shefa siddiqui
Wishing Happy Healthy and peaceful Ramadan to all Muslims across the world. More than one billion Muslims across the world are waiting to welcome Ramadan. Ramadan being the sacred month of Islam is considered as a blessing from Almighty Allah. It’s a lucky chance to attain Taqwa (dread of God) through fasting and Tarawih (late evening prayer) and feel Allah’s presence and refresh your Eman and come closer to him.
A large number of Muslims all over the world will probably begin fasting of Ramadan on Thursday after viewing the moon. It’s a month of exceptional grace, accompanied by dawn till sunset fasting. The fasts begin by eating at Dawn known as Sehri and ends with the eating of Iftari at sunset (Dusk) as Maghrib Azaan starts. These days the fasts are of more than 14 hours, starting from 4:15 in the morning and ending at 6:45 in the evening. Ramadan begins with the cosmic new moon, as it denotes the beginning of new month.
Here you’ll get to know about Ramadan, its meaning, definition, importance andbeliefs.
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan begins in the 9th month of the Muslim lunar calendar. It is obligatory for Muslims above12 years of age to fast in Ramadan. This includes keeping away from drinking, eating, lying, backbiting, and other unfair means and evil deeds. It is said to pray and seek Allah’s forgiveness in this month more and more. Because of strong faith on Allah and the holy book Quran that guides the people on how to spend your life, sets an example of Muhammad Sahab for the entire generations to pray (Namaz), read Quran and understand its meaning as it’s a book considered as panacea for all human problems and issues in this world, give charity to the needy and disabled ones are the significant deeds to be performed during this holy month.
Muslims likewise accept that the Quran was uncovered in Ramadan. People give Iftari foods in the Mosques to feed the fasting poor and needy people.
The term “RAMADAN” is an Arabic word means to burn your ego, pride, jealousy and evil and rejuvenate a fresh you as the month ends. Ramadan fasts are not about dieting and remaining hungry. Its main purpose is to feel the difficulty faced by the poor and needy ones while being fasting so that you’ll get to know how it feels to be hungry and thirsty.
This year Ramadan will definitely be less cheerful time amid corona virus pandemic across the globe. As all nations including Muslim dominating countries and places are also subjected to strict Lockdown. This may help in preventing the risk and spread of the COVID19 by restricting or constraining gatherings, and shutting mosques.
What’s the reason behind Muslim’s Fasting?
As Ramadan is considered as the month of entire Muslim generations in which the gates of hell are closed, Devils are chained and doors of Paradise and mercy are opened. Allah orders his believers to ask whatever they want or desire and give them in behalf of his slave’s fasts and endless prayers during the entire month. Fasting is a great way to seek Allah’s mercy and forgiveness. Muslims regularly give charity to poor and needy for a good cause during Ramadan and throughout year and also provide food and feed the hungry.
Fasting is an activity to gain and retain patience. It’s a way to completely detoxify your inner self physically, mentally and emotionally. You’re required to stop your habits and practices of taking morning espresso, smoking and early afternoon eating.
Fasting during Ramadan is one among the five pillars of Islam, including Muslims affirmation and Taqwa on Allah, Daily obligatory prayers, noble deeds, and performing out Hajj in Mecca and Madina.
Completing the Fast
Muslims usually complete their fast like the Prophet Mohammed did 1,400 years ago, with water and some dates at the time of sunset. Before the evening prayer, a large dining called “iftar” is shared with the entire family members and loved ones. Iftar is a social gathering where all the fasting persons are required to sit all together and eat at the same place. The Iftari food includes light evening snacks like fritters, Chips, Fruit salad, Lemonade, etc.
All across the Muslim world, mosques and other help organizations arrange free iftar for fasting persons during each night of Ramadan.
The Alms Giving
Charity or Zakat is considered as another significant deed among the five pillars of Islam. Depending upon the extra wealth a person has discarding his obligatory needs, 2% per extra wealth is the calculation of Zakat amount. Muslims are required to give normally as an attribute of Zakat or they may make a sadaqah on behalf of his most beloved or precious thing which is considered an extra generous blessing. During Ramadan some Muslims especially make more sadaqah as an indication of their faithfulness.
The Islamic blessed day of Eid Al-Fitr, is marked by the end of Ramadan after seeing the moon and completing 29 or 30 fasts in the entire month. Eid starts on the maiden day of the Islamic lunar month known as Shawwal, and the Eid festivity may continue up to three days.
On the day of Eid Muslims get up early in the morning at Dawn and begin the day with the first prayer of the entire day known as Salatul Fajr followed by the shower and dress up on their new and good clothes along with itar or perfume. After that Muslims gather in mosques for an Eid prayer (Namaz). It is an age long tradition to greet your loved ones and neighbors by saying “Eid Mubarak” (“Blessed Eid”) or Happy Eid.