Ramadan is a very
special time for Muslims all over the world. Observing Ramadan is one of the five ‘pillars’ of
Islam. During Ramadan, all Muslims over the age of about 12, with some exceptions, are
expected to fast between dawn and sunset.
When does it take place?
Ramadan is the ninth
month of the Islamic calendar, which follows the phases of the moon. This means the dates
of Ramadan change each year. The month starts when the new crescent moon is first visible
in the night sky. Fasting ends with the arrival of the next lunar month, which starts with the
first glimpse of the new crescent moon.
How do people fast?
During Ramadan, the
day starts early so that people can eat a pre-fast meal before dawn. This meal, called Suhoor,
is important as it will keep them going through the day. During daylight hours, fasting
Muslims cannot eat food or drink water or any other drinks. In late spring or
early summer, this is particularly difficult as the day can be very long.
People who live in polar regions, where
daylight can last 22 hours or more, can choose to follow the dawn and sunset times in Mecca or a
nearby country where the sky is dark at night.
Are all Muslims expected to fast?
Not all Muslims are
expected to fast. Children under the age of 12, people who are travelling, elderly people,
pregnant women and others where it may affect their health are exempt.
Those who can’t fast
for any reason can offer to feed poor people for each day they miss during Ramadan.
What happens at sunset?
People can eat and
drink again once the sun has set. The traditional way to break the fast is by eating dates and
drinking a glass of water. Then, the evening meal, Iftar, is a social event that can go on for
hours. It is common for people to eat together in large groups of family and friends. Special
foods are prepared and shared, and desserts are particularly popular.
Muslims often include charity
in Iftar as well, sharing Iftar with members of the community who cannot buy or make their own
food. Across the Muslim world, mosques and aid organisations set up tents and tables for
the public in poorer communities to eat free Iftar meals every night of Ramadan.
Why do people fast?
Muslims fast during
Ramadan to bring them closer to God and to remind them of the suffering of people who are
less fortunate than themselves. Fasting is an exercise in self-control. As well as not eating,
drinking or smoking, Muslims try to avoid bad actions, like talking about people behind their
backs or using bad language. Ramadan is a time for people to work on being more patient,
more tolerant and more mindful of the people around them. It is a moment to reflect and
work on being better people.
Many Muslims also
donate money to charities during the month, and a lot of Islamic charities organise food packs
for people in poorer countries or refugee camps. Giving donations to charity, known as
Zakat, is particularly important during the holy month, and so is prayer, meditation and
reading the Qur’an.
The Fasting of Ramadan: A Time for Thought, Action, and Change
"Fasting in
Ramadan develops in a person the real spirit of social belonging, of unity and
brotherhood, and of equality before God. This spirit is the natural product of
the fact that when people fast they feel that they are joining the whole Muslim
society (which makes up more than one fifth of world's population) in observing
the same duty, in the same manner, at the same time, for the same motives, and
for the same end.
No sociologist or professor can say that there has been at any
period of history anything comparable to this powerful institution of Islam:
Fasting in the month of Ramadan.
People have been crying throughout the ages
for adequate 'belonging', for unity, for brotherhood, for equality, but how
echoless their voices have been, and how very little success they have
met..." says Hammudah Abdalati, in Islam in Focus.
What is fasting?
How does the fasting
of Muslims in Ramadan differ from the fasting of other faiths? "Why should
one 'misery' one's body in the first place?" "What do you really gain
from fasting in the end?"...These are a few questions that a number of
non-Muslim friends and colleagues often ask us, usually out of allure with this
spiritually-uplifting practice of Islamic faith, and at times out of pity and sympathy
for us, thinking, why should anyone endure from hunger and thirst like Muslims?
I wouldn't be surprised if many of us shared the same negative approach of
Fasting.
It is important to
note that Fasting in Arabic is called, "Sawm", which literally means
'to be at rest'. Fasting in the month of Ramadan (the 9th month of the Islamic
lunar calendar) is one of the Five Pillars upon which the "house" of
Islam is built. During this month, every able-bodied Muslim, is required to
fast, every day from dawn until dusk
12 Reasons To Fast!
- Develop Character
- Self Reflection
- Develop Compassion
- Develop Adaptability
- Develop Adaptability
- Elevates the Spirit
- Develops Clarity of Mind
- Develops a Healthy Lifestyle
- Moral Training
- Consciousness of Life & Death
- Connection to the Quran
- A time to Celebrate
How is the end of Ramadan celebrated?
Eid
ul-Fitr marks the end of the month of fasting. There are many Eid traditions,
mainly centred around
family, food, generosity and festivities. On Eid ul-Fitr, Muslims wake up early
and dress in
their finest clothes to attend the Eid prayers. After prayers, they wish each other
a happy Eid
(‘Eid Mubarak’ in Arabic) before spending the rest of the day with their
extended families, enjoying
good food and sharing gifts with children and loved ones.
People Also Ask Question About Ramadan
What is the purpose of Ramadan?
Muslims
observe the month of Ramadan, to mark that Allah, or God, gave the first
chapters of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad in 610, according to the Times of
India. During Ramadan, Muslims fast, abstain from pleasures and pray to become
closer to God. It is also a time for families to gather and celebrate.
What are the rules of Ramadan?
Muslims
are expected to abstain from food and drink between sunrise and sunset for 30
days, which means Ramadan ends TODAY. Usually adults will have a meal just
before dawn, and another after sunset. At the end of the fast, when the sun has
gone down, family and friends will get together for Iftar to break their fast.
Can you drink water during Ramadan?
Are
you allowed to drink water during Ramadan? No, during the fasting daylight
hours, practicing Muslims are not permitted to consume water. Instead, it's
recommended that anyone fasting drink as much water as possible in the early
morning to ward off thirst during the day.
Can we kiss during Ramadan?
Some
scholars say that hugging and kissing is in no way acceptable during Ramadan
while fasting. Other scholars give the ruling that it is permissible if it
doesn't sexually "move" a person. ... Kissing your kids, parents,
friends (greeting) always okay even during Ramadan. Kissing your spouse.
What
are 3 reasons why Ramadan is important?
Muslims
believe that Ramadan teaches them to practice self-discipline, self-control,
sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate, thus encouraging
actions of generosity and compulsory charity (zakat). Exemptions to fasting
include travel, menstruation, severe illness, pregnancy, and breastfeeding.
Thanks....
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