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Similar to pruning a plant to encourage new growth, the purification and increment of personal wealth was promoted by setting aside a portion of it for those in need. Human beings were entrusted with wealth by God to whom all things belong. Once a Muslim had money beyond a certain quantity, he was obligated to pay Zakat. Each Muslim calculates his own Zakat individually. These alms due were distributed amongst the eight asnaf (categories) of people mentioned for the welfare of society in the Quran. They were the Fakir (those who had no material possessions or means of livelihood), the Miskin (those who were unable to meet their basic needs because of insufficient means of livelihood), the Riqab (those who wanted to free themselves from the bondage of slavery), the Gharmin (those who were in debt), the Ibnus Sabil (those who were stranded journeyers), the Amil (those appointed to collect Zakat), the Muallaf (those who convert to Islam), and the Fisabillillah (those who fight for the cause of Allah). Muslims also made voluntary charitable donations (sadaqah) in order to gain divine rewards. Devout Muslims fast for self purification every year during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The Islamic Lunar calendar started when the first crescent of a New Moon was sighted. The solar year was eleven to twelve days longer than the lunar year so Ramadan migrates throughout the seasons. The first day of Ramadan in 2005 is October 4th; while, the first day of Ramadan in 2006 is September 17th.
Some Muslims determine the
beginning of the month by astronomical calculations; but some Muslims insist the
month only begins when there is a physical sighting of the moon even though the
Qur'an does not require one.
Sawm (Siyam) teaches believers of Allah and the Qur'an patience and self-control. They abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and sexual relations from the first light of dawn when a white line can be seen on the horizon (Fajr) until sundown when the disc of the sun sinks below the local horizon (Maghrib) for the twenty-nine or thirty days of Ramadan. They are also expected to refrain from anger, backbiting, envy, greed, lust, violence, and make an extra effort to get along with everyone. By temporarily eliminating worldly comforts, they grow spiritually and gain true sympathy for the needy and the less fortunate in the world. The sick, the weak, the elderly, those traveling, laborers, soldiers on the battlefield, children before the age of puberty, and pregnant, menstruating, or nursing women are permitted to break the fast and later in the year make up an equal number of days. If physically unable to fast, they must feed a needy person for every day missed if they can afford to. Besides fasting, during this time Muslims also spend more time praying. Muslims believe that the faithful practice of Sawm (Siyam) assists them in their efforts to control their feelings and overall disposition, to atone for any transgressions or offenses they may have committed; as well as, to provide time for contemplative meditation, and to strengthen their Islamic beliefs. For a fifth of the world's population, Islam was both a religion and a complete way of life. Muslims followed a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness, and the majority of them had nothing to do with the unusually severe actions which have come to be associated with their faith.
"O mankind! We created you from a single soul, male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, so
that you may come to know one another. Truly, the most honored of you in God's sight is the
greatest of you in piety. God is All-Knowing, All-Aware". (Quran, 49:13)
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