There are five pillars of Islam that are mandatory for every Muslim to fulfill, one of which being fasting, also referred to as Siyam or Sawm. Fasting, however, has to be willing and wholehearted because if it is done with a bad grace, the act of fasting will not be acceptable. Sick people are excused from fasting although it has been acknowledged that fasting is, in fact, a treatment for a number of illnesses and diseases. Even during pregnancy, fasting is considered to be good for both mother and baby. The old and infirm are excused from dieting, however, as are those people suffering from diabetes. Anybody who does not fast, for whatever reason, is expected to give assistance to those less fortunate in the form of edible foodstuffs. The act of fasting is intended to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, with the intention of cleansing the inner soul and freeing it from harm. Mosques become full during the night throughout Ramadan, with Muslims become more religious during their fasts.
This act of fasting during the period of Ramadan encourages Muslims in asserting self-control, self-discipline and sacrifice. Moreover, empathy is encouraged towards those people less fortunate than themselves through generosity and charity. This brings us to another pillar of Islam: Zakat, which involves mandatory giving of a percentage of wealth, in honour of Allah’s right to a Muslim’s individual wealth. It acknowledges that everything belongs to Allah, and reminds the Muslim that they are merely stewards of their wealth. The Islamic date should be recorded once this wealth, also known as Nisab, is achieved for the first time. If that person retains that amount of Nisab by the equivalent date of the following year, regardless of any gains or losses during the year, then that person will be considered to be a Sahib-al-Nisab. They will be obligated to pay 2.5% on their amount of Zakatable assets, collected by the State for distribution to the needs of the poor.
If, for some reason, that wealth goes amiss during the year, once that person re-acquires sufficient assets, the new Islamic date needs to be recorded as this is the date that it will go by. Whatever you own on the Islamic anniversary of the date that you recorded will be the date that 2.5% of your assets will need to be given to those poor people in need of assistance. Accordingly, Islam requires all Muslims to acknowledge each other as brothers, regardless of wealth or lack of wealth: none are considered to be superior to another. To ensure that the poor are remembered when you are enjoying your happiest times, such as Chand Raat and Eid ul Fitr, any Muslim who pays Zakat is also expected to contribute to ensure the poor have sufficient for them to also enjoy Eid. The donations are collected at a local level and distributed after Eid Prayers have finished on Eid morning. The giving of gifts is a means by which relationships can be strengthened; according to Islam, it is a way in which the recipient can be shown respect and an expression of love, which also reinforces your expression to get closer to Allah.