Welcome Ramadan [Archives:2006/985/Community]
By: Mohammed Al-Mekhlafi
Ibb University
Ramadan is a special month of the year for over one billion Muslims throughout the world. It is the name of the ninth month in the Islamic (Hijri) calendar. Ramadan derives from the Arabic root: ramida, meaning scorching heat or dryness.
Since Muslims are commanded to fast during the month of Ramadan, it is believed the month's name may refer to the heat of thirst and hunger, or because fasting burns away one's past sins. The start of the month is based on a combination of physical sightings of the moon and astronomical calculations. The end of the month, marked by the celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr, is similarly determined.
Fasting is the fourth “pillar” of Islam. The others are faith or testimony; prayer; charitable giving; and the pilgrimage to Mecca. The importance of fasting is that it is a secret worship.
The characteristics and virtues of this worship are as follows:
The rewards of this worship are given directly from Allah to the fasters as in the Hadith, “Fasting is for my sake and it is I who reward for it. The faster gives up his sexual desire, his food, and his drink for My sake. Fasting is like a shield. The faster has two joys: one when he breaks his fasting and the other when he meets his lord.
The change in the breath of the mouth during the fast is better in Allah's estimation than the smell of musk.” During this month all the paradise's gates are open and all devils are restrained; the angels ask forgiveness for the fasters until the last moment of Ramadan; Lailat al-Qadr “Night of Destiny,” which is better than one thousand months in doing good deeds, is in Ramadan; the faster gets mercy and forgiveness of his sins in this month and is liberated from the hell in this month.
Muslims have to receive Ramadan with a true repentance and strong intention to take advantage of the whole time in doing the good deeds. Ramadan is a time of intensive worship, reading of the Quran, giving charity, purifying one's behavior, and doing other good deeds.
As a secondary goal, fasting is a way of experiencing hunger; while they are hungry and thirsty, Muslims are reminded of the suffering of the poor. During Ramadan, it is common for Muslims to go to the Mosque (Masjid) and spend several hours praying and studying the Quran.
In addition to the five daily prayers, during Ramadan Muslims recite a special prayer called the Taraweeh prayer (Night Prayer). At mosques during Ramadan, the Quran is recited each night in prayers. By the end of the month the complete scripture will be recited. Some Muslims also spend the entire night in prayer.
The daily period of fasting starts at the breaking of dawn and ends at the setting of the sun. During the daylight hours, Muslims totally abstain from food, drink, smoking, and marital sex. During Ramadan, Muslims are also expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam by refraining from violence, anger, envy, greed, lust, angry and sarcastic retorts, and gossip.
All obscene and irreligious sights and sounds are to be avoided. Purity of both thought and action is important. Fasting is an exacting act of deep personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised level of closeness to Allah.
The usual practice is to have a pre-fast meal (sahoor) before dawn and a post-fast meal (iftar) after sunset. It is a common practice for Muslims to break their fast at sunset with dates (iftar), following the custom of Prophet Mohammed. This is followed by the sunset prayer, which is followed by evening meal.
Since Ramadan emphasizes intimacy and since everyone eats dinner at the same time, Muslims often invite one another to share in the Ramadan evening meal.
Fasting during Ramadan is not obligatory for several groups. Children before the onset of puberty are not required to fast, though some do. However, if puberty is delayed, fasting becomes obligatory for males and females after a certain age. According to the Quran, if fasting would be dangerous to someone's health, such as a person with an illness or medical condition, they are excused. For example, pregnant women usually are not expected to fast; they are encouraged to feed a needy person instead.
According to hadith, menstruating women are not allowed to fast. Other individuals for whom fasting is not obligatory are those in battle and the travelers. If one's condition preventing fasting is only temporary, one is required to fast the days that are missed after the month of Ramadan is over and before the next Ramadan arrives. If one's condition is permanent or extended for a period of time, one may feed a needy person for every day missed instead.
During Ramadan it is believed one of the last ten odd-numbered nights of the month is Lailat al-Qadr, the “Night of Destiny.” It is the holiest night of the holiest month; it is believed to be the night on which Allah first began revealing the Quran to Prophet Mohammed through the angel Jibril. This is a time for especially devoted prayer, and the rewards and blessings associated with this night. Muslims are told in the Quran praying throughout this night is better than one thousand months of good deeds. No one knows exactly which night it is; it is one of Allah's mysteries.
Additionally, Muslims are urged to read the entire Quran during the month of Ramadan, and its 114 chapters have been divided into 30 equal parts for this purpose.
When Ramadan ends, Muslims give charity in a prescribed amount, calculated to feed the poor. This is known as fitra, and is meant as another reminder of the suffering endured by many. Many Muslims also take this occasion to pay the annual alms which are due to the poor and needy, known as Zakah (2.5 percent of assets).
When the first crescent of the new moon is officially sighted by a reliable source, the month of Ramadan is declared over, and the month of Shawwal begins. The end of Ramadan is marked by a three-day period known as Eid ul-Fitr, the “Festival of Fast-breaking.” It is a joyous time beginning with a special prayer, and accompanied by celebration, some visits for relatives, festive meals and sometimes very modest gift-giving, especially to children.
At the beginning of Ramadan, it is appropriate to wish Muslims “Ramadan Mubarak” which means “Blessed Ramadan.” At its conclusion, you may say “Eid Mubarak.”
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