Islam Its Belief and Practices - Radical Truth

76 ISLAM ITS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES THE PRESCRIBED DUTIES 77
(2) Al-Kaffara, expiation. It consists in setting free a
slave or if he be not able to do that, in fasting for
two consecutive months, or feeding sixty poor persons.
It is incumbent on the person who has
violated a fast in Ramagan by transgressing any of
the commands of abstinence from eating, drinking,
the use of medecine or conjugal relations, (min jiimi'
aw jiimii' fi alytdi's-sabilayn aw akala aw sharaba
ghidha-an aw dawii-an 'amadan. In such cases it is
necessary that the fast thus violated must also be
observed as a Qaga along with the expiation.
Voluntary Acts of Devotion During the Month of
Ramadan.
The main acts of devotion recommended by Mu1}ammad
but not obligatory in any sense are the foIlowing :
(1) $alatu't-Tarawi1}, twenty Rak'ats of prayer at night
(see p. 60).
(2) I'tikaf, seclusion. Mu1}ammad is said to have usually
observed this custom in the last ten days of Ramagan.
When Muslims observe I'tikaf they must
abstain from all worldly business devoting their
time to reading and meditating on the Qur'an and
Tradition. Women also may spend I'tikaf, not,
however, in a mosque but in a room in their houses.
Laylatu'l- Qadar, The Night of Power.
A mysterious night in the month of Ramadan . '
the
precise date of which is said to have been known only to
Mu1}ammad and a few of his companions. A reference
to this night is said to be found in the Sura 97.
Voluntary Fasts.
Besides the fasts which are Prescribed (Farq,) during
-the month of Ramagan, there are voluntary (Nafil) fasts
which may be observed on certain occasions during
the year recommended by Mu1}ammad. Fasts also may
be kept as the Vowed Fasts (Ghamwu'n-Nadhar.
(1) Occasional Fasts Observed As 'N.iifil, Supererogatory
or Voluntary:-
(i) Six Days following the 'ldu'I-Fitar. Mu1}ammad
said: "The person who fasts during
the month of Ramadan, and follows it up
with six days in the month of Shawwal,
will obtain the reward of a continous fast."
Cti) 'Ashura, the 10th day of the month of Mu1}arram.
Mu1}ammad said that he hoped that the
fast of 'Ashiira would cover the sins of the
coming year.
(iii) Mondays and Thursdays of every week are
recommended as fast days. Mu1}ammad
said: "The actions of men are placed before
God on Mondays and Thursdays, and I wish
that my actions should be placed before
Him while I am fasting."
(iv) Saturdays and Sundays. Mu1}ammad said:
"These two days are festivals of the polytheists,
(the Jews and the Christians), and I
like to act contrary to them."
(v) Al-Ayyii-mu'l-biq" i. e.. the bright days of the
month. The thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth
of each lunar month. Mu1}ammad
himself used to fast on these days.
(vi) Alternate Days. Mu1}ammad said: "The best
fast is the fast of David, namely to fast one
day and eat one day."
(2) Vowed Fast. A believer may vow to fast for
certain number of days and they must be strictly
observed. The neglect of such fast is to be compensated
by Qaga or redeeming fast. But in case