Spiritual
The month of Ramadan brings countless blessings for those, who keep fasts. During Ramadan emotions for doing virtue and good deeds are very high among the Muslim; therefore, they prefer to observe fast and prayers besides making charity and generosity. Ramadan is a name of self-discipline, self-control self-restraint, self-education, and self-evaluation. Fasting is a practice and develops the ability to oppose the carnal desires. In Ramadan people avoid immortality, anger, outcry, stupidity and all illegal activities. Allah opens the doors of heaven and closes the doors of hell. Devils are also chained down in Ramadan.
People offer ‘Novafils’ and recite the Holy Quran in order to get peace of mind, rewards, forgiveness, and multiples blessings of Allah Almighty. In this way they not only make their lives better in this world but also gain blessings of Allah hereafter. Allah forgives the mistakes of those, who observe ‘Lailat-ul-Qadr’ night with sincerity and good intention as this night is better than 1,000 months.
As far as the benefits of ‘Sadaqah’ (Charity) are concerned those, who give ‘Zakat’ get purity of soul, their wealth flourish, economy improve, and wealth circulate in the society. As a result poverty and inflation eliminate from the country.
Physical
Fasting helps weight loss, improves insulin sensitivity, speeds up the metabolism, and promotes longevity (Believe it or not, the less you eat the longer you will live. studies have shown how the lifespan of people in certain cultures increased due to their diets). Moreover, fasting improves hunger, people eating patterns, their brain function, improves people immune system, who keep fast. Last but not least fasting purifies toxins of the body.
Dr. Mahroof says the use of fat for energy helps weight loss. It preserves the muscles and eventually reduces your cholesterol level. In addition, weight loss results in better control of diabetes and reduces blood pressure. After a few days of the fast, higher levels of endorphins appear in the blood, making you more alert and giving an overall feeling of general mental wellbeing.
A study conducted in 1997 in the Annals of Nutrition Metabolism demonstrated that fasting lowered bad “LDL” cholesterol levels by 8 percent, triglyceride by 30 percent, and increased good “HDL” levels by 14.3 percent thereby protecting your heart from cardiovascular disease.
The International Congress on “Health and Ramadan” which was held in Casablanca in 1994 covered 50 studies on the medical ethics of Ramadan and noted various improvements in the health conditions of those who fast.
A balance diet: Those observing the fast should have at least two meals a day – the pre-dawn meal ‘Sahir’ and a meal at dusk ‘Iftar’. Dr. Mahroof says people food intake should be simple and not differ too much from their normal diet. It should contain foods from all the major food groups such as fruit and vegetables, bread, cereals and potatoes, meat, fish or alternatives, milk and dairy foods, foods containing fat and sugar.
Food to avoid: According to doctors fast keeping people must avoid deep-fried foods – such as ‘Pakoras’, ‘Samosas’ and fried dumplings. Moreover, they should not have high-sugar and high-fat foods like ‘Gulab Jamun’, ‘Rasgulla’ and ‘Balushahi’ during Iftar. Over and above they must avoid high-fat cooked foods – such as ‘Parathas’, oily curries and greasy pastries.
Social Benefits of Ramadan
In the month of Ramadan the passion of unity and brotherhood is more than other months of the year. People gather in mosque five times a day and make social relation with neighbours and people live around their vicinity. In addition to that people arrange Iftar and Sahir parties of friends and the members of families. As a result people come close, remove misunderstanding and try to forgive the mistakes of each other.
The Rich people give alms and charity to the poor to purify their ‘Halal’ wealth in the shape of Zakat. Actually Zakat is the only method due to which wealth circulate from upper to low level in the society. As a result of this circulation of wealth poor are able to keep their body and soul together. There is intense spiritual meaning to Ramadan for those who fast. Muslims practice generosity by being charitable, family-bonding by gathering around the iftar table, spirituality by praying, and self-control by practicing good manners. It originates in man the real spirit of social belonging, unity and brotherhood, of equality before God as well as before the law. All these habits build a feeling of peace, tranquility and self-satisfaction.
Support to overcome additions: Addictions can come in all shapes and forms and Ramadan provides an excellent opportunity to ditch them. Because Ramadan teaches you self-restraint for most of the day, you will come to realize that forgoing your addiction all together may not be as hard as you think!
Choose one addiction to drop this Ramadan. It could be an addiction to smoking, lying, chocolate, or even gossiping and say your good-byes.
Commercial
Usually in all Muslim countries over all commercial activities become slowly, however, business of necessities of life like fruit and vegetables, dresses, shoes, jewelry and makeup are on full swing. It is so because Eid is being celebrated after the completion of Ramadan. Every Muslim clads new dress, shoes and accessories. Business of eatable and drinkable goes on its climax as Iftar parties are being arranged on mosques, hotels, offices and houses. During last days of Ramadan special stales for females are installed in all the bazaars for selling mehdi, bangles, jewelries and cosmetic products. And all Bazars remain open till late night. On the eve of Eid all Muslim whether rich or poor buy new dress etc.
The long and short of the foregoing discussion is that Ramadan brings countless spiritual, social, medical and economic benefits for those, who observe this month with sincerity and good intention. This month makes both lives (here and hereafter) of fast keeping people happy and prosperous. People get peace of mind when Allah forgives their sins.