Table of Contents:

Characters…………………..........................................  Page 3

Introduction……………………………………………………  Page 4

Chapter 1: Ramadan Reunion………………............  Page 5

Chapter 2: Did I break my Fast?..........................  Page 8

Chapter 3: Ramadan Facts and Blessings..........  Page 10

Lesson learned…………………………………...............  Page 16

Glossary……………………………………………..............  Page 17

Characters

This is the story of four friends and some scenes of their life where they found some important information about Ramadan, Fasting and Eid.

 Fasting is the 4th pillar of Islam. It is called “Sawm” in Arabic which means "to stop". It is mandatory to fast for one month in a year (Ramadan), when you reach adolescence (which is almost around the age of 10).  You fast from dawn to dusk.  To maintain our fast, we eat a date or a small snack before Fajr (when the first twilight of the sun is seen, before the sunrise happens). Then we wait for the Fajr Adhan (call for the morning prayer). We are not allowed to eat anything while fasting until sunset. For iftar (the meal after breaking the fast at sunset) you can have a big meal. We should break our fast with a date at Maghrib prayer (at sunset). Ramadan is not only to stop eating it means to stop from backbiting, lying, gossiping, greediness, cheating, tricking and mistreating others. Please join our friends on a journey for knowledge about fasting.

Introduction

It was a bright, sunny day and Ramadan will be coming in 5 more days. The four friends were so excited that they are going to meet Ramadan again after a year. 

At recess time, while playing in the playground, they started talking about what they like about Ramadan. 

Ahmad said, “I like iftar because we can have big meals”. 

“I like Eid because we get gifts from our cousins”, said Abdullah. Then just as Sarah said, “I like fasti-” the bell rang. They all went back inside. On the way, Fatima told them, “Do you know that fasting is mandatory on people upon adolescent?”.“ Wait! Does that mean that fasting is fard on all of us other than Sarah?”,  said Abdullah. 

“ Yes”, Fatima replied.

Ramadan Reunion

“ Well that’s going to be hard”, said Ahmad. Sarah replied: “Not if you do it with the will of Allah”. Fatima said: “You’re right”. Sarah added: “Well, I know that fasting is not mandatory for me yet, but it’s better if I practice by fasting this Ramadan”.

”Ok. Now it’s time for class. Let’s go”, said Fatima. The day before Ramadan, everyone was having a sleepover at Abdullah’s house. Abdullah went to his bed for a 5 second rest and stared at the starry skies. There were 10 stars that were glowing reddish pink. “Guys! I think that’s a sign of Ramadan”. They all looked out of the window. Fatima replied: ”No, this is not a sign of Ramadan. The sign of Ramadan is when the crescent moon is sighted”. “Ok then. Let’s all look for the crescent moon”, said Sarah. The friends went upstair and sighted the crescent moon and said the dua to enter the month of Ramadan. Fatima smiled to her friends and said, “Whoever wants to start Ramadan first, go and pray Maghrib!”Everyone ran across the room to get a prayer mat and soon they were praying in a group with Abdullah as the Imam.

Dua to enter the month of Ramadan

Page 5/16

The next morning was the first day of Ramadan. All of the four friends were fasting. In the morning, they all got ready for school. The first thing they did (after attendance and morning announcements) was help decorate the classroom for Ramadan. Soon, it was lunch time. Fatima, Abdullah, and Sarah remembered that they are fasting and told the teacher about it. They were sitting back to back with Ahmad.  All of sudden Ahmad took the sandwich which he bought from the school canteen. He forgot that he was fasting! Ahmad said, “Aah! Such a delicious sandwich”.  Abdullah yelled, “Hey, why are you eating a sandwich? YOU BROKE YOUR FAST!!!!”. Ahmad suddenly stop eating and realized his mistake by saying, “Oh sorry. I forgot”. Fatima said by looking at Ahmed, “No! He did not break his fast.”

Abdullah said: “But he ate a SANDWICH.”

Fatima then told them, “I know but his intention wasn't to break his fast. He was just so used to eating  at this time that he forgot about his fasting. 

Did I break my fast?

If you didn't eat something on purpose while fasting, your fast is still valid.”Abdullah then said, ”Then he didn’t break his fast?”. 

“No, he did not break his fast”, said Fatima.“Oookay”, replied Abdullah.

“But that doesn’t mean that you can take it lightly. You should be careful of when you eat next time”, said Sarah.“That’s right”, said Fatima.

“Ok. I will be careful next time”, said Ahmad. Then lunchtime was over and they decorated the classroom too. This is what it looks like.

At iftar time, they were all gathered together at Fatima’s house having dates, fries, and lemonade. Then someone knocked at the door. “Who is at the door?”, Said Abdullah. “It is Ahmad’s uncle”, replies a familiar voice. Ahmad then went to the door to check if it was really his uncle. It was him. The kids were so excited to see him and asked him to join them for iftar. He said, “ Did you kids have fast today?”. They all replied, “Alhamdulillah yes, we did fast today and Insha-Allah we will also fast tomorrow”. Then he said: “Mash Allah, that means you are collecting a lot of mercy from tomorrow. Do you kids know that Ramadan is separated into three Ashras(ten days)? The first one is for mercy, the second one is for forgiveness and the third one is for safety from hell. There are also duas to recite in the 3 ashras. Allah gives us an advantage in the month of Ramadan as the hellfire doors are closed and the devils are chained so it is easier to do good deeds. One good deed in Ramadan is equal to extra good deeds”. “ Subhan Allah, that’s some important information”, said Sarah.

Ramadan Facts and Blessings