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Muslims worldwide
participate in the month of fasting
The holy month of Ramadan
is a special month. For
over one billion Muslims worldwide, it is a time of inner
reflection and devotion to God. It is the month of fasting.
Ramadan is the ninth
month of the Islamic calendar.
The start of the month is based on a combination of
physical sightings of the moon and astronomical calculations.
The Islamic calendar itself is a lunar calendar, and months
begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted.
This year, Ramadan officially begins on October 15, 2004,
according to the Institute of Astronomical and Geophysical
Research at King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology in
Saudi Arabia.
Ramadan is special to
Muslims because it is during this time that the fourth of the Five
Pillars of Islam, Siam Ramadan, is practiced.
As described in the book, Saudi Arabia: All You Need to
Know by Dr. Nasser Ibrahim Rashid and Dr. Esber Ibrahim Shaeen, Siam Ramadan is the "fasting by every Moslem
during the holy month of Ramadan.
Fasting takes place from dawn or first light until sunset. During this period, one must not eat, drink, smoke, or carry
on sexual activity. People
who are sick, elderly, pregnant women and those who are traveling
may be excused and should make up the days missed at a later date
in the year. Those physically incapable must feed sixty needy persons for
everyday of fast missed.
"Fasting
is regarded as a healthy exercise making people more sensitive to
the sufferings of the needy.
Moslems break the fast with a light meal called iftar
or break-fast. Communities
and streets become alive at night. Everyone is usually in a festive mood. The nights of Ramadan are marked with religious activities,
including long periods of prayers (Tarawih) performed after
the last prayer of the day (Salat Al-Isha).
One of the major holidays is Eid Al-Fitr, which
marks the end of Ramadan. Celebrations
go on for four days. It
is a happy time, especially for children who traditionally receive
clothing, toys and other gifts."
Another important day
during Ramadan is the 27th night of the month.
It is generally taken that this is the night in which the
Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet Mohammad.
The night is known as the "Night of Power" (Lailat
ul-Qadr). Many
Muslims spend the entire night in prayer.
Click here to read more
about the Five Pillars of Islam.
For Muslims, Ramadan is a
time for inner reflection and devotion to God.
The Siam Ramadan, or fasting, is intended to teach
patience and self-control as well as to remind one of the less
fortunate. In Saudi
Arabia this year, more than 300 housing units will be given away
to the poor on the first day of Ramadan, according to Arab News.
The Higher Women's Committee for Social and Humanitarian
Services established these housing units.
The houses will be furnished before presenting them to the
poor families free of cost.
Also in Saudi Arabia,
5,500 prisoners will be released and deported during the month of
Ramadan, according to Arab News.
These prisoners are mainly convicted Asian and African
workers, whose cases are unrelated to crimes of terrorism or drug
trafficking. The
prisoners will be released and deported following a royal clemency
to be granted by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd.
"The process to free
the prisoners will start from the holy month of Ramadan that
begins in mid-October," said Brig. Gen. Ali-Al-Harithi,
director general of prisons, in Arab News. "No one convicted on terrorism charges will be released."
In Saudi Arabia,
non-Muslims are urged to respect Ramadan by abstaining from
eating, drinking and smoking in public during the day.
In a statement released by the Saudi Interior Ministry, the
ministry said, "Non-Muslim residents of this country must
respect Muslims' feelings by refraining from eating, drinking or
smoking in public places, in the streets and workplaces during the
dawn-to-dusk fast observed by Muslims throughout the holy
month." Violators of the rules could face possible deportation,
according to the ministry.
This year, the month of
Ramadan ends on November 12, 2004.
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