What is 'the sacred month' of Ramadan all about? Fasting, Eid al-Fitr and more explained | Halek Hossain

 

RAMADAN  2-APRIL-2022 - Summary of the story Ramadan is a month-long religious holiday for Muslims to reflect and strengthen their relationship with God. Ramadan is determined by the lunar cycle, beginning and ending with a crescent. Religious holidays include fasting, prayer, and being close to loved ones. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, a holy month designed for prayer and fasting. It begins and ends with a crescent shape, which is why Ramadan is not set on a specific day of the year.

Each year, its start and end days change with the lunar calendar. Depending on the region, it may even change the dates of Ramadan. This year in the United States it is being celebrated from Saturday, April 2 to Sunday, May 1. Muslims believe that Ramadan means strengthening their relationship with God. Religious holidays include fasting, prayer, and being close to loved ones.

During the first Fajr prayers of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, around the Kaaba, the cubic building of the Grand Mosque, as they maintain social distance to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on April 13, 2021.

Why observe Ramadan?

Muslims believe that in the month of Ramadan, God gave the Prophet Muhammad the holy book of Islam, the Qur'an, in 610 AD, the first time God revealed to Muhammad that he was a prophet in charge of carrying God's message across the Arabian Peninsula. , According to Homayra Ziad, director of Islamic studies at Johns Hopkins University. Ziad told USA Today, "The Quran was revealed to Muslims on the night of destiny, so Ramadan became a holy month." "This is the month of charity and generosity," Karen Elhanwe, a Lebanese and Egyptian immigrant living in the United States, told USA Today. "It's a time of doing good and spiritual reflection for people near and far."

What does the Qur'an say about Ramadan?

The Qur'an presents fasting as a continuation of a tradition that preceded Muhammad - for Jews and Christians, according to Ziad. The Qur'an states: O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become righteous. So whoever of you bears witness to this month, let him observe a formal fast. … And when My servants ask you about My [Lord], I am really near. I respond to the caller's call when he calls me .... The Qur'an (Surah Al-Baqara (2): 183-186)

(Translated from The Study Qur'an (edited by Sayyid Hussain Nasr) and The Sublime Qur'an (translated by Laleh Bakhtiyar)

Why do Muslims fast?

The idea behind fasting is to practice self-control, which is one of the pillars of Islam. Fasting is observed from evening to dawn. Every adolescent and physically able Muslim must fast. Muslims must refrain: Liquid Food Sexual activity Negative thoughts Bad intentions "Muslims, like any religious community, are diverse in beliefs and practices. Many fast, some choose not to fast at all, others can be creative about how they fast," Ziad said.

Although there is no sexual activity during fasting, couples are allowed to have intimate encounters at night after breaking the fast. Muslims pray for forgiveness for their sins during Ramadan. It's about remorse. It takes a month to form a habit, so according to Ziad, Ramadan is a month-long habit. "It's time to dump her and move on," Ziad said. "It's time to dump her and move on." Why is Easter and Passover so late in 2022? Blame it on the moon and the calendar Ramadan at Starbucks: How companies can benefit by respecting religious diversity

Muslims around the world celebrate Ramadan

Muslims around the world celebrate Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar designed for prayers and fasting

How to break the fast?

There are five daily prayers in Ramadan. Muslims break their fast with Iftar food after the evening prayers. This meal is often celebrated with friends and extended family. Iftar traditionally begins with dates and water. "Dates are one of the main ingredients in the Arabian Peninsula," Ziad said. "These were considered superfoods in the time of the Prophet."

What if you can not fast?

A lost day can be filled by extra fasting. Those who are ill or traveling during the month of Ramadan may be exempted from fasting, but after the end of Ramadan they have to fast for extra days to make up for missed days. "A lot of the time it's empty when you're not thinking about food," Ziad said. "When that place is clear, there is a lot of meditation time. When you become more conscious, you become more open to see God's mercy."

According to Zia, those who do not fast can choose between feeding the poor or paying to feed others. Fasting can also be changed for what a person is capable of doing. Pregnant and lactating people as well as people with their periods, as well as elderly or frail participants or people with mental illness are exempted from fasting.

What is Eid-ul-Fitr at the end of Ramadan?

The end of Ramadan is a celebration known as Eid al-Fitr, one of the major holidays for Muslims. Family and friends gather, and there is a special communal prayer for the end of Ramadan. People often wear traditional clothes and eat traditional food. Traditional food depends on the region in which Ramadan is celebrated. According to the Halifax Public Library, 

Mamul is a shortbread cookie made in Syria and Lebanon, made with dates, pistachios or walnuts. Bolani is a thin-topped bread filled with vegetables traditionally eaten in Afghanistan. Tufahija, a sweet made of apples soaked in sugar and filled with walnuts, is enjoyed by Bosnians. "It's a celebration that brings family and friends together to celebrate that they've completed the month of fasting," Ziad said.