The holy month of Islamic calendar began on the evening of Tuesday, May 15 and end on Thursday June 14, 2018. The month will last for 29 days and will be celebrated by approximately 1.6 billion Muslims around the world.
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year in the Islamic culture. Prophet Mohammed preached, “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of hell are closed and the devils are chained."
Muslims also believe that during this holy month, God revealed the first verses of the Quran to Prophet Mohammed. That was the night known as "The Night of Power" or “Laylat al-Qadr” in Arabic.
This fasting is known to strengthen one's relationship with God. Prayers, charity and generosity make the month even more pious.
Why is fasting important in Ramadan month ?
Fasting is considered as the biggest act of religious observance. Fasting (sawm in Arabic), is one of the five key pillars of the Islamic faith. The others are prayer (salat), giving a percentage of your salary to charity (zakat), making the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and, of course, a belief in the Muslim faith (shahadah).
Ramadan fasting is done from dawn to dusk and is known to purify the soul and the body. This is the time when Muslims feel a sense of being close to God and refrain from materialistic pleasures. This fasting is a pious practice in the Islamic culture that fosters a sense of spirituality in Muslims.
People abstain from food, drink, smoking and intercourse from sunrise to sunset. They wake up before sunrise and perform morning prayers. After morning prayer, they eat before their fast begins. After the sunset, they break their fast with a communal ‘Iftar’ meal with their families.
How is Ramadan Celebrated?
Ramadan is a time of joy and celebration. People spend time with their loved ones. Sawm or fasting is observed throughout the Ramadan month. While fasting, Muslims do not have to eat or drink anything, including water, until sunset. From the age of 12 or when they hit puberty, Muslims participate in the fast.
One of the most important aspects of the Ramadan fast is called niyyah, which means "intention." This explains that everyone who is observing the Ramadan fast must not simply or accidentally abstain from food. They need to fulfill the requirement of niyyah. This requirement states that a Muslim must "intend in heart that fasting is meant to worship Allah." The intention should not be for dietary or any other reasons. It should only be to dedicate yourself to and worship Allah. In fact, according to the scriptures, "Whoever does not make niyyah before dawn would not have fasted." The intention and determination are of great importance during the holy month of Ramadan.
At the end of Ramadan, there is a big three-day celebration called Eid al-Fitr, or "the festival of breaking the Fast." It is celebrated with fervour where they eat meals with family and friends and exchange gifts.