Ramadan

Ramadan

1. Background
toc Ramadan, the month of the Qur'an, is the ninth month of the Islamic calander. Since the Islamic calander is a lunar calander, Ramadan occurs 11 days earlier each year, beginning with the first sighting of the new moon. Ramadan is performed for the pillar of Islam called sawm, Arabic for fasting. According to Muslims, on Lailat al-Qadr, a day during Ramadan, Allah revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad. Muslims believe that the gates of Heaven are open and the gates of Hell sealed during the holy month of Ramadan. To them, this means that the dead go to heaven and also that angels descend onto Earth and devils are imprisioned in Hell.

2. Fasting
media type="youtube" key="Ta8j1z5LkJo" width="425" height="350" align="right" During Ramadan, Muslims are expected to deprive themselves of several things from dawn (fajr) to dusk (maghrib). During the day, they cannot eat, drink, smoke, engage in sexual activity, or anything related to these. They also are to try to not tell lies, gossip, quarrel, or follow other similar bad habits. These restrictions help teach Muslims self-control and discipline over food, sleep, sex, and usage of time. It is also intended to help bring awareness and sympathy for those who are forced to survive similar circumstances. Muslims break their fast by eating a large meal after sunset. Some also eat another large meal called a suhur just before sunrise. These meals are meant to be a time to unify a Muslim with their family and/or Muslim freinds or relations. People who are physically or mentally inhibited for some reason, very young, very old, or travelling are not expected to fast during Ramadan. Most Muslims believe that If they do not acknowledge the fast for a day for physical reasons, they must provide food for somone who cannot provide for himself/herself. They also believe that if they break fast for other reasons, they must fast an equal number of days to the number of days missed later. Additionally, while the sawm is religiously required, constant fasting is shunned by Islam.

3. Prayer
Prayer is emphasized during the month of Ramadan. In addition to paryer that is ordinariry routine, long services are held every night at mosques to attend what are called Taraweeh prayers. These prayers are intended stregnthen an areas Muslim community as a whole and it is highly reccommended, but not required, for Muslims to attend. Reading or reciting the Qur'an is also recommended during Ramadan and is read in its entirety during the Taraweeh services offered throughout the month. Prayer is emphasized even more on on the last ten days of Ramadan and on Lailat al-Qadr. Most Muslims believe that being in prayier on this day alone is equivilant to worshipping for a thousand months of other time. The extent of prayer on these last ten days is emphasized to the extent that some Muslims even go into I'tikaf. I'tikaf is going into seclusion for the last ten days of Ramadan to fulfill the required praying on Lailat al-Qadr. This is done from the ranges of being reclused in a mosque for all ten days, or merely spending a couple hours per day at a mosque and the rest at home.

4. Significant Dates
The holidays of Lailat al-Qadr and Eid al-Fitr are the two significicant Islamic dates that are related to Ramadan. While the exact day for Lailat al-Qadr is unknown, it is typically celebrated on the 27 th day of the month of Ramdan. Lilat al-Qadr, also called the Night of Power, is believed to be when Allah sent angels down from Heaven to unveil the Qur'an to Muhammad, which Muslims regard as the most important event in history. This night is spent in worship to commemmorate Allah revealing the Qur'an. The other important date is Eid al-Fitr. Eid al-Fitr is a celebratory day marking the end of Ramadan. On this day people dress up to be very fancy and partake in services, processions, and visiting Muslim friends and relatives. They also exchange gifts and eat an immensely large meal to break their fasts for a final time. Both Eid al-Fitr and Lailat al-Qadr have many special religious services offered during the day and night and are seen as times for making amends and forgiveness.

5. Works Cited
Information: BBC "Sawm: Fasting" 9-8-2009 [] BBC "Ramadan" 7-5-2011 [] Islam Tomorrow "Sawm: Fasting the Month of Ramadan" [] CNN "The insider's guide to Ramadan" 9-25-2006 []

Video: @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ta8j1z5LkJo

Images: Moon @http://intlxpatr.wordpress.com/2008/08/31/moonsighting/ Ramadan dos and don'ts @http://alqamardesigns.wordpress.com/2009/08/23/ramadhan-do%E2%80%99s-don%E2%80%99ts/ Quran @http://www.quranreading.com/blog/category/quran-learning/