What is Ramadan?
 It is the ninth lunar month of the year.  It’s a chosen month by God to all Muslims.  In this month one must fast from certain things both physically and spiritually.  One must give his full faith to Allah and worship as much as possible.  It’s a month where Muslims show their appreciation to the Almighty and show their strong faith and love to him.  In this month, Muslims fast in their hearts as well as their mouths.  They avoid evil actions, and thoughts and concentrate on doing good.

Niyyat (Intention)
 An intention doesn’t need to be said out loud.  It is in the heart.  A person can make a niyyat every night of the month of Ramadan that he’s fasting the next day.  Or simply, intend to fast on the first day of the month and make the intention to fast the whole month.  That is a better way of doing it because sometimes we go to sleep not realizing we have not done the intention.

Historical Background of Ramadan
 Muslims all over the world commemorate this holy month with worship and the enactment of spiritual events.  Though customs and traditions may vary from country to another, all Muslims agree on the celebration of this month.  Activities for Ramadan began when a single gun is fired, thereby the government signifies to the people that this holy event is approaching.  That act is also done to signify the time of Suhur and the time of Iftar.

Origin of the word...Ramadan
 The word Ramadan, in it’s original meaning goes back to the Arab naming of months for the conditions they occur.  Back in the old times, they named their Arabic months, upon certain events occurring.  For example, the month "Muharam" was called such because it was sanctified as a month when no man may enter into war.  At that period of time, fighting was common among Arabs as their means of survival.  Another month, for example, Safar indicates that the Arabs left their dwellings and their homes were empty, therefore the month was named accordingly.  Jamada, which is another month also colder, means a freezing well which is common during this time.  During the month of Ramadan, a person prevents him or herself from committing any evil action in order to avoid the accumulation of sins.  the Arabic Word Armada means severe heat, which describes the weather during that time.  Therefore the month was named Ramadan or the month of heat, because that’s how the weather was at the time.

The Revelation of the Quran during the holy month of Ramadan
 In the year 609 A.D., when the prophet Mohammed P. reached the age of forty, he was in the practice of going to the cave named Harah to think.  He enjoyed doing so and taking time out.  There he would try to figure out the future of the desert people, the Bedouins, lost in their own lust and ignorance.  During one period of meditation in the month of Ramadan, the Angel Gabriel came upon the holy prophet and gave him the revelations of the events to come.  Then every year in the month or Ramadan, until the prophet’s death in 633, Mohammed would receive revelations from God for the whole past year.  These revelations that were sent down, when written, formed the Quran.

When fasting came into effect
 In 623 A.D., God has commanded the Muslims to fast.  It’s interesting to note, that Islam is not the only religion that requires fasting.  In addition, Judaism, and Christianity also practices fasting from time to time.  God says, "O ye who believe, Fasting is prescribed to you, As it was prescribed to those before you.  That ye may (learn) Self Restraint..."  This verse points out three facts.  First, that the fasting is an event established in all religions.  Second, fasting in Islam differs in it’s goals from other religions.  Third, in fasting, Muslims accomplish such thing called "Taqua".  That means complete dedication to God.  Many religions encourage fasting because through doing it, God’s generosity becomes apparent and a person’s faith becomes stronger.  Fasting is an aid to strengthening the person’s faith.

What do you fast from?
-Eating and Drinking
-Immersing head in water
-Sexual Intercourse
-Masturbation
-Lying falsely about Allah (S.W.), his prophets, and household (P.B.U.T)
-Inhaling or swallowing dust
-Enema with liquids
-Vomiting
-Remaining in Janabat, Haidh, or nifas until the Athan for Fajir prayer.

Who doesn’t have to fast?
-A Muslim of old age
-Disease of excessive thirst
-Woman in advanced of pregnancy, or in a stage where fasting is harmful
-Breast-feeding
-A woman on her menstruation cycle
-A woman in the stage of Nifas

Traveler
If a person is traveling to a place where prayer will be made Kasir (shortened), he doesn’t have to fast.  Traveler who offers full prayer must fast.  If a fasting person travels after Thuhur (noon) he should complete the fast.  If he travels before Thuhur, and has the intention to do so earlier that night, he cannot fast.

How to tell the first day of Ramadan
-If two just persons sight the moon
-If a number of persons confirm that they saw the moon
-If a person himself sights the moon
-If thirty days pass from the first of Shaaban, the first of Ramadan will be established

Kaffara ( punishment for not fasting on purpose)
-Free slave (which cannot be done in this day and age) or
-Fast for two months or
-Feed sixty poor people to their full or
-Give 3/4 Kg. of food stuff like wheat, or barley, or bread...etc. to each of them

Remember these things when fasting
-When hungry or thirsty, remember thirst and hunger of Day of Judgment
-Think of the poor and needy, and give them
-Treat children and relatives with kindness
-Don’t look or hear forbidden things
-Be especially kind to orphans
-Perform many supplications
-Be just, not mean and cruel
-Avoid bad language
-Avoid Gossip
-Think of Allah all the time, day and night
-Thank Allah for his graciousness
-Ask Allah for forgiveness
-Read Quran

Laylatul Qadir
 It’s the night that God planned the course of humanity.  During this night it’s recommended for Muslims to worship and be especially close to God.  The Quran details this night in one chapter of sourah ninety seven.

Eid Al-Fitir
 The first day after the month of Ramadan, Muslims throughout the world celebrate the breaking of the fast.  It’s an international Muslim holiday.  It’s a day of celebration and joy.  Members of each family gather to praise God and visit each other, sometimes exchanging gifts.  This day allows Muslims to plan their future and time to review their necessary obligations.  Prophet Mohammed (p) said, "It’s a celebration for those who obeyed God through fasting, and every day a person obeys God, he has his own celebration."

Zakat Al-Fitir
 It is paid on Eid that follows Ramadan.  It’s obligatory on any person who is mature, sane, conscious, and financially able, at sunset on the last day of Ramadan to pay for himself and his dependents.  The rate for this zakat is three kilograms of wheat, barley, raisin, rice or similar produce per person.  It’s also okay to give cash value of these items.  If one offers Salat Aleid, then Zakat Alfitir must be paid before prayer, if one doesn’t pray the prayer, then it must be paid before noon of that day.  Zakat Alfitir should be used in one of the following ways:
 -Give it to a poor person whose income or cash in hand is not enough to meet his own and his family’s expenses for an entire year.
 -Give it to a needy person who is completely helpless and indigent.
 -Give it to those whose job is the collection of Zakat and it’s distribution and should be paid to those who deserve receiving it.
 -Give it to those whose hearts can be influenced to incline to Muslims or Islam’s, such as non-Muslims who would be attracted to Islam or would help Muslims in a time of war if they are given proceeds from Zakat.
 -Give it to free slaves
 -To repay a debt of one who cannot do so himself
 -To be used in the way of Allah for such works of public benefit such as building mosques, schools, or bridges.
 -To aid a traveler who is in need of help during journey and needs to return home.

*The time for taking out Zakat Al-Fitir is the eve of Eid, and pay the same from the night of Eid till noon on the Eid day.

Forbidden Fasts
- Fasting on Eid Al-Fitir
-Fasting on Eid of Sacrifice (Adha)
-Fasting on the 30th of Shaaban with intention of Ramadan
-Fasting during Hajj in Mina
-Fast of silence

Hadiths about Fasting
1.  Prophet (p):
"Allah, the Exalted says:  Fasting is (exclusively)for Me and I will reward it"
2.  Prophet (p):
"Whoever fasts during the month of Ramadan out of faith and seeking Allah’s pleasure and guards his ears, eyes and tongue from harming people, Allah will accept his fasting, forgive his past sins..."
3.  Imam Jaafar Al-Sadiq (p):
"If a fasting person when abused, replies peace be upon you I will not abuse as you do, the Lord, the Exalted and Most High says, By fasting, My servant has saved himself from the evil of My (other) servant, I grant him refuge against the fire."
4.  Once the prophet (p) heard a fasting woman abusing her maidservant.  He ordered some food and told her to eat.  "I am fasting" she said.  He replies," Can you be considered fasting when you have just abused your maid.  (Beware) Fasting does not mean only to abstain from (mere) eating and drinking."
5.  Imam Jaafar Al-Sadiq (p):
"When you fast, guard your hearing and sight against the forbidden, and your limbs and all other organs from the vile, Do not rave at or injure a servant.  Be dignified as a fasting person should, and keep silent and calm, except when remembering Allah.  Do not regard your fasting day as an ordinary day and refrain from intercourse, kissing and loud laughter, because Allah dislikes that."
6.  Prophet (p):
"Whoever backbites his Muslim brothers, his fasting will be invalid and his ablution null.  Should he die in such a state, he will die like the one who decreed lawful what Allah has forbidden."
7.  Imam Jaafar Al-Sadiq (p):
"Allah made fasting incumbent to make equity between the rich and the poor.  A rich man does not feel the pains of hunger to have mercy for the poor, since he is able to obtain whatever he likes.  (By enjoining fasting) Allah wanted to put His creatures on an equal footing by making the rich taste the pain of hunger, so that he may pity the weak and have mercy on the hungry..."

This information was extracted from:
 1.  Sayid Muhamad Hussein.  Ramadan, the Holy Month.