Re: Ramadhan fasting --- A historical perspective
fasting in Ramdhan was made obligatory on muslims during the second years after hijra....
so thats 1424 years back (in Islamic calendar)....
the verse that made it compulsory in the Quran is:
Quran 2:183
* O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that ye may ward off (evil);
*
Quran 2:185
*The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast the same) number of other days. Allah desireth for you ease; He desireth not hardship for you; and (He desireth) that ye should complete the period, and that ye should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that peradventure ye may be thankful. *
so we know that other nations before the muslims were also ordered to fast....
maybe not during the same month, maybe not for the same number of days, but they also had to fast as ordered by Allah....