The document discusses various aspects of fasting and community during Ramadan according to Islamic teachings. It covers fasting as one of the five pillars of Islam, its benefits on personal and community levels, and emphasizes feeling for the poor by putting oneself in their situation. It also discusses the financial aspect of zakat and charity, balancing wealth without waste or oppression, and creating unity through community iftar meals.

1. Friendship Event August 31st 2010 @ Moncton Public Library Second Edition – Ramadan Special

2. Why Friendship Event? O mankind! We have created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you The Holy Qur'an 49-13

3. Building Bridges

4. In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful  Praise and gratitude are due to Allah, the Master of the worlds, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds  The Most Gracious, Most Merciful  Master of the, Day of Judgment  You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for aid  Guide us to the straight path  The path of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not those who earned Your wrath nor those who went astray 

5. 5 Pillars of Islam 1. Declaration of faith 2. Prayers 3. Fasting 4. Giving of alms 5. Pilgrimage

6. Islam is built on 5 pillars. And fasting during the month of Ramadan is the 3 rd pillar of Islam after declaration of faith and 5 daily prayers. Qur’an informs us that God has prescribed fasting to nations before us. Allah says:

7. Chain of Prophets ‘ O you who believe! Observing the fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become the pious’ Qur’an: 2-183

8. What is fasting? Fasting is abstaining from food , drink or physical desires during the day from dawn until sunset.

9. When do we fast? Ramadan is the 9 th month of the lunar calendar. We start fasting with the sighting of the new moon and end it with the upcoming new moon.

10. Who is exempted from fasting? are exempted from fasting to make those days up in their convenient time later on. Allah does not charge a soul except with that is within its capacity . It will have the consequence of what good it has gained, and it will bear the consequence of what evil it has earned. The Holy Qur'an 2-286

11. Fasting in 3 Aspects Fasting in Personal Level Eat to live BUT NOT live to eat Fasting in Community Level The unity Financial Aspect Alm Giving

12. Health care insurance Eat to live, not live to eat Ramadan is a reminder of how special and precious food is. Fasting teaches us how we can actually live on a little food. Our stomach get to rest for a month We relearn again how to say NO to food that we are not supposed to eat for health reasons. Having less food recharges our body for a healthier life.

13. Challenging bad habits Smokers get chance to quit smoking Gossip, Backbiting, Slandering, Anger Management

14. The fasting person should avoid all kinds of forbidden actions, otherwise his reward may all be lost. The Prophet (pbuh) says: whoever does not stop speaking falsehood or acting, evil, Allah has no need of him giving up his food and drink.

15. Anger Management The Prophet (PBUH) said: “ It may be that a fasting person gets nothing from his fast except hunger.” If someone fights him or insults him he should say ‘ I am fasting, I am fasting’ I am Fasting I am Fasting

16. Fasting trains the perso n to avoid desires and to keep away from sin. It helps a person to overcome his own nature and to wean himself away from bad habits. Controlling Temptation

17. Spiritual Journey; Light in the darkness of the night In this blessed month when the doors of mercy is wide open we take this opportunity to get away from distractions and focus on our relation with God

18. The fasting person gets up in the darkness of the night while everyone else is asleep to please his Lord, the most Merciful, gives thanks for everything He Has given us, declare his weakness and call for His help.

19. Conclusion Human being is body and soul. When a person’s stomach is empty and he is hungry, many of his other desires are turned down ; but when his stomach is satisfied, his tongue, eyes, hands and other organs start to feel hunger. There is much wisdom and numerous benefits in fasting which relate to being conscious of Allah.

20. The interpretation of this verse is that if a person refrains from permissible things hoping to gain the pleasure of Allah it will be easier for him to refrain from doing forbidden and sinful things. “ … that you may become pious.” The Holy Qur'an 2:183

21. Fasting in Community Level

22. Fasting in Community Level Feel for Poor Fasting is more than a religious obligation for Muslims. It is a way to feel the plight of poor by putting oneself in their shoes. While we suffer for only a month, some of them suffer the entire year.

23. Fasting in Community Level R amadan is a key moment for community spirit , when people from all walks of life do what they can to support those who are in need.

24. Fasting in Community Level Feed the poor, Allah described the righteous: “ And they feed, for the love of Allah, the indigent, the orphan and the captive. (Saying) "We feed you for the sake of Allah alone: no reward do we desire from you, nor thanks. " The Holy Quran, 76:8-9

25. Fasting in Community Level The Unity of the Muslims – and their aiding and assisting one another – is one of the great fundamentals upon which the Religion of Islam is built “ The analogy of believers in their mutual compassion, mercy and sympathy is like one body, if one organ is sick the whole body will suffer from fatigue and fever” Prophet Muhammad

26. Fasting in Community Level -2- The Unity Fast-a-thon: is an event held in the month of Ramadan on university campuses all across North America to create awareness about the issue of hunger, and also about the Islamic way of life and Muslims.

27. Fast-a-thon in North America

28. Fasting in Community Level -2- Free Community Dinner

29. Fasting in Community Level The Unity The Prophet (PBUH) said: “ Fast when they fast, and break your fast when they break their fast, and sacrifice the day they sacrifice .” Its meaning is to fast and break the fast along with the group and the majority of people

30. Fasting in Community Level -3- The Unity Community Iftar: Iftar refers to the evening meal when Muslims break their fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan . Iftar is often done as a community , with people gathering to break their fast together.

31. Fasting in Community Level The Unity Ramadan’s Blessings: Donations The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: " Feed the hungry, visit the sick and set free the captives." - Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 7, No. 552

32. Fasting in Community Level The Unity Ramadan Blessings: Fundraising In Toronto: People break the day’s fast in community and help raise emergency funds for the victims of the devastating floods in Pakistan.

33. Fasting in Community Level Reward for generosity Allah Almighty open’s the gate of Heaven in this month. Satan is locked up so he cannot mislead those who are fasting. The reward for good deeds is multiplied 10 times in this month. Allah forgives the previous sins of those who fast

34. Fasting in Community Level Reward for generosity The likeness of those who spend their wealth for the sake of Allah, is as the likeness of a grain ; it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allah gives manifold increase to whom He wills. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower The Holy Qur'an 2-216

35. Fasting in Community Level Reward for generosity Do good deeds and forget them, do bad deeds and remember them…. Everything will be back to you [Moroccan Proverb] Law of Attraction : What you put to the Universe will be back to you!

36. Conclusion

37. Feel – Feed – Donate in Ramadan Community Iftar

38. Istanbul has broken a Guiness World Record Istanbul sets world’s longest, most crowded Iftar table (10 km long) 2900 Volunteer 50 Guiness Commissioners 10 tons of rice, eight tons of meat, 100,000 bottles of water, 45,000 bottles of fruit juice, 500 trays of baklava.

39. The Mohammed V Foundation will distribute food baskets to more than 467,000 Moroccan households this Ramadan.

40. Feel – Feed – Donate in Ramadan For the Love of GOD

41. Dubai Iftar Hearts are United for the Love of God

42. Kuwait Iftar Operation “ And they feed for the love of Allah , the indigent, the orphan and the captives”

43. Prophet PBUH said “ Whoever feeds a fasting person will have a reward like that of the fasting person, without any reduction in his reward ”

44. … then click the placeholders to add your own pictures and captions. Feel Feed Donate

45. Immigrant African-American Iftar Jeddah Iftar USA India Iftar UK - London

46. Financial Aspect

47. Are We Responsible? The Son of Adam will not pass in the day of judgment until he is asked about four things: His time on earth how it passed, his youth how it was used, his wealth how was collected and where it is spent, and his knowledge how was used.

48. What is our Role وَأَنفِقُواْ مِمَّا جَعَلَكُم مُّسۡتَخۡلَفِينَ فِيهِ‌ۖ فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مِنكُمۡ وَأَنفَقُواْ لَهُمۡ أَجۡرٌ۬ كَبِيرٌ۬ and spend of that whereof He has made you trustees; and such of you as believe and spend (aright), theirs will be a great reward. The Holy Qur'an

49. Arrogantly: “ Who ever eat or drink with gold or silver wear in this life, will miss the chance to have this privilege in the hereafter” Resources n ot be Wasted

50. Resources not be Wasted Foolishly

51. وَلَا تُؤۡتُواْ ٱلسُّفَهَآءَ أَمۡوَٲلَكُمُ ٱلَّتِى جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡ قِيَـٰمً۬ا وَٱرۡزُقُوهُمۡ فِيہَا وَٱكۡسُوهُمۡ وَقُولُواْ لَهُمۡ قَوۡلاً۬ مَّعۡرُوفً۬ا وَٱبۡتَلُواْ ٱلۡيَتَـٰمَىٰ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغُواْ ٱلنِّكَاحَ فَإِنۡ ءَانَسۡتُم مِّنۡہُمۡ رُشۡدً۬ا فَٱدۡفَعُوٓاْ إِلَيۡہِمۡ أَمۡوَٲلَهُمۡ‌ۖ The Holy Qur'an 5-176

52. And give not unto the foolish your property which Allah has made a means of support for you but feed and clothe them therewith, and speak to them words of kindness and justice. And try orphans in regards to their intelligence until they reach the age of marriage; if then you find sound judgement in them, release their property to them,… The Holy Qur'an 5-176

53. Balance Vs Contrasts

54. Not only in one group … . and for the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer, that it become not a commodity between the rich among you . The Holy Qur'an 8-57 Cu rrency Circle in Islam

55. Financial Aspect No Interest or Usury Poor People become poorer O ye who believe! Observe your duty to Allah, and give up what remained (due to you) from usury, if ye are (in truth) believers. (2-278)

56. No Monopoly Poor People become poorer Financial Aspect

57. Financial Aspect Charity Giving Zakat yearly 2.5% of the income left after paying for your essential needs. Sadaqah: Voluntary Charity beyond Zakat

58. What is allowed O you who believe! Don not take one’s another property unjustly, But rather in a trade amongst you, by mutual consent. The Holy Qur'an 5-29

59. The Balance Most Gracious!. It is He Who has taught the Qur'an. (2) He has created man: (3) He has taught him speech and Intelligence (4) The sun and the moon follow courses (exactly) computed; (5) And the starts and the trees-both (alike) bow in adoration. (6) And the Haven has He raised high, and He has set up the balance (of Justice), (7) In order that ye may not transgress (due) balance. (8) So establish weight with justice and fall not short in the balance. (9) The Holy Qur'an 55-1-9

60. O children of Adam! wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer: eat and drink: but waste not by excess for Allah loveth not the wasters. The Holy Qur'an 7-31

61. Balance is a Must O children of Adam! wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer: eat and drink: but waste not by excess for Allah loveth not the wasters. The Holy Qur'an 7-31

62. Summary Wealth is a mean and a resource. Wealth has social and economical functions need to be employed Wealth is meant to be circulated as prescribed with no “short-circuits”. Wealth CAN NOT BE WASTED!