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All you need to know about Ramadan
Here is all you need to know about Ramadan, the ninth month of
the Islamic calendar.
y Gulf News
y Published: 17:09 August 3, 2010
yy Image Credit:
What is Ramadan?
The ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Ramadan, is one of the
most important periods in the
Muslim year. It is a time of spiritual awakening,
self-evaluation and remembrance of Allah,which Muslims observe
through fasting and prayer. Ramadan teaches Muslims
self-discipline,
humility and giving. Charity is a significant part of Ramadan
and Muslims are expected to helpthe needy.
For more than a billion Muslims around the world, it is a time
for devotion to God and self-
restraint, when communal nightly prayers are conducted and the
basic teachings of Islam areemphasised and Ummah (Islamic nation)
consciousness is heightened.
When does Ramadan fall?
Ramadan falls 11 days earlier each year on the Gregorian
calendar and the duration of the fastchanges depending on which
season the month falls in.
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The start of Ramadan, as that of all Islamic months, is based on
the sighting of the new moon,the hilal, which is why the crescent
is often used as an unofficial symbol of the month. The moon
sighting is also the reason that the start of Ramadan differs
from one country to another, butmany opt to follow Saudi Arabian
sightings to be able to mark the days together.
Who is required to fast?
As one of the five pillars of Islam, fasting during Ramadan,
which is considered one of the
highest forms of worship, is obligatory for those Muslims past
the age of puberty who arementally and physically fit and not
travelling, as long as it does not cause them physical or
mental harm.
Those who cannot fast during Ramadan, owing to health or other
reasons, may fast in other
months, or feed the poor.
What exactly is required?
During a Ramadan fast, Muslims abstain from food, drink and
sexual activity from dawn tilldusk. A fast consists of a true and
verbal intention that must be recited, as well as a package of
dos and don'ts which are specifically emphasised during the
month.
Fasting, or sawm (literally refrain), did not become obligatory
until 624 AD. It is an opportunity
to cleanse the body and mind and promote the principle of
sincerity by keeping the individualaway from arrogance.
Among the greatest benefits is the lesson in self-restraint and
discipline that could be carried
forward to other aspects of a person's life, such as work and
education.
A typical day of fasting begins with waking up before dawn to
have a meal called the suhoorbefore the start of the fasting day.
At sunset, Muslims usually break their fast upon the call for
Maghreb (sunset) prayers with another meal called iftar. Prayers
are conducted five timesthrough the day, as they are on all days,
and an extra set of prayers called Taraweeh is conducted
after Isha or night prayers.
Work hours in the private sector are shortened by two hours for
Muslims and non-Muslims.
Guide to Ramadan terms
Ramadan: The ninth month of the Islamic (lunar) calendar.
Sawm: The Arabic word for fast.
Iftar: Ending of the fast immediately after sunset. Iftar takes
place at the Maghrib Adhan (call toprayer) Traditionally the fast
is ended with dates and water and is a time when friends and
family
come together
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Suhoor: The pre-fast meal before dawn and Fajr (morning call to
prayer).
Taraweeh: Special congregational prayers conducted after Isha
(night prayer)
Qiyam-ul-Layl: Prayers during the last ten days of Ramadan,
which
Eid Al Fitr: Three-day celebrations marking the end of Ramadan.
It takes place on the 1st of
Shawal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar.
Fidya: Compensation for missing a fast, for those unable to, or
wrongly practising it. Fidyausually takes the form of donating
money, foodstuffs, or sacrificing an animal.
Zakat Al Fitr: Muslims give away a certain percentage of the
total value of all that they own
annually and distribute it to charity and the needy. The
contribution given at the end of Ramadan.
Eid Mubarak: Greeting meaning "Have a happy and blessed Eid"
expressed at the end of
Ramadan.
