In Arabic it is Ramadan, in Persian Ramazan, in Urdu Ramzan and in Indonesian it is Puasa or Bulan Puasa. Names are different but meaning is the same. This is the holy month of fasting observed by Muslims all across the world. Ramzan teaches self-discipline and self control by withdrawing one from the worldly things, following the teachings of Islam and abstaining from any sinful activity.
All adult Muslims keep the fast from sunrise till sunset i.e. during daylight hours except for the ones who are suffering from illness and diabetes, traveling, pregnant and breastfeeding women or women going through menstrual period. People on fast can eat and drink only before sunset and after sunrise. In Islam, it is believed that fasting gives reward and observing it in the month of Ramzan increases the benefits of rewards to manifold. Along with fasting prayers are offered and the Quran is recited.
Importance and Origin of Ramzan
Ramzan is considered a sacred festival. In about 610 A.D., Muhammad, a caravan trader was travelling in the desert near Mecca. Suddenly the angel Gabriel appeared and told him that he had been chosen by Allah to receive the world. Muhammad then started speaking and writing down the words of Allah to the Quran. It is said that the Quran revelations received by Muhammad were in the lunar month of Ramadan.
It is the month in which the holy Quran was sent down to the lowest heaven. It was also told by Muhammad to his followers that during this month the doors of heaven will remain open whereas that of hell will remain close.
As per Islamic lunar calendar the month of fasting begins with the sight of the first crescent of a new moon. Lunar calendar year is shorter than the Solar year by 10-11 days and therefore the holy month of Ramadan keeps migrating throughout the year. The start date of this annual festival varies each year and follows Islamic lunar calendar.
Some Muslims follow the actual sight of the moon to start the fasting period, whereas some simply follows the calendar dates. So the date of the festival keeps changing with the location by a day or so.
How is Ramadan celebrated?
This is the period of intense devotion, charity and absolution.
In Ramadan falls tha Laylat al-Qadr or “Night of Power” or “the night of decree”. It is the holiest night of the year. It can be any one night out of the odd numbered nights during the last 10 days of the Ramadan month i.e. the night of 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 29th day can be the Night of Power.
The first day of next lunar month known as Shawwal is celebrated as Eid-ul-Fitr. It marks the end of Ramadan.
Suhoor – Meal consumed before dawn.
Iftar – Meal consumed after sunset. Generally dates are the first food to break the fast. It is followed by the Maghrib prayer and then main meal.
Muslims engage in charity and prayers during the entire month. They do not indulge in any kind of bad speech or behavior and withdraw from sexual relations. Muslims put every effort to follow the teachings of Islam to cleanse the soul.
Charities during Ramzan
Every Muslim is obligated to donate a fixed percentage of the his savings to the poor as charity. This is known as zakat. In this month many people give a large portion of the zakat. Apart from this Muslims do voluntary charity known as Sadaqah. To maximize their reward out of charity they also prefer to do Sadaqah during Ramazan.
Prayers
In the month of Ramadan Muslims perform extra prayers at night or in the evening which is known as Tarawih.
Reading the Quran is encouraged during Ramzan. Every night voluntary prayers to recite a whole section of the Qurans are held in the mosques. This is done to complete the Quran in one month.
Failing to fast or openly showing this behavior by eating, drinking or smoking during daytime may put one in danger of prosecution as such a practice is regarded as a crime. All across the world one can easily find out examples of putting such persons in prison, imposing fine and even asking them to do community service.
In many countries the month is welcomed by lighting up lanterns and stringing up lights in public square and city streets. Apart from religious importance, observing fast during Ramzan leads to many health benefits such as improved alertness and brain function. It helps in lowering down the stress level because of fall in cortisol. Weight loss, reduction of cholesterol and a body detoxification has also been observed during fasting.
In 2014, June 29 has marked the beginning of Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitar will be observed on July 30.
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