Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is the Islamic month of fasting (saum), in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and indulging in anything that is in excess or ill-natured; from dawn until dusk. Fasting is meant to teach the Muslim patience, modesty and spirituality. Ramadhan is a time to fast for the sake of Allah S.W.T., and to offer more prayer than usual. During Ramadhan, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds. As compared to solar calendar, the dates of Ramadan vary, moving forward about ten days each year. Ramadhan was the month in which the first verses of the Holy Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W.
Origins of Ramadhan
The name "Ramadama" had been the name of the ninth month in the Arab world long before the arrival of Islam, the word itself derived from an Arabic root (ﺮ ﻢ ﺽ), as in words like "ramida" or "ar-ramad" denoting intense heat, scorched ground and shortness of rations. In the Holy Quran, Allah S.W.T. proclaims that "fasting has been written down (as obligatory) upon you, as it was upon those before you". According to the earliest Hadith, this refers to the Jewish practice of fasting on Yom Kippur.
Laylat al-Qadr, considered the most holy night of the year, is the night in which the Holy Quran was revealed to Muhammad S.A.W., the "Night of the Power". Muslims believe it to have occurred on an odd-numbered night during the last 10 days of Ramadhan, either the night of the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th (in Sunni thought) or the 19th, 21st or 23rd (in Shi'a thought). Ramadhan ends with Eid ul-Fitr on the 1st of Shawwal, with much celebration and feasts. During the month following Ramadahan, called Shawwal, Muslims are encouraged to fast for a further six days, known as “as-Sitta al-Bid”, or "The White Six." When fasting is over, Muslims go to Mosques in nice clothes to pray the first Eid prayer. They give out presents to the young ones and greet their friends and families. They then thank Allah S.W.T. for what He has given them
Fasting (Saum)
The most prominent event of this month is fasting. Everyday during the month of Ramadhan, Muslims around the world get up before dawn to eat Sahur, the pre-dawn meal, then they perform the Subuh prayer. They have to stop eating and drinking before the call for prayer starts until the fourth prayer of the day, Maghrib. Muslims may continue to eat and drink after the sun has set until the next morning's Subuh prayer call. Then the process starts all over.
Ramadhan is a time of reflecting and worshipping Allah S.W.T.. Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam and to avoid obscene and irreligious sights and sounds. Sexual thoughts and activities during fasting hours are also forbidden. Purity of both thoughts and actions is important. The fast is intended to be an exacting act of deep personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised awareness of closeness to Allah S.W.T.
The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. It also allows Muslims to practice self-discipline, self-control, sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate; thus encouraging actions of generosity and charity. However, a certain level of self-control can be lost by those who suffer from eating disorders.
The elderly, the chronically ill, and the mentally ill are exempt from fasting, although the first two groups must endeavour to feed the poor in place of their missed fasting. Also exempt are pregnant women, women during the period of their menstruation, and women nursing their newborns. A difference of opinion exists among Islamic scholars as to whether this last group must make up the days they miss at a later date, or feed poor people as a recompense for days missed. While fasting is not considered compulsory in childhood, many children endeavour to complete as many fasts as possible as practice for later life. Lastly, those travelling are exempt, but must make up the days they miss. The elderly or those who suffer from a disability or disease and have no prospect of getting better in the future can pay the cost of Iftar for a person who cannot afford it, or else they can host him in their house and have him eat with them after sunset as a way of repaying for the days they could not fast.
A person who is observing Ramadhan might break the fast accidentally, due to having forgotten it. In such an instance, one should spit out the food being eaten or cease the forbidden activity, immediately upon remembering the fast. This can usually happen in the first or early days of Ramadhan because that person might have not yet been acclimated into fasting from dawn till dusk.
When Ramadhan came to overshadow Ashura in importance, it took on some characteristics of the latter. According to a well-known Hadith, the person who observes Ramadhan properly will have all their past sins forgiven. According to another, "When Ramadhan arrives, Heaven's gates are opened, Hell's gates are closed, and the demons are chained up" and who ever passes away will enter paradise.
Prayer and reading of the Holy Quran
In addition to fasting, Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Holy Quran. Some Muslims perform the recitation of the entire Holy Quran by means of special prayers, called Tarawih, which are held in the mosques every night of the month, during which a whole section of the Holy Quran (juz, which is 1/30 of the Holy Quran) is recited. Therefore the entire Holy Quran would be completed at the end of the month.
Ramadhan is also a time when Muslims are to slow down from worldly affairs and focus on self-reformation, spiritual cleansing and enlightenment, establishing a link between themselves and God through prayer, supplication, charity, good deeds, kindness and helping others. Since it is a festival of giving and sharing, Muslims prepare special foods and buy gifts for their family and friends and for giving to the poor and needy who cannot afford it; this can involve buying new clothes, shoes and other items of need. There is also a social aspect involved the preparing of special foods and inviting people for the Iftar meal (the meal to open the fast).
Eid ul-Fitr
The Islamic holiday of Eid ul-Fitr’ marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan and the first day of the following month, after another new moon has been sighted. The Eid falls after 29 or 30 days of fasting, per the lunar sighting. Eid ul-Fitr means the Festival of Breaking the Fast; a special celebration is made. Food is donated to the poor (‘Zakat al-Fitr’), everyone puts on their best, usually new, clothes, and communal prayers are held in the early morning, followed by feasting and visiting relatives and friends. The prayer is two rakaahs only, and it is optional (sunat) prayer as opposed to the compulsory five daily prayers
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