Speaker M Atif

Atif said that during Ramadan he went to Pakistan for funeral and on the way back asmall pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia but worried about time available as he was only there for 9 hours and 40minutes so he went to a special night prayers.

He then went on to speak about the month of Ramadan which translates from 2 verses in the  Quran which ask Muslims to fast. They say "You may eat and drink until the light thread of dawn and then fast until after sunset." Also it says "fasting is good for you” Modern science now agrees that intermittent fasting is good for you.

He said that one of the sayings of the prophet Muhammad in the Hadiths was “Whoever fasts in Ramadan his previous sins will be forgiven.”

Ramadan is a special month as it rewards are significantly more as an incentive to do good deeds in the expectation that you will continue when it finishes. This includes giving 2.5% of your surplus wealth (i.e. after deducting normal needs such as your car, house and such assets) to charity.

Eid al-Fitr in Bradford was very important this year as it was televised and broadcast in 100 countries.

Ramadan starts with the new lunar month in other words new moon. The practice is to see the new moon and start fasting but now Muslims tend to rely on science when astronomy tell them it is the new moons. This because in UK it’s hard to tell when it is a new moon because of clouds. In Bradford 60% rely on sighting the moon while the other 40% use the astronomy method.

Eid is a celebration because that your good deeds during Ramadan will be rewarded multiple times. Also during Eid you should pay £6 - £40 to charity to cover any misdeeds that you have  unknowingly done during Ramadan.

Fasting is exempt for a list of people: -

• if they are in poor health 
• Travelling
• On their menstrual cycle
• Children
• Old people