Ramadan

[Centaur]

THE QURAN ON FASTING

"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).
(Fasting) for a fixed number of days, but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days. And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (i.e. an old man, etc.), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a poor person (for every day). But whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for him. And that you fast, it is better for you if only you know." (2:183-84)

"The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan), he must fast that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number (of days which one did not fast must be made up) from other days.

Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him" (2: 185).

"It is made lawful for you to have sexual relations with your wives on the night of the fasts. They are garments for you and you are the same for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He turned to you and forgave you. So now have sexual relations with them and seek that which Allah has ordained for you, and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night), then complete your fast till the nightfall.

And do not have sexual relations with them (your wives) while you are in Itikaf in the mosques. These are the limits (set) by Allah, so approach them not. Thus does Allah make clear His signs to mankind that they may become Al Muttaqun (the pious)" (2:187).


Now how is this possible in a scadinavian country? Isnt Koran a clear sign for all mankind, not just desert dwellers?

Also why is Allah allowing sex if its considered a bad thing deception/sin during Ramadan?#

Last but not least how are people involved in hard labour like Builders supposed to fast whole day and work simultaneously without food or water?

[Eagle]

This act of great virtue and piety practiced by nations and prophets long before Muhammad 2:183-185, see the bible in Ex24:18,Matt4:2, is aimed at drawing us closer to our Creator, the abstinence from gratifying material desires, satisfying the body's lust and inclinations purges the soul from the love of worldly affairs and focuses the attention on the spiritual realm. It teaches one that if he can abstain from that which is otherwise lawful such as food, natural sexual desires and passions, how much more necessary is it that he should abstain from the evil ways which are forbidden by God. Before Islam, fasting meant to the Arabs the suffering of some privation in times of mourning and sorrow but Islam made it an institution for the improvement of the moral and spiritual conditions of man "so that you may guard (against evil)".
It is made compulsory except for the sick, the traveller or one who finds it unbearable. Others standing excluded are those living in parts of the globe where the long intervals between days and nights is such that there exists no division into twelve months "whoever of you is present in the month".

[Centaur]

Well that is not detailed in Koran, One who reads the Koran gets the imression that one needs to fast from dawn to desk. Why Allah or Mohd could not see that, depending on where you live it can become impossible to observe ramadan. And this is from a religion which has laws regarding how to defecate.Pathetic failure of Allah and Mohammed.Now Muslims are observing RAmadan for the past 1400 years and anyone can see that it didnt bring anything good on them but made them less intelligent, bigoted and violent

[Centaur]

present in the month only mean fast during the month of Ramadan.Looks like Allah was totally ignorant of the geography among many other things.Look how confused Muslims are regarding this situation
http://www.thelocal.se/28310/20100811/
Koran has got clear instructions or hasnt it?

[Fernando]

It is made compulsory except for the sick, the traveller or one who finds it unbearable. Others standing excluded are those living in parts of the globe where the long intervals between days and nights is such that there exists no division into twelve months "whoever of you is present in the month".

Travelling? Like the sportsmen playing in the olympics who are scoffing away all day. I suppose some of them have a slight excuse, "travelling" round a running track for a few minutes, but really!
But pray tell us where it says that about extreme latitudes in the Koran - or hadiths even - so we might see your interpretation.