the human character. (An Elementary Study of Islam, Hadrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, pp 39-42) − ± ± − ± − ± The Holy Qur’an says: − ÅÍh»A Ó¼§ KN· BÀ· BÎv»A ¸Î¼§ KN· AÌÄ¿A ÅÍh»A BÈÍBÍ ’ ‘ ä æ ê ì ä ä ä ê å ä ä å ä é ê å å æ ä ä ä ê å æ å ä Ð ä æ ê ì ä í ä ê ÆÌ´NM ¸¼¨» ¸¼J³ Å¿ , ‘ ‘ ö ä æ å ìä æ å ì ä ä æ å ê æ ä æ ê ya ayyuhalladhina amanu kutiba ‘alaikumussiyamu kama − − − − ± ± − − kutiba ‘alalladhina min qablikum la‘allakum tattaqun − − O Ye who believe! fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become righteous. (2:184) A person intending to keep fast must make an intention of keeping fast. However, it is not necessary to say any specific words as an intention to keep fast. The Holy Prophet has said: sa É» BÎu ݯ jV°»A ½J³ Ìv»A ©ÀVÍ Á» Å¿ ( ’ ’ ä ä ä ê ä ä ê ä ä æ ä æ ä ä æ ì ê ä æ ä æ ä æ ä 146