Dear sisters, during the days of desirable fasts that came to us from the Sunnah, we decided to publish several reports of sisters who, while pregnant/nursing, fasted in this hot Ramadan, barakallahu fihum.

⚜The days of fasting have arrived, the time of cleansing!⚜

9th Muharram fast until the day of Ashura

10th Muharram fast of Ashura day

Abu Qatada (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“Fasting on the day of ‘Ashura serves as atonement for the sins of the past year.” Muslim 1162.

Ibn 'Abbas said:
“When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) fasted on the day of ‘Ashura and ordered his companions to do the same, they said:
“O Messenger of Allah, this is a day that is honored by Jews and Christians.”
Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“Next year, Allah willing, we will fast on the ninth.”
But before the onset of next year, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) died.”
Muslim 1/151.

Fasting after the day of Ashura is not sunnah, the hadith about fasting after the day of Ashura is weak and rejected, as Sheikh Ulwan said.

12th Muharram, sunnah fast of Thursday

13th Muharram sunnah fast mid-month (white days)

14th Muharram sunnah fast mid month

15 Muharram sunnah fast mid month

So the sister's story:

“First of all, I would like to praise Allah for guiding me along the straight path of Islam and a healthy lifestyle, alhamdulillah! I thank all the sisters who participate in the creation and maintenance of this site, bringing so much benefit to our Ummah, masha Allah! Barakallahu fikum! May Allah grant you sabr in your difficult work. Amine.

I came across the site several years ago. I really liked its focus, the concept of a natural lifestyle. This is close to me. With my first pregnancies, I was of the opinion that pregnant and breastfeeding women could leave the fast if they feared for themselves and the child. However, no one could clearly explain what exactly is meant by these fears. For me and many sisters, ordinary weakness or headaches were already a reason not to fast ((. Alhamdulillah, as I embarked on the path of healthy eating, studying information, reading sisters’ reports in the rubric and religious articles on the topic of fasting (), I realized that fasting during pregnancy and the lactation period is not only possible, but also necessary. After all, this is fard, and the reasons for leaving it must really be compelling, and not just weakness and malaise (which, often, not only occurs in the majority of fasting women and men, but can be solved without problems through a balanced diet and a properly organized drinking regime).
Last year, while pregnant with my third child, I decided to fast: I already had some knowledge about proper nutrition, cleansing, etc. It was the 6th month of pregnancy. Alhamdulillah, the fast went relatively easily, with the exception of some minor ailments: weakness a couple of hours before iftar (daylight hours were 19 hours), thirst (when the days were very hot).
Over the next year I studied even more information. The sisters conducted a seminar on the topic of fasting and organized groups on proper nutrition, Barakallahu fikum. I gained a lot of benefit and became even more confident in my intention to fast this time too. The baby was 8 months old and was fully breastfed.
MY MAIN NUTRITION GOALS WERE:
1) Drink at least 1.5 liters of clean raw water from Iftar to Suhoor;
2) Eat as much raw food as possible (vegetables, fruits, carrot juice and various smoothies, berries, herbs, soaked nuts and dried fruits, dates, sprouted seeds of various cereals and legumes, unrefined oils: flaxseed, sunflower, olive);
I started preparing before Ramadan according to the recommendations of the site. I drank antifungal herbs before meals and sorbents after meals; a lot of water, and also excluded white flour, refined sugar, yeast and, in general, all “non-food” from the diet.
MY DIET IN RAMADAN:
Iftar:
- A piece of date, a glass of water. After a few minutes, an antifungal herb, after another 15 minutes (while you are saying namaz and doing dhikrs) one of the following:
1) sweet fruits, dates
2) carrot juice with olive oil
3) various smoothies
4) strawberries, wild strawberries (at least a glass - it was in season)
After 15 minutes, a glass of water;
after another 15 minutes, main food (optional):
1) buckwheat, soaked for several hours in water (do not cook) and a large portion of salad (greens, seasonal vegetables, sea salt, unrefined oils, sprouted lentils, sesame seeds);
2) broth (chicken or lamb), cooked with onions and carrots (without potatoes, rice, etc.) and a large amount of herbs, a piece of boiled meat;
3) raw carrot salad with sour cream and garlic, a piece of baked/stewed or boiled meat;
4) a couple of pieces of fried (or baked) fish (over low heat and melted butter) and a large portion of salad;
I drank rosehip decoction with food - it helps digestion and is choleretic. After 1–1.5 hours, sorbent (I had clay);
Further:
or sour juices (orange-lemon-grapefruit)
or strawberries
or goat milk with dates
The main thing is DO NOT INTERFERE! but there is one thing.
Suhur:
grass and after 15 minutes (options):
1) buckwheat with salad, homemade cheese;
2) homemade cottage cheese, sour cream, honey with dried fruits,
3) oatmeal or multigrain flakes soaked in water with dates and nuts;
4) homemade soft-boiled eggs and salads, raw food bread;
5) sometimes I didn’t cook anything and just ate soaked nuts, dates, dried fruits and herbal tea.
Of course, you can’t describe everything here, but, most importantly, I adhered to the basics of proper nutrition. After iftar, I ate light food (fruits, juices, dates) and water for an hour.
Meat only with vegetables.
Much water.
Breaks between meals.
Do not wash down your food with water or tea.
I haven’t drunk black tea for a long time, and in Ramadan I only drank sometimes green tea with herbs and berries or fireweed for Suhoor. I did. Alhamdulillah, thanks to this regime, the fast passed without problems. After Suhoor, I fed the baby intensively, also at night and during the day. There was a lot of milk, they did without any complementary foods (although relatives from all sides tried to feed him, in their opinion, more satisfying food). They shared their experiences, tips and recipes for healthy dishes with the sisters.
Of course, I wanted baked goods and other “delicacies,” but they can be found in worthy replacements in raw food recipes. For the sake of the baby’s health and your own, you can at least endure Ramadan and spend this precious time in cheerfulness and lightness for better and fruitful worship.
It’s a pity that I missed the past years of fasting and accumulated debts in due time, but, Alhamdulillah, everything is good, and now I have experience. I can say that fasting with feeding was a little harder for me physically than when I was pregnant, but this was only due to circumstances and lack of rest during the day. This also needs to be taken into account, to the maximum, postponing all matters during Ramadan.
There was one more moment. On the first day of Ramadan, in the evening, I suddenly became ill: my arms and legs went numb, I had a headache and began to feel nauseous. The heart rate increased greatly (110 beats/m2), the pressure was normal. I wrote to my sisters and went to rest, having already decided that I would not fast tomorrow. However, the site administrator reassured me and said that this was the norm (maybe a sugar spike or other reasons). You just need to rest, lie down and monitor your condition. Other sisters wrote that this happened to them for several days in a row, and then everything returned to normal. In a word, I decided that I would continue to fast (although those around me insisted otherwise). Immediately after iftar (water and dates), the condition began to improve, and after an hour everything was back to normal. This has never happened again on any other day, Alhamdulillah! Jazakumullah khairan to the administrator and moderators of the site and to all the sisters for their support!
I hope my story will be useful. Sisters, be sure to try fasting. Do not miss this opportunity to earn the Grace and Forgiveness of Allah.
May Allah grant us all understanding of His religion and knowledge; will make our fast easier for us; will accept our duas and worship and gather us all in the Gardens of Eden! Amine."

Iftar
For a ceremonial evening meal - iftar - people gather together, treating loved ones, friends and those in need. They say that guests in a house who come to iftar will bring blessings from Allah to its owner.
Family iftar is held with family and close relatives. Parents, brothers, sisters, close relatives, children, even the smallest ones are invited to it. They try not to forget anyone, so as not to offend anyone and not to embarrass those who come in front of those who are absent. The oldest are invited first, with due respect and respect shown to them.
If relations between any of the relatives do not work out, Ramadan is the best time for their reconciliation. And if other guests unexpectedly come to the house during a family iftar, they are always invited to join the table.
If the number of guests is small and they are all close relatives, then they can be seated at the festive meal in any order. In any other case, please note that men and women must sit separately from each other. This arrangement is in accordance with Sharia law.
If there are enough guests and the area of ​​the house allows, you can place them in different rooms: men in one, women and children in the other. Preferably,
so that the men were served at the table by the owner of the house, and the women were served by the hostess.
It is important to find a place to pray together. If in a large house it can become a separate room, then in a city apartment, most likely, part of the living room will have to be cleared of furniture so that as many guests as possible can participate in collective prayer.
If guests will subsequently sit at the table, then the table is placed closer to the door, and the place for prayer is located so as not to disturb the worshipers when the hostess sets the table or simply leaves the room. If the guests sit on the floor, then do the same with the tablecloth spread on it.
The prepared food, of course, must be classified as halal. When preparing for iftar, they do not try to surprise guests with the sophistication and variety of dishes. Firstly, it takes a lot of effort and time to prepare them, which may be necessary precisely during the hours when you will be fasting, and secondly, the task of the hosts is to unite the guests for a joint conversation about Islam and Ramadan, and not to amaze them with their culinary skills. Guests usually arrive before iftar time, and they, having fasted all day, should not go into the apartment and immediately smell the cooking food. Before starting the meal, they should be given the opportunity to communicate with each other and rest a little from the road. Then water and dates are placed on the table. When the time for sunset comes, the head of the family reads a prayer and starts eating first.
Since the time for evening prayer passes quickly, after a light snack, guests are invited to read a collective prayer. After it, hot food is immediately served to the table.
Traditionally, pilaf is prepared for iftar. For a light snack, vegetable salad and bread are served. Pickles and herbs are also served with pilaf. You can prepare national dishes that are usually served on holidays. It is not customary to offer guests more and more portions if they are already full.
Following the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad, the dish for Iftar, as well as for a regular meal, is offered to the guest no more than three times.
When most of the food is finished, tea is prepared. It is better to prepare enough boiling water at the same time so that some guests do not have to drink tea in front of those
who hasn't gotten it yet. An unlimited number of sweets can be served with tea. You don’t have to bake them all yourself; today you can buy a lot of them in stores. The more children there are at the holiday, the more varied they try to make the sweet table. Dates, dried apricots, fruits, sweets, sweet pastries - all this is quite appropriate for iftar. Before the guests leave, they are given sweets. Beautiful, bright bags of sweets for children can be prepared in advance.

On the eve of Ramadan, it would be nice to remind about such an indispensable and probably the most pleasant attribute of the holy month as iftar (breaking the fast). We invite you to get acquainted with the variety of traditions of breaking the fast among Muslims living in different countries and on different continents.

To begin with, it should be recalled that it is advisable to perform it in company - among fellow believers, in the family circle. “Eat alone and in the dark” is not about Muslims. And we should not forget the recommendations of the Prophet Muhammad related to eating after sunset. According to hadiths, it is extremely undesirable to delay breaking the fast if the time has come for this. The Messenger of Allah did not begin the evening prayer (maghrib) without taking at least a sip of water.

Of course, many believers, following the sunnah, start iftar with water and/or dates. And then complete diversity begins. And in different parts of the world there are different dinner menus, different traditions. Let's look at some.

Slavic identity with Turkish influence

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a Slavic state in which Islam is the most widespread religion. And the Ottoman background is manifested here in both language and culture. The cuisine, which absorbed the traditions of the local Balkan peoples and Turkish conquerors, was no exception. And Bosniaks begin breaking their fast with dates and lemonade (not the usual carbonated fizzy drink, but lemon juice dissolved in water with a pinch of sugar). During Ramadan, topa is prepared - a warm dish of eggs, sour cream, cheese and butter. It is in this that somuns are dipped - local flatbreads sprinkled with black cumin. This is all essentially an appetizer.

Bosnian Iftar / Source: Pinterest

This is followed by the first course - chorba (for example, begova chorba) or another soup in a thick broth. And then comes the main treat - meat. A special chic is to serve assorted meats from beef, lamb, chicken: boiled, smoked, baked, fried; whole pieces or finely chopped. And dolma is a frequent guest on the table here - a treat that arrived in the Balkans with the Turks and settled here forever. For dessert, people in Bosnia enjoy another reminder of the Ottoman past - baklava (baklava), generously stuffed with walnuts. Tufakhiya (baked apple filled with nuts) and smokvara (made from figs) are other pleasant borrowings from the Turks.

Coca-Cola with baklava

The issue of recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has remained unresolved for more than 40 years. However, this political entity on an island in the Mediterranean Sea has not disappeared during this time and is developing well. Since the main population here is Turks (this is actually clear from the name), the cuisine here is Turkish. But those who spent Ramadan in the TRNC (and the author of these lines had the opportunity to live in Northern Cyprus for several years) noticed some nuances in the Cypriot meal. The Greek factor left its mark on local dishes.

Iftar Turkish Cypriot / Source: annekizmutfaktayiz.blogspot.ru

As expected, breaking the fast begins with water and a piece of fruit. During the meal, the abundance of drinks is striking - natural juices, ayran, dzhadzhik (ayran with grated cucumber and mint) and... Coca-Cola. Yes, this American soda is loved by both adults and children here. And, it would seem, after a tiring hot day, carbonated drinks are extremely undesirable on an empty stomach, but the Turks still drink a glass or two of fizzy cola.

Meze may seem unusual - snacks made from cheeses, fruits, vegetables, nuts - served in small portions. In general, the festive table (after all, no one argues that iftar is a holiday), as a rule, is laid out with different types of cheeses, nuts and olives. You can often find seafood as well. But almost no feast is complete without meat. And the Turks, if anyone doesn’t already know, are real masters in preparing meat dishes. The simplest thing is grilled lamb/veal. Rice or stewed vegetables are used as a side dish (green beans are especially popular). There must be water or ayran on the tables during the meal.

Cypriot meze appetizer / Source: Travel Greece Travel Europe

As for dessert, Cypriots often place baklava on the table. Semolina muffins are also common - essentially, the usual semolina cakes, only stuffed with nuts and drizzled with syrup. Each of them has its own name, but in general they are simply called “tatly” here. By the way, residents of Cyprus buy whole sheets of baklava before Ramadan, and then feast on this sweetness for a month and treat their guests to it. All these delicacies are washed down with tea.

Orange juice and tagine

Moroccan cuisine is also varied. It has absorbed the best traditions of the Arabs, Berbers and even the French, who once owned the country. Since ancient times, Morocco has been at the crossroads of trade routes, and its culture cannot be poor by definition. So, with the adhan heralding the sunset, you are sure to be treated to fresh dates and freshly squeezed orange juice. Fortunately, there are not just a lot of citrus fruits in the country, but a lot, so Morocco is one of the world's largest exporters of oranges, tangerines, clementines, grapefruits and lemons.

Moroccan Iftar / Source: mysite.ma

Moroccan families also break their fast with dates and lentil soup (harira). The meal itself will begin with meze or vegetable salads. Olives and olives will definitely be placed on the table. The popular Arabic dish hummus is sometimes served here as a snack - a puree paste made from legumes (most often chickpeas) with the addition of spices. If funds allow, then a flight of fancy begins. Tagine is a popular Moroccan dish. It is prepared in a special clay vessel (in fact, this is a tagine) from meat (lamb or chicken) with vegetables. If they don’t serve tagine, then expect stew – there are a lot of ways to prepare it. Couscous, popular in the Maghreb countries, is not often used here during Ramadan, but an exception can be made for the guest. One thing to keep in mind is that many of the country's dishes will seem quite spicy to non-locals. This is actually why locals wash their food down with juices.

Anyone who has been to Morocco has probably drank mint tea. There is a whole ceremony of pouring this drink from a teapot into glasses from a meter high. As a bonus, you will be given the opportunity to try pastilla (pastilla), a layered pie, the preparation of which is very difficult.

Coconut milk and fried snacks

Iftar in Indonesia cannot be summed up under one specific menu. There are too many national cuisines, intertwining different traditions of the islands, India and China. In hot climates, meat dishes are probably not as popular as in northern latitudes, however, chicken or beef treats are also very common here. Muslims usually eat light snacks and drink drinks before prayer.

Coconut milk is a drink made from chilled or frozen coconut water, young fruit and syrup. He is very much adored in Indonesia. Es kelapa muda (literally “coconut ice”) is one of the 50 most delicious drinks in the world. Some people like to mix it with coconut sugar and ice. Others prefer to shake it with syrup and pieces of fruit. Some people don't add anything and just drink coconut milk. This drink quickly quenches your thirst. Coconut pulp can also be used as an aperitif before a full iftar meal. Green and young coconuts are most valued: they have a lot of water and a sweeter taste of the pulp.

In Indonesia, it is customary to serve coconut milk with dates for iftar / Source: 123RF.com

Among other drinks, the most popular are juice from local tangerines with ice, sugar cane juice, and ginger tea. They will probably give you a fruit cocktail with crushed ice to try at iftar. It is made from fruits such as pineapple, papaya, cantaloupe, squash (fruits of the cucurbit family), jackfruit and kolang kaline. The drink is sweetened with sugar and sometimes milk is added.

Kolak/kolek is an Indonesian dessert made from palm sugar and coconut milk, with pandanus leaves added for flavor. There are many options for preparing it. Banana, yellow squash, etc. can be used as an ingredient.

Porridge (liquid oatmeal or green soybean porridge) is very popular as a light snack before prayer. Indonesians usually rest after evening prayers and only then begin their main meal. Porridge is a fairly easy food to digest; coconut sugar is often added to it. Green soybean porridge is usually mixed with black sticky rice and coconut milk. Oatmeal is usually mixed with a brown, watery sugar solution.

Indonesian iftar /

The start time of Iftar (corresponds to the time of the evening Maghrib prayer), as well as the end of Suhoor in 2018 for large cities of the Russian Federation can be found in the table, which is available for download .

Breaking the fast - the evening meal during fasting - is perhaps the most anticipated time of day for Muslims. This is an opportunity not only for family and friends to get together at one table, but also a whole holiday, which is held almost every day throughout the Holy month of Ramadan. It is iftars, as events that unite the entire ummah, giving the opportunity to feel the festive atmosphere, that make Ramadan a special month.

When fasting falls on summer days, the fasting time increases. Accordingly, the value of the evening meal also increases. At such moments, it seems that the time before iftar lasts very long, and after it - too quickly. Therefore, the evening meal becomes long-awaited, which is why, sometimes, the other side of the situation appears. During Iftar, some fasting people may overeat, literally pouncing on food. It’s hard to resist, and allowing yourself to eat everything you see on the table is fraught with negative consequences for your health.

How to avoid overeating at Iftar?

According to the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), it is advisable to begin breaking the fast by drinking a glass of water (you can use water with honey) and eating an odd number of dates. The latter can be replaced with another sweet or simply limited to water. According to a reliable hadith, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) broke his fast with fresh or dried dates, and if they were not available, with plain water. He said that water purifies.

“Allahumma lakya sumtu wa bikya amantu wa alaikya tawakkyaltu wa ‘ala rizkykya aftartu fagfirli ya gaffaru ma kaddyamtu wa ma akhhartu”

Translation:“O Allah! For Your sake I kept the fast, I believed in You and I only trust in You, I break my fast with what You sent me. Forgive me, O Forgiver of my sins, past and future!”

You should not start eating right away. This will be stressful for the stomach, so it is recommended to first go to the pre-evening prayer, slowly complete it, and only then start eating. In 5-7 minutes the body will have time to prepare for eating, so after eating there will be no heaviness in the stomach.

Where to start breaking the fast?

Sitting down at the table, your eyes widen from the availability of varied and tasty food. Even if not much has been prepared, the desire to “eat the whole cow” remains. Eating well during Iftar will help you eat properly during Suhoor. After all, in a few hours the stomach must have time to digest everything eaten and make room for a new meal. Only then will Suhoor be complete and correct. Accordingly, for iftar you need to choose products that are quickly processed by the body and saturate it with moisture. Vegetables and fruits are ideal for this.

You should not start iftar with a glass of fermented milk drinks. It will be hard on the stomach. In Islam there are no prohibitions on eating food during breaking the fast, except canonically. However, the religion of the Creator adheres to the principle “do not harm yourself,” therefore, you can eat anything that does not negatively affect your health. So, you should exclude fried, fatty and, if possible, spicy foods. Some smoked and canned foods contribute to the leaching of salts and minerals, and they also increase thirst.

It is ideal to eat dietary foods for iftar: low-fat chicken broth soup, stews, stews.

You should limit your intake of flour products and carbonated drinks. It is recommended to drink water some time after eating, otherwise it will dilute the gastric juice and complicate the digestion of food.

It is best to drink water in portions when performing Tarawih prayer. Each time between rests in prayer, you can drink half a glass or a glass of clean water. This will help to gradually absorb fluids and normalize the water balance in the body before the onset of Suhoor, and relieve thirst for the coming day.

Of course, after a long fast, a person wants to try different foods. But it is worth remembering that these dishes can be eaten even after the month of Ramadan, and now the main thing is not the food, but the atmosphere itself, the process itself. It is necessary to realize that during fasting days it is important to be able to control yourself not only during daylight hours (refusing food and drink, watching your speech, thoughts and actions), but also after breaking the fast, i.e. self-control continues at night. Learning not to overeat, in other words, not to take more than what your body needs, is a good habit for the future, and Ramadan is a great way to practice.

Proper nutrition allows you to both ease stress and receive moral and physical benefits from it, and most importantly, the pleasure of the Almighty.