The Muslim holy month of Ramadan has begun. Over the following month, Muslims observing the quick will chorus from consuming and consuming from daybreak to nightfall to attain larger “taqwa”, or consciousness of God.
On this visible explainer, we reply 10 widespread questions on Ramadan that will help you higher perceive its significance and practices.
1. When is Ramadan this 12 months?
Ramadan begins with the sighting of the crescent moon. This 12 months, fasting began on March 1 in lots of nations, together with throughout the Center East, Australia, Indonesia, Nigeria and the Americas. Another nations, akin to Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Pakistan and South Africa, started observing Ramadan on March 2.
As a result of the Islamic calendar is predicated on the lunar cycle, the beginning of Ramadan shifts 10-12 days earlier annually, finishing a full rotation by way of all seasons roughly each 33 years.
Ramadan is more likely to conclude on March 30 or March 31, marking the start of the tenth Islamic month, Shawwal.
2. Why do Muslims quick throughout Ramadan?
Ramadan is without doubt one of the 5 pillars of Islam and is prescribed for Muslims as an act of worship and a type of non secular purification by way of charity and good deeds.
Fasting is supposed to develop an individual’s taqwa, which implies being aware of God, being pious and self-restrained.
Feeling starvation and dehydration permits individuals who quick to grasp what the much less privileged expertise and fosters larger empathy and gratitude.
Fasting is without doubt one of the foremost sunnahs, which implies residing by the Prophet Muhammad’s instance. It’s a custom within the lengthy line of Abrahamic traditions. Jews and Christians additionally quick as a apply of their religions in numerous variations.
3. What are the principles of fasting?
A fasting particular person should chorus from consuming or consuming from daybreak till sundown.
Along with abstaining from food and drinks, smoking of any variety and sexual relations are prohibited throughout fasting hours.
Fasting goals to purify the soul, so anger, gossip and any inappropriate behaviour must be prevented.
Unintentional consuming or consuming, akin to forgetting after which stopping upon remembering, doesn’t break the quick.
4. Who’s required to quick?
All able-bodied adults, female and male, are required to quick.
Nonetheless, these with power or incurable diseases are exempt from fasting. Ladies throughout their menstrual cycles, in addition to pregnant girls, are additionally exempt.
For situations like diabetes, the place extended fasting will be dangerous or life-threatening, fasting will not be required.
For these travelling, fasting on journey days is optionally available. Whether it is troublesome, they could skip the quick and make up for these missed days later within the 12 months.
Kids under the age of puberty are additionally not required to quick, however they’re inspired to practise, particularly as they get older.
These unable to quick could also be excused however should both make up for it after Ramadan or present compensation by feeding a poor particular person for every missed day, if financially in a position.
5. How do Muslims break their quick throughout Ramadan?
It’s endorsed to interrupt the quick instantly at sundown with dates and water, following the non secular teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.
All world wide, each tradition has its personal rites of what to serve for the predawn meal which is known as suhoor or sehri, and for iftar, the sundown meal.
Dates are wealthy in nutritional vitamins, fibre and antioxidants and supply fast power after fasting all day.
6. What’s the connection between Ramadan and the Quran?
The Quran was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad within the 12 months 609 throughout Laylat al-Qadr, also referred to as the Evening of Decree or Evening of Energy, whereas he was within the cave of Mount Hira – situated exterior the town of Mecca.
This occasion passed off throughout Ramadan, however its precise date stays unknown. Most students consider it falls throughout the final 10 nights of Ramadan, particularly one of many odd-numbered nights.
The Quran was revealed in Arabic and it contains: 30 sections, 114 chapters, 6,236 verses and 77,432 phrases.
It mentions Ramadan within the second chapter (Chapter 2, verse 185) with the prescribed guidelines of who can quick, and how you can make up days after Ramadan.
7. What occurs over the past 10 days of Ramadan?
The nights through the Laylat al-Qadr are thought-about by Muslims to be the holiest of the 12 months.
Over the last 10 nights of Ramadan, Muslims collect in mosques and enhance their worship, in search of the immense blessings of Laylat al-Qadr by way of prayer, Quran recitation and the remembrance of God.
Worship on these nights is believed to be extra rewarding than 1,000 months of devotion.
8. What does the phrase Ramadan imply?
The phrase Ramadan is derived from the Arabic phrase “Ar-Ramd”, which implies intense warmth, and likewise rooted within the phrase, “Ramdha” which implies sun-scorched sand.
This title has come to indicate the burning away of sins by way of fasting, purification and devotion. Some students additionally relate it to the time when the names of the months had been primarily based on seasonal situations, suggesting that Ramadan initially fell throughout an intensely scorching interval.
9. What are some Ramadan traditions?
Ramadan is a time when many households and buddies come collectively for iftar, the night meal that breaks the quick, gathering across the desk to share meals, specific gratitude and strengthen household bonds.
Throughout the Center East, houses and streets are adorned with vibrant fanoos, the normal lanterns, including to the festive and non secular environment of the holy month.
The custom of the fanoos is believed to have originated in Egypt through the Fatimid Caliphate, when residents of Cairo greeted the caliph initially of Ramadan with lanterns in hand. Over time, this practice unfold to cities throughout the Islamic world, together with Damascus, Aleppo, Ramallah, Gaza, Amman and Riyadh, turning into a cherished image of Ramadan celebrations.
See how one can make your individual fanoos right here:
10. When is Eid al-Fitr?
The tip of Ramadan is marked by the three-day celebration of Eid al-Fitr, that means the “pageant of breaking the quick”.
Throughout Eid al-Fitr, Muslims attend particular prayers, give charity, take pleasure in festive meals, go to household and buddies and trade greetings and items.
International locations that started fasting on March 1 will observe Eid on both March 30 or March 31, whereas people who began on March 2 are anticipated to have a good time Eid on March 31 or April 1, relying on the sighting of the brand new moon.
