What is the significance of the fasting times? What is the significance of Sahar and Iftar?
“The Glory of God is in purifying, when ye reach eventide and when ye rise in the morning; yea, to Him be praise, in the heavens and on earth; and in the late afternoon and when the day begins to decline” (Holy Qur’an, 30:17,18)
During Ramadan the individual attempts to slowly reduce the concentration from the physical level, to concentrating on the more delicate aspects of their being. When one eats, energy becomes focused on the stomach. However, during Ramadan, the individual can concentrate the energy once used on digesting food to other aspects of their being. From the break of day until sunset the body gradually learns throughout the month to focus that energy on prayer and becoming closer to the Beloved. We fast from Sahar (sunrise) to maghreb (sunset) in which 4 of our prescribed daily prayers are included, then after sunset there is still one prayer after we break the fast and before fasting commences again, which allows us to remind the body of the discipline we’re commanding it to learn, and throughout Ramadan the body learns to retain the discipline and focus. Through the day, as we fast, we are now able to concentrate more on the tasks at hand, on ourselves on matters that we come face to face with, as we learn to direct our minds away from our physical body, our stomach, to what needs our concentration. And so the significance of Sahar and when we iftar (sunset) is in that during those times we are most active and in need to be fully present and aware, and through this strict timetable we have the chance to take hold of this physical body that we are meant to control and not be controlled by. Sahar is especially significant in that we are showing that we can break away from what we normally ‘devote’ a large part of our day/life to which is sleep and dedicate that time to God. In the Holy Qur’an it has been stated about the sunrise prayer “Truly the rising by night is most potent for the governing (the soul), and most suitable for (framing) the World (of Prayer and Praise)” (Holy Qur’an 73:6). ‘Because, in addition to the overpowering of the carnal self, illness resulting from sleeplessness especially old age, is unavoidable.’ Al Salat.
I think the most important of point of ramadan is that we are so close to our reality,and during this holy time we have apportunity to recouncliat with ourself and we will exeisrcis to how to exit from cellur system and this month is only month the immortal spirit will rull on the mortal body. and in other word as hazrat pir mentioned the capital I will defeat the small i !!
Iftār is an opportunity for gratefulness, perhaps not unlike the celebrations of Thanksgiving in the United States and Canada, and it can be a time for fikr, thought and reflection, on what one has learned and absorbed during the fasting period.
This is a great question. Depending on where you live on earth, the time of the Sahar and Iftar changes, so does the fasting time. I have no clue to this question. The people on the North, or on the south this time of the year, how do they measure their time, and why? What happens to the balance? capability and Tazkieh Nafs? I heard in some stories that people fasted the whole month. Maybe this is only a symbol of remembering that life is within dead and dead is within life, and yet there are one in the whole cycle. After every hardship is an ease and after each ease is hardship. A practice to stay balanced when cleansing your body and soul and reducing the feelings, needs of the thoughts and shift to the reality of life and needs of the heart. Does the outside light really matter or affect the light in my heart? I hope Agha jan would teach us so it shines in my heart forever.
First of all I would like to say that it is very interesting to read the responses other people wrote.
When I think about this question what comes to my mind is the following piece from Al-Salât by Hazrat Shah Maghsoud:
“The sunset prayer is the sowing of a seed, the night prayer is the growing of its roots in darkness and concealment, the morning prayer is the emergence of the first bud from the ground, the noon prayer is the growth of its branches and leaves, the afternoon prayer yields the fruit of the tree of devotion and it is said that he whoever neglects his afternoon prayer, has brought injustice upon himself and his kin.”
So between sunrise and sunset, the time of fasting, is the time when the efforts of the 5 daily prayers will manifest. By not eating during this time the energies that normally go to digesting food can be directed inwardly to nurture the non-physical aspects of the human body. This in combination with fasting of thoughts, actions, words etc.
Since the physical body needs nurturing as well, this is what takes place during Iftar and in combination with Sahar (the sowing of the seed) as well the physical as non-physical aspects of the human body are set-up for the next cycle of prayers.
i think fasting is a strong and better chance for controlling and purifying of our body, mind and soul. by fasting we gain power over our ego and 5 senses. it is a way for tazkieh or seyghali kardan.
it’s not only to restraint from eating and drinking. we must observe all of our actions and thoughts. during this time we have much time for prayer, thinking and doing spiritual developments and we can better shift our attention from outside to our inside reality.
What is the significance of the fasting times? What is the significance of Sahar and Iftar?
As I understand, the fasting period is to be a time of vigilance in mindful & consistent Zekr (rememberance: the only expectation of the Al-mighty of human) i.e.”Shokr va Niyaz”, awaiting faith & inspiration to blossom in our hearts (like revelation of Quran) by the grace & blessings of infinite intelligence (if we prove worthy: true wanting!).
For mankind is forgetful, Ramadhan is yet another blessing (& chance) from the Creator/Infinite Wisdom (Hu), so that we may work on being present to “Thank & Ask” for enlightenment, in order to spiritually connect to the source (for Aramesh & Bagha) & not perish by death of the flesh.
Sahar & Iftar are the symbolic representation of inception & manifestation of fulfillment, aka connection to the source. We’ve chances daily for this connection, but in Ramadhan, it’s simply in the forefront of our minds; though ideally every month is Ramadhan.
BTW-This is easier said than done, for I struggle daily despite the great many teaching & blessing.
May he have mercy. Amen
(with all respects; Seattle, WA)
عظمت و شکوه زمان روزه و ماه مبارک رمضان (رمض برای گِل عطشانِ بدن و ظاهرِ منِ تشنه). جملاتی را که از پیام دل بر قلبم حک شده با هم سهیم شویم.
• زمان حجاب وقایع است و صندوقچۀ حوادث.
• بزرگترین حقارت این است که دردِ زه بسقط جنین پایان یابد و نیکی را فرزندی نماند.
• فتح دلها در هم آهنگی روح با نوامیس وجود باعتدال است، شش شرط اگر با شش شرط در گردار بین دستهایت جمع آیند نشانۀ رهبری در تو ظاهر میگردد.
“و شش شرط اول: جمعیت خاطر و بیداری وجدان و برد باری و صبر در وصول بمقصد حق، وفای بعهد و ثبات قدم، یافتن ایمان کامل و واقع بینی و مُکمل آن تزکیۀ نفس، تفکر در خلوت، جهد در اکتشاف حقیقت، تمرکز قوای بیرونی و درونی، ثبات در سیر، یافتن آرامش.”
با احترام و پیروی از قوانین ساعات تعیین شده در هر منطقه، سحر بمنزلۀ بذر و جوانۀ حیاتی است که سر از زمین بیرون می آورد و افطار ثمرۀ شجر عبادت است و تمرکز و عقدۀ حیاتی در قلب که نور علم و یقین و عین علم است. زمانی که وجودِ بسیط و لایتناهی و تعادلِ همه جانبه و عشق مطلق و تزکیه و شکرگزاری و توازن وجودی را همه را
با هم در زمان افطار تجربه کنیم. “دوران عمل کوتاه است و روز پاداش نزدیک” (پیام دل)
شهین – گ
From my understanding, significance of the fasting time (i.e. Sahar and Iftar) has to do with the Chakra system.
Sorlar Plexus Center (also known as the 3rd chakra) as its names suggests works with the sun hence fasting (from food, excessive thinking and unnecessary usage of our five senses) between dawn and sunset we allow the energy that our Sorlar Plexus gains from the sun to be directed towards our spiritual development rather than solely being wasted on digestion and lower chakras which are to do with the physical, emotional and mental systems.
Through fasting and vigilance on our ‘ebadat’ and prayers we create a balance and harmony between the chakras which ultimately empowers us to achieve our goal for the month which is ‘Ghorb be Allah’.