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 General
info on Ramadan
[Also see the SUSRIS
Special Section on Ramadan - click here]
Ramadan and Eid
al-Fitr
The month of fasting
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Islam
uses a lunar calendar�that is, each month begins with the sighting of
the new moon. Because the lunar calendar is about 11 days shorter than
the solar calendar used elsewhere, Islamic
holidays "move" each year. In 2006 Ramadan will
begin on Sept. 24.
For more than a billion Muslims around the world�including some 8
million in North America�Ramadan is a "month of blessing"
marked by prayer, fasting, and charity. This year Ramadan precedes Christmas
and Hanukkah.
But while in many places these holidays have become widely
commercialized, Ramadan retains its focus on self-sacrifice and devotion
to Allah (God).
Why this Month?
Muslims believe that during the month of Ramadan,
Allah revealed the first verses of the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam.
Around 610 A.D., a caravan trader named Muhammad
took to wandering the desert near Mecca (in today's Saudi Arabia) while
thinking about his faith. One night a voice called to him from the night
sky. It was the angel Gabriel, who told Muhammad he had been chosen to
receive the word of Allah. In the days that followed, Muhammad found
himself speaking the verses that would be transcribed as the Qur'an.
At many mosques during Ramadan, about one thirtieth of the Qur'an is
recited each night in prayers known as tarawih. In this way, by
the end of the month the complete scripture will have been recited.
Fasting
Muslims practice sawm, or fasting, for the
entire month of Ramadan. This means that they may eat or drink nothing,
including water, while the sun shines. Fasting is one of the Five
Pillars (duties) of Islam. As with other Islamic duties, all
able Muslims take part in sawm from about age twelve.
During Ramadan in the Muslim world, most restaurants are closed during
the daylight hours. Families get up early for suhoor, a meal
eaten before the sun rises. After the sun sets, the fast is broken with
a meal known as iftar. Iftar usually begins with dates and sweet
drinks that provide a quick energy boost.
Fasting serves many purposes. While they are hungry and thirsty, Muslims
are reminded of the suffering of the poor. Fasting is also an
opportunity to practice self-control and to cleanse the body and mind.
And in this most sacred month, fasting helps Muslims feel the peace that
comes from spiritual devotion as well as kinship with fellow believers
Eid al-Fitr
Ramadan ends with the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which
in 2006 occurs on Oct. 24. Literally the "Festival of Breaking the
Fast," Eid al-Fitr is one of the two most important Islamic
celebrations (the other occurs after the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca).
At Eid al-Fitr people dress in their finest clothes, adorn their homes
with lights and decorations, give treats to children, and enjoy visits
with friends and family.
A sense of generosity and gratitude colors these festivities. Although
charity and good deeds are always important in Islam, they have special
significance at the end of Ramadan. As the month draws to a close,
Muslims are obligated to share their blessings by feeding the poor and
making contributions to mosques.
Ramadan
Ramadan
is the most sacred holiday of the Muslim year and is mandated by the
Qur'an (2:183). It occurs in the ninth month of the Islamic
calendar and is the holy month of fasting. Fasting is
considered to be the third pillar or religious obligation of Islam and
provides many benefits including learning self-control. This results
from a lack of preoccupation with satisfying bodily appetites during the
daylight hours. Ramadan is a time of worship, reading the Qur'an,
charitable acts, and the purification of individual behavior. This is
also the time in which the Qur'an was revealed to Mohammed
as guidance for the people.
Ramadan
begins when a trusted witness testifies that the new moon has been
sighted. Consequently, the fasting may be delayed if the moon is not
visible. During this period, Muslims must abstain from food, drink, and
sexual intercourse from dawn until dusk each day. Ramadan is a time of
atonement somewhat similar to Yom
Kippur and Lent.
Ramadan ends
with Eid-al-Fitr or the Festival of Fast-Breaking which is joyous
celebration marked by a special gift of charity. Muslims dress in
holiday apparel and attend a community prayer in the morning.
Source: http://www3.kumc.edu/diversity/ethnic_relig/ramadan.html
[Also see the SUSRIS
Special Section on Ramadan - click here]
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