Introduction To Ramadan
Ramadan is a holy month of Islam. It begins in the ninth month of the Arabic calendar. Muslim people keep fasting from sunrise to sunset during this month. Fasting is one of those five fundamental principles of Islam. Muslims will not eat or drink anything from sunrise to sunset for the whole month. It is the month of mercy and forgiveness. Muslims participate in fasting to get closer to Allah (SWT). Learn Why do Muslims fast during Ramadan.
When Is Ramadan?
This year, Ramadan tentatively will start on Saturday, March 8, 2024, and end on Monday, April 09, 2024, respectively. In Muslim, the start and the end always depend on moon sightings. These days may vary to 29 or 30, depending upon the moon.
History Of Ramadan
Ramadan month is declared the holiest month among all other months in Islam. There is a reason why this is the most blessed month. This month our ‘Holy Quran’ was sent down from Heaven to the world as a guide for humankind. There is a special night named ‘The Qadr Night or Laylat al-Qadr,’ which means the night of praying to Allah (SWT). But the day of prayer is not fixed in any place. Muslims pray this special prayer on the last ten days of Ramadan. But it has to be any odd-numbered night of Ramadan. These days prayer is better than a thousand years of praying. Most people celebrate this night at the twenty-ninth Ramazan.
Reasons Behind Fasting During Ramadan
- A Commandment of Allah (SWT)
- A Means to Becoming Righteous
- To Learn Restraint
- Develop Faculties to Experience Visions
- It’s Good for You from all sides!
Spiritual Purification
Ramadan is a spiritual purification time for Muslims, representing kindness, consideration, and possession. During the month, special attention is given to acts of praise in the form of prayer, internal peace, and dhikr (for the sake of Allah (SWT)).
Physical Cleanliness
Islam has given intense significance to cleanliness as it is considered a part of faith. Cleanliness and purification are congenital parts of Islam. Islam places a bonzer emphasis on cleanliness, whether in physical or spiritual terms. While people usually consider cleanliness or purification beneficial, Islam commands it. Making hygiene and staying clean is an essential part of Islamic life.
Charity And Generosity
Zakat is one of the main pillars of Islam, or alms, through which every Muslim shows encouragement for the Islamic brotherhood. At the end of Ramadan, Muslims donate zakat and Zakat-Al-Fitr. These compulsory alms grant Muslims to cleanse their abundance after the fasting month while giving directly to the poor and needy.
Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah (SWT) have mercy upon him, said: “The Prophet (PBUH) was the most generous of all people, but the time he spent the most was during the month of Ramadan, and he used to increase his recitation of the Qur’an, prayers, mentioning Allah (SWT).”
How To Prepare For Ramadan Fasting
For this year’s Ramadan plan, you must participate in every ritual mentioned in the holy Quran. We should prepare during Ramadan. Shaban is the Islamic calendar’s last lunar month that comes before Ramadan. We should maintain a nutritious diet, list prayers, recite and reflect on the holy Quran, and adopt good habits and Ramadan Iftar food plans.
Eating Habits
Fasting during Ramadan means abstention from all kinds of food and drink, including water, from dawn to dusk. It is suggested that Muslims eat a pre-fast meal known as suhur before sunrise.
Healthy Foods For Fasting
Eat meals including bread, corn, and other grains; fruits and vegetables; meat, fish, and poultry. You can also eat milk, yoghurt, cheese, and other healthy foods with proper protein.
Doing Good During Ramadan
During Ramadan, Muslims are suggested to give to the poor, but giving alms is more encouraged in the Holy this month. Because in Ramadan, the reward for every good work you do is multiplied by 70. The benefits and rewards of this month are enormous. Moreover, the last ten days and nights are even more critical, full of greater rewards and benefits.
Supporting Your Local Community
- Zakat – Five pillars of Islam
- Ramadan Iftar donation – Ramadan food donation
- Zakat al-Fitr – Obligatory contribution on Eid
- Ramadan Clothes Donation – Sheltering needy from the environment
- Sadaqah – Small acts of kindness.
Volunteering
In the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims worldwide offer help to others as they volunteer in Australia. In 2024, Ramadan occurs between March 22 and April 21, and the International Development and Relief Foundation has arranged volunteers to support the people who need it. They provide hygiene kits, hot meals, and emergency food boxes.
Different Ways Of Observing Ramadan
After sunset, many will gather in the mosque for special communal prayers called tarawih. During Ramadan, many Muslims go to the mosque and spend many hours praying. In addition to the five daily prayers that are part of the core of Islam, Muslims recite a special prayer called the Taraweeh prayer (night prayer).
Journey Through The Quran
Exactly, The Injil was revealed during the thirteenth night of Ramadan. Allah (SWT) revealed the Quran on the twenty-fourth night of Ramadan. The Quran was revealed as guidance for the hearts of the believer in it and adherence to its commands.
Islamic Prayer
Muslim people pray five times a day. The prayers are
- Fajr (dawn)
- Dhuhr (noon)
- Asr (afternoon)
- Maghrib (evening)
- Isha (night)
Traditional Feasts And Gatherings
Food is an essential part of Ramadan’s traditions. During Ramadan, Muslim families and mates gather to share the joy and enjoy the two meals served. Iftar is celebrated at sunset when Muslims break their fast, and Suhoor is depleted early in the morning before the day starts. Fasting has a vital role in teaching tolerance, kindness, and thankfulness.
Celebrating Eid
Eid al-Fitr celebrations vary from country to country. But the everyday things are visiting family and mates, giving presents, enjoying festivities, wearing new dresses, and seeing many relatives. Through these celebrations, Muslims show their thankfulness to Allah (SWT) after pondering and fasting during Ramadan.
Reflection Of Ramadan
- Pleasure of Allah (SWT)
- Closeness to Allah (SWT)
- Forgiveness of sins
- Self-discipline
- Health benefits
- Self-reflection
- Spiritual reform
What To Do After Ramadan
- If you have any missed fasts from Ramadan, cover them up.
- Fast six more days, known as Shawwal, after completing Ramadan.
- Revive your Tarawih spirit with Qiyamul Lail.
- Maintain your daily reciting of the holy Qur’an.
- Continue to donate to Charity.
- Involved in a lot of dhikr.
Many people from around the world are suffering from a pure water shortage. Therefore, they are suffering from water diseases like cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid, and polio which are life-threatening. Thus, some organisations are helping those people who need a water system.
FAQ
Q1: What Does Ramadan Mean?
A1: Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islam, observed globally. by an estimated 1.8 billion people, as a month of fasting from sunrise to sunset, prayer, personal reflection, and community.
Q2: What Is A Suhoor?
A2: Suhoor, a pre-dawn meal in English, is a significant element for Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan. It is the final meal before the sun rises and the day of Fasting begins.
Q3: How Long Does Ramadan Last For?
A3: Ramadan lasts approximately 30 days. Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, and engage in knightly communal prayers leading up to Eid al-Fitr, the final day of Ramadan.
Q4: What Is Eid?
A4: The name “Eid al-Fitr” translates as “the festival of the breaking of the fast.”
Like the beginning of Ramadan, Eid begins with the first sighting of the new moon.
Q5: What Is The Importance Of Ramadan?
A5: Ramadan is important because it is known as the year’s holy month in Islamic breeding. For Muslims, it’s a time for spiritual deliberation and growth, to support those in need, and to spend time with adored ones. It’s also when Muslims fast during daylight hours for the whole month of Ramadan.
Conclusion
Muslim fast for the whole month of Ramadan. It defines you as a Muslim. Moreover, Fasting is one of the five pillars. As humans, we are vulnerable to evils and infringement of the borders created by Islam, and Fasting teaches us to be pious and control ourselves from temporal delights.
Lailat-ul-Qadr is known as the Night of Power, buried within Ramadan, and Muslims get tremendous blessings on this night. Allah (SWT) fasted during Ramadan to make the rich and the poor equal in terms of asking for mercifulness for their past evils. Lastly, Islam teaches us equality.