Answer
Short Answer:
- Fasting is one of the good deeds that is specific to this month but those who cannot fast can give charity in lieu of the fast. They can give charity in addition to that.
- They can do other good deeds. A random act of kindness helping somebody in a time of need that would be a way of serving and of doing good deeds.
- But also in terms of personal devotions, one could recite the Quran. Some Muslims make it a point to finish reciting the entire book within the month and the Quran is conveniently divided up into 30 parts to make that easy. So if one part is recited each day of a 30 day month then the entire Quran is then read by the end of the month.
Asalamu Alaikum,
Dr. Shabir Ally from Let the Quran Speak addresses this question in the video below.
What Can I Get Out Of Ramadan If I don’t Fast?
Transcript:
Dr. Safiyyah Ally: Dr. Shabir welcome to let the Quran speak.
Dr. Shabir Ally: My pleasure to be on.
Dr. Safiyyah Ally: Okay, Dr. Shabir, here’s a question: “I can’t fast in Ramadan, so how can I partake in Ramadan?”
Dr. Shabir Ally: Well Ramadan is a special time for Muslims it is a blessed time. We are told in Islamic tradition that the good deeds that we do actually are multiplied in terms of their rewards during this time so we should do a lot of good deeds.
Fasting is one of the good deeds that is specific to this month but those who cannot fast can give charity in lieu of the fast. They can give charity in addition to that.
They can do other good deeds. A random act of kindness helping somebody in a time of need that would be a way of serving and of doing good deeds.
But also in terms of personal devotions, one could recite the Quran. Some Muslims make it a point to finish reciting the entire book within the month and the Quran is conveniently divided up into 30 parts to make that easy. So if one part is recited each day of a 30 day month then the entire Quran is then read by the end of the month.
One can practice some remembrances of God. Other devotions of worship for example cycles of prayer that starts with standing goes into bowing and then into prostration expressing our ultimate humility and devotion to God as we place our foreheads on the floor before God.
So here are many different ways in which we can actually serve God and serve God’s creatures as a way of also serving God even if we’re not fasting.
Dr. Safiyyah Ally: Thank you for that beautiful answer Dr. Shabir.
Dr. Shabir Ally: You’re welcome.
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