Wednesday, Aug 11, 2010
Gulf News
ramadan is a month to burn sins and derives from the Arabic root ‘ramd’ meaning severe heat
Dubai Muslims across the world live the month of Ramadan in total devotion to Allah and help those in need. We take a look at what Ramadan stands for and what happens during this month.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and Muslims are required to spend it in pious fasting and introspection. Each day during this month — from dawn until sunset — Muslims all over the world abstain from eating, drinking and doing anything that is ill-natured.
Ramadan is a time to cleanse the soul and focus attention on The Almighty.
The word “Ramadan” originates from an Arabic root “ramd”, which means severe heat. It is usually referred to as a month to burn sins.
The lunar cycle determines the Islamic calendar, therefore the month of Ramadan commences with the sighting of the new moon, an event based on astronomical calculations.
Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam, besides others such as faith, prayer, charity and the pilgrimage. Restraint from everyday enjoyment and curbing wrong intentions and cravings are considered as an act of compliance and obedience to Allah.
Importance
The month also holds special importance because the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) during Ramadan.
Unlike ordinary days, Muslims have two meals a day during Ramadan, suhoor and iftar. Suhoor is the pre-dawn meal of Ramadan. Having suhoor is sunnah (the Prophet’s way).
If one is not hungry and has no desire to eat, then two or three dates or some other light food may be taken or some water at least should be drunk.
Iftar is a meal served at the end of the day during Ramadan, to end the day’s fast. It is preferred to end the fast with dates and water as the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) used to do. It is appreciable to end the fast as soon as the sun has definitely set. In the evening following the iftar and evening prayers, it is customary for Muslims to go out visiting family and friends. The fast is resumed the next morning.
It is common for Muslims to go to mosques during Ramadan and spend several hours praying and studying the Quran.
In addition to the five daily prayers, during Ramadan Muslims perform a special prayer, ‘the Taraweeh prayer’ (night prayer), which is lengthy with long portions of the Quran being recited. It follows Isha, the last evening prayers.
The word taraweeh comes from an Arabic word which means to rest and relax. The prayer is usually long (over an hour), during which one stands upright to read from the Quran and performs many cycles of movement (standing, bowing, prostrating, sitting). After each four cycles, one sits for a brief period of rest before continuing, this is where the name taraweeh (“rest prayer”) came from.
Strongly recommended
Some Muslims spend the entire night in prayer. Taraweeh prayers are voluntary, but are strongly recommended and widely practised.
On the evening of either the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th day of the month, Muslims celebrate the holiest night of Ramadan, Laylat Al Qadr (the Night of Power). It is believed that Laylat Al Qadr is to be found in the last 10 nights of Ramadan. Muslims seek this night by worshipping Allah with prayers, supplication (du`a) and remembrance (dhikr).
When Ramadan ends, a three-day celebration follows from the first day of the month of Shawwal. The celebration is called Eid Al Fitr (the Feast of Fast Ending).
Muslims assemble early in the morning at outdoor spots such as fields, squares or mosques to perform the Eid prayer. After the Eid prayer is a sermon that educates Muslims on the act and rituals of Eid, like zakat (an offering of a small fraction of one’s belongings to charity, usually to the poor and Muslims in need).
After the Eid prayer, Muslims usually go to visit friends and family members and bestow gifts, especially on children.
These actions customarily go on for three days.
ahmed ramzan/Gulf News
Prayer
People pray at a mosque in Dubai. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and Muslims are required to spend it in pious fasting ?and introspection.
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