Ramadan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about religious observances during the month of Ramadan. For the actual calendar month, see
Ramadan (calendar month).
(
Arabic:
رمضان
Ramaḍān,
IPA: [rɑmɑˈdˤɑːn];
variations Persian:
Ramazān;
Urdu:
Ramzān;
Turkish:
Ramazan) is the ninth month of the lunar
Islamic calendar,
which lasts 29 or 30 days according to the visual sightings of the
crescent moon according to numerous biographical accounts compiled in
Hadiths.
[3][4][5] It is the Muslim month of
fasting, in which Muslims refrain from dawn until sunset from
eating,
drinking, and
sexual relations.
[6]
The
sawab (rewards) of fasting are many, but in this month, they are believed to be multiplied.
[7] [8] Muslims fast in this month for the sake of demonstrating submission to
God[9] and to offer more
prayers and Quran recitations.
[10][11]
In the Quran
Chapter 2, Revelation 185 of the Quran states:
The month of Ramadan is that in which was revealed the Quran; a
guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the
criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him
fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, a number
of other days. Allah desires for you ease; He desires not hardship for
you; and that you should complete the period, and that you should
magnify Allah for having guided you, and that perhaps you may be
thankful.
Thus, via the Quran, Muslims are informed that
Muhammad,
first received revelations in the lunar month of Ramadan. Therefore,
the month of Ramadan is considered to be the most sacred month of the
months of the lunar Islamic calendar, the recording of which began with
the
Hijra.
The beginning of Ramadan
Hilāl (the
crescent)
is typically a day (or more) after the astronomical new moon. Since the
new moon indicates the beginning of the new month, Muslims can usually
safely estimate the beginning of Ramadan.
[12]
However, to many Muslims, this is not in accordance with authenticated
Hadiths stating that visual confirmation per region is recommended.
Nevertheless, the consistent variations of a day have existed since the
time of Muhammad.
[13]
Practices during Ramadan
Fasting
In the Quran
The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Quran was sent down -
right guidance to mankind, and clear signs of guidance and distinction
of truth from falsehood. Those among you who witness it, let him fast
therein. Whoever is sick or on a journey, then a number of other days.
God desires ease for you, and desires not hardship. Thus may you fulfill
the number of days assigned, magnify God for having guided you, and
perhaps you will be thankful.
Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection and worship. Muslims are
expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam and to
avoid obscene and irreligious sights and sounds. Sexual intercourse
among spouses is allowed after one has ended the daily fast. During
fasting, intercourse is prohibited as well as eating and drinking, and
resistance of all temptations is encouraged. Purity of both thoughts and
actions is important. 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. It also teaches Muslims to practice
self-discipline, self-control,
[15] sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate; thus encouraging actions of generosity and charity (
Zakat).
[16]
It becomes compulsory for Muslims to start fasting when they reach
puberty, so long as they are healthy, sane and have no disabilities or
illnesses. The elderly, the chronically ill, and the mentally ill are
exempt from fasting, although the first two groups must endeavor to feed
the poor in place of their missed fasting. Also exempt are pregnant
women if they believe it would be harmful to them or the unborn baby,
women during the period of their menstruation, and women nursing their
newborns. A difference of opinion exists among Islamic scholars as to
whether this last group must make up the days they miss at a later date,
or feed poor people as a recompense for days missed.
[17] While fasting is not considered compulsory in
childhood, many children endeavour to complete as many fasts as possible as practice for later life. Lastly, those traveling (
musaafir) are exempt, but must make up the days they miss.
[18] More specifically,
Twelver Shī‘ah define those who travel more than 14 mi (23 km) in a day are exempt.
[16]
Increased prayer and recitation of the Quran
In addition to fasting, Muslims are encouraged to read the entire
Quran. Some Muslims perform the recitation of the entire Quran by means
of special prayers, called
Tarawih, which are held in the mosques every night of the month, during which a whole section of the Quran (
Juz',
which is 1/30 of the Quran) is recited. Therefore the entire Quran
would be completed at the end of the month. However it is not required
to read the whole Quran in the
Salatul Tarawih.
Ramadan is also a time when Muslims are to slow down from worldly
affairs and focus on self-reformation, spiritual cleansing and
enlightenment; this is to establish a link between themselves and God
through prayer, supplication, charity, good deeds, kindness and helping
others. Since it is a festival of giving and sharing, Muslims prepare
special foods and buy gifts for their family and friends and for giving
to the poor and needy who cannot afford it; this can involve buying new
clothes, shoes and other items of need. There is also a social aspect
involving the preparation of special foods and inviting people for
Iftar.
Iftar
Muslims all around the world will abstain from food and drink,
through fasting, from dawn to sunset. At sunset, the family will gather
the fast-breaking meal known as
Iftar. The meal starts with the eating of three
dates
— just as Muhammad used to do. Then it's time for the Maghrib prayer,
which is the fourth of the five daily prayers, after which the main meal
is served.
[19]
Over time, Iftar has grown into banquet festivals. This is a time of
fellowship with families, friends and surrounding communities, but may
also occupy larger spaces at mosques or banquet halls, where a hundred
or more may gather at a time.
[20]
Charity
Charity is very important in Islam, and even more so during Ramadan.
Zakat,
often translated as "the poor-rate", is obligatory as one of the
pillars of Islam; a fixed percentage required to be given by those with
savings.
Sadaqa
is voluntary charity in given above and beyond what is required from
the obligation of zakat. Muslims believe that all good deeds are more
handsomely rewarded in Ramadan than in any other month of the year.
Consequently, many will choose this time to give a larger portion, if
not all, of the zakat for which they are obligated to give. In addition,
many will also use this time to give a larger portion of sadaqa in
order to maximize the reward they believe will await them on the
Day of Judgment.
In many Muslim countries, it is not uncommon to see people giving
more food to the poor and the homeless, and even to see large public
areas for the poor to come and break their fast. It is said that if a
person helps a fasting person to break their fast, then they receive a
reward for that fast, without diminishing the reward that the fasting
person got for their fast.[citation needed]
Even in non-Muslim countries, no matter how small the Muslim
population, a consistent increase in charitable donations to both
fellows Muslims and non-Muslims occurs more so in this month. In the
USA, for example, many Muslim communities dispersed throughout the
country, participate in contributing food, clothes and non-perishable
food items to local charities.
Laylat al-Qadr
Main article:
Laylat al-Qadr
Sometimes referred to as "the night of decree or measures",
Laylat al-Qadr is considered the most holy night of the year.
[21]
Muslims believe that it is the night in which the Quran was first
revealed to the prophet Muhammad, as stated in Chapet 97 of the Qu'ran.
Also, Laylat al-Qadr is believed to have occurred on an odd-numbered
night during the last 10 days of Ramadan, either the night of the 21st,
23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th.[citation needed]
The end of Ramadan
Eid ul-Fitr
Main article:
Eid ul-Fitr
The Muslim holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (
Arabic:
عيد الفطر,
festivity of breaking the fast),
sometimes spelled in English as Eid al-Fitr, marks the end of Ramadan
and the beginning of the next lunar month called Shawwal in Arabic. This
first day of the following month is declared after another crescent
new moon
has been sighted or if no visual sighting was possible due to weather
the completion of 30 days of fasting. This first day of Shawwal is
called Eid ul-Fitr. Eid Ul-Fitr, may also be a reference towards the
festive nature of having endured the month of fasting successfully and
returning to the more natural disposition (fitra) of being able to eat,
drink and resume intimacy with spouses during the day.
For the manner in which the Eid is celebrated, see
Eid ul-Fitr and
Salat al Eid.
Cultural aspects
Ramadan lantern decorations
Ramadan in the Old City of Jerusalem
Decorations
Various cultural additions are mistakenly associated as part of the
original celebrations arising from the time of Muhammad. However, this
is not so with many of forms that the celebration has taken in various
cultures and countries. For example, no symbols of Ramadan were evident
in any scholarly literature of Muhammad's lifetime, yet in some places
Ramadan is met with various decorations throughout the streets.
For example, in some Muslim countries today lights are strung up in
public squares, and across city streets, to add to the festivities of
the month. In
Egypt,
lanterns
have become symbolic of Ramadan. They are hung across the cities of
Egypt, part of an 800 year old tradition, the origin of which is said to
lie in the
Fatimid era where the Caliph
Al-Muizz Lideenillah
was greeted by people holding lanterns to celebrate his ruling. From
that time lanterns were used to light mosques and houses throughout the
city. In the West, many Muslim households have taken to decorating the
inside of their homes to make Ramadan a more special time for their
children. Usually parents buy new clothes and toys for their children or
give them money.
It is still common to observe
Salat al Eid which was the tradition of Muhammad.
Non-spiritual (secular) curiosities
Difference between the lunar calendar and the solar calendar
Compared to the
solar calendar, the dates of Ramadan vary, moving backwards by about eleven days each year
depending on the moon; thus, a person will have fasted every day of the Gregorian calendar year in 34 years' time.
Non-Arabic texts about Ramadan
The month of Ramadan was in existence before Islam.
[22] Ramadan existed before Islam as one of the twelve months of the Arabic lunar calendar.
[23] However, it was not called Ramadan during those times.
From the writings of Abu Zanad, an Arabic writer from Iraq who lived
around 747 A.D. (after the founding of Islam), we conclude that at least
one
Mandaean community located in northern Iraq observed Ramadan.
[24] Abu Zanad and Abdel Allah ibn Zakwan Abi al-Zanad mentioned that Ramadan originally had
pagan roots in India and the Middle East. Ramadan was a pagan ceremony practiced by the Sabians, whether they were
Harranians or
Sabians.
[25]
Thus, those days are commonly referred to as
Jahilliyah,
as Muhammad used to call those times himself, according to numerous
biographical accounts of his life. In regards to Ramadan since the
advent of Islam, it wasn't until after believing in the form of
Abrahamic monotheism led by Muhammad that Ramadan became obligatory for
fasting. Thus, we live to see that since that time, Ramadan has come to
be associated as one of the major obligatory tenets of Islam.
See also
Five Pillars of Islam.
Dispute of the literal meaning of the word Ramadan
The word Ramadan is derived from an
Arabic root R-M-Ḍ, as in words like "
ramiḍa" or "
ar-ramaḍ"
denoting intense heat, scorched ground and shortness of rations.
Ramadan, as a name for the month, is of Islamic origin. Prior to Islam
and the exclusion of
intercalary days from the Islamic calendar, the name of the month was Natiq and the month fell in the warm season.
[26]
This pre-Islamic period became commonly referred to as the Period of
Ignorance. However, when God fulfilled His Covenant with Abraham to make
Prophets of his lineage by choosing Muhammad -- who was of the lineage
of
Ishmael (brother of
Isaac
-- by Revealing the first of the Quran the period of Arabia's ignorance
of the monotheism of the Children of Israel came to an end. This first
Revelation was sent down during this month.
[27] Furthermore,
God
proclaimed to Muhammad that fasting for His Sake was not a new
innovation in monotheism, but rather an obligation practiced by those
truly devoted to The Oneness of God.
[28] One such example of those whom observed fasting before
Islam were the Jews who had migrated to Medinah awaiting the foretold unlettered Prophet.
[29][30][31] This may or may not be referring to the
Jewish practice of fasting on
Yom Kippur.
[32][33]
It is possible that the obligation to fast during Ramadan comes from
early injunction to fast on Ashura, the 10th day of the month of
Muharram, which may have once been identical with the Jewish observance
of the Day of Atonement. This obligation, however, was ended by the
command to fast during Ramadan instead in the Quran verse 2:184.
Although having no significant effect on the practices observed
today, the derivation of the name Ramadan is in some dispute. Many
believe that it comes from the Arabic "ramad", which means scorching,
and is perhaps a reference to the idea that the fast "scorches" away
human sins. During pre-Islamic times the month of Ramadan was observed
in Arabia, as a month when the various tribes observed a truce from any
existing hostilities. However, it wasn't until after the Prophethood of
Muhammad that Ramadan became associated with religious monotheism, and
has been observed as such ever since.
See also
Notes
^/ramadˤaːn/ : In Arabic phonology, the first and second vowel can be backed to
[ɑ] or fronted to
[a],
[æ] or
[ɛ]; the last vowel can be centralized
[ä] or backed
[ɑ].
References
- ^ [author missing] (2011 [last update]). "Ramadan 2011: Dates, Fasting Rules, History". huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
- ^ "When is Ramadan 2012 (Ramadan 1433)?". makkahcalendar.org. 2012 [last update]. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
- ^ Bukhari-Ibn-Ismail, AbdAllah-Muhammad (2009). "Sahih Bukhari - Book 031 (The Book of Fasting), Hadith 124.". hadithcollection.com. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
- ^ Muslim-Ibn-Habaj, Abul-Hussain (2009). "Sahih Muslim - Book 006 (The Book of Fasting), Hadith 2378.". hadithcollection.com. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
- ^ Muslim-Ibn-Habaj, Abul-Hussain (2009). "Sahih Muslim - Book 006 (The Book of Fasting), Hadith 2391.". hadithcollection.com. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
- ^ Islam, Andrew Egan - 2002 - page 24
- ^ Bukhari-Ibn-Ismail, AbdAllah-Muhammad (2009). "Sahih Bukhari - Book 031 (The Book of Fasting), Hadith 118.". hadithcollection.com. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
- ^ Bukhari-Ibn-Ismail, AbdAllah-Muhammad (2009). "Sahih Bukhari - Book 031 (The Book of Fasting), Hadith 125.". hadithcollection.com. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
- ^ Muslim-Ibn-Habaj, Abul-Hussain (2009). "Sahih Muslim - Book 006 (The Book of Fasting), Hadith 2566.". hadithcollection.com. Retrieved 14 July 2012..
- ^ Abu Dawud-Ibn-Ash'ath-AsSijisstani, Sulayman (2011). "Sunan Abu-Dawud - (The Book of Prayer) - Detailed Injunctions about Ramadan, Hadith 1370". Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement of The University of Southern California. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
- ^ Bukhari-Ibn-Ismail, AbdAllah-Muhammad (2009). "Sahih Bukhari - Book 031 (The Book of Fasting), Hadith 199.". hadithcollection.com. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
- ^ Hilal Sighting & Islamic Dates: Issues and Solution Insha'Allaah. Hilal Sighting Committee of North America (website). Retrieved 19 August 2009.
- ^ Bukhari-Ibn-Ismail, AbdAllah-Muhammad (2009). "Sahih Bukhari - Book 031 (The Book of Fasting), Hadith 124". hadithcollection.com. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
- ^ Quran 2:185
- ^ Why Ramadan brings us together; BBC, 01 September 2008
- ^ a b Help for the Heavy at Ramadan, Washington Post, 27 September 2008
- ^ See, for example, Should pregnant women fast during Ramadan[dead link], where both points of view are indicated by different scholars; see also The Old, The Pregnant, And The Breast Feeding Not Fasting (archived from the original on 2008-06-08), where different views on this subject are mentioned.
- ^ Quran 2:184
- ^ Muslims fast and feast as Ramadan begins 8-11-2010.
- ^ Ramadan: Muslims feast and fast during holy month access 8-11-2011.
- ^ Robinson, Neal (1999). Islam: A Concise Introduction. Washington: Georgetown University Press. ISBN 0-87840-224-1.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Tidings of Comfort, Joy and Ramadan
- ^ Abdel
Allah ibn Zakwan Abi al-Zanad. See Ibn Qutaybah,op.cit.page 204;Cited
by Sinasi Gunduz, The Knowledge of Life, Oxford University, 1994, page
25
- ^ "Religion Research Institute".
- ^ Quran, Short Commentary
- ^ {{cite url= http://quran.com/2/185
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3]
- ^ [4]
- ^ [5]
- ^ Sunan al-Tirmidhi I.145.
- ^ Goyṭayn, Šelomo D. (1966). Studies in Islamic history and institutions. Leiden, NL: E. J. Brill. pp. 95–96. ISBN 90-04-03006-9.
