Ramadan

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Ramadan

This article is about the holiday and religious observances. For the calendar month of the same name, see Ramadan (calendar month).

Ramadan is the name of the ninth month in the Hijri (Islamic) calendar. The religious observances of Ramadan (Arabic: رمضان) occur throughout the entire Islamic calendar month.

Fasting during Ramadan

The most prominent event of this month is the fasting practiced by all observant Muslims. The fasting during Ramadan has been so predominant in defining the month that some have been led to believe the name of this month, Ramadan, is the name of Islamic fasting, when in reality the Islamic term for fasting is sawm.

Prohibitions during the fast

Eating, drinking and sexual intercourse are not allowed between dawn (fajr), and sunset (maghrib). During Ramadan, Muslims are also expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam by refraining from violence, anger, envy, greed, lust, angry and sarcastic retorts, and gossip. People are meant to try to get along with each other better than they normally might. All obscene and irreligious sights and sounds are to be avoided. Purity of both thought and action is important. The fast is an exacting act of deep personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised level of closeness to God. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm.

Fasting during Ramadan is not obligatory for several groups for whom it would be excessively problematic. Children before the onset of puberty are not required to fast, though some do. However, if puberty is delayed, fasting becomes obligatory for males and females after a certain age. According to the Qur'an, if fasting would be dangerous to someone's health, such as a person with an illness or medical condition (this can include the elderly), that person is excused. For example, diabetics and nursing or pregnant women usually are not expected to fast; they are encouraged to feed a needy person instead^*. According to hadith, observing the Ramadan fast is not allowed for menstruating women. Other individuals for whom it is usually considered acceptable not to fast are those in battle and travelers who intend to spend fewer than five days away from home. If one's condition preventing fasting is only temporary, one is required to make up for the days missed after the month of Ramadan is over and before the next Ramadan arrives. If one's condition is permanent or present for an extended period of time, one may make up for the fast by feeding a needy person for every day missed.

If one who does not fit into one of the exempt categories breaks the fast out of forgetfulness, the fast is still valid. If, however, one intentionally breaks the fast, that individual must continue fasting for the remainder of the day but then make up for the entire day later. If one breaks the fast through consensual sexual intercourse, the trangressor must make up for the day by fasting for sixty consecutive days.

Other practices

Laylat al-Qadr

Laylat al-Qadr is the anniversary of important dates in Islam that occured in the month of Ramadan..

Tarawih

During this month, extra optional prayers of eight to twenty raka'ah, called tarawih, are prayed each night in the mosque by Sunni Muslims.

Shi'a Muslims do not pray this prayer. They call it an innovation in Islam ^*.

Eid ul-Fitr

The Islamic holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر) marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan and the beginning of the following month.

References

Rizvi, Sayyid Muhammad (1989). "True Dawn: al-Fajr as-Sadiq". Retrieved Oct. 30, 2005.
Yusof, Mimi Syed & Hafeez, Shahrul (Oct. 30, 2005). "When Raya was a bewildering experience". New Straits Times, p. 8.

External links

Sawm | Islamic festivals

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