The Month of Ramadan
Thursday, May 2, 2019
Ramadan is one of the most awaited month out of all the months in the Islamic calendar. Ramadan has many names- month of fasting, month of patience, etc. but the name Month of Quran suits the best. In this month Muslims spend most of their time reciting the holy Quran. Apart from reading the Quran and praying, there are many other virtues to be followed.First, they should keep their eyes, mouth, ears and nose clean. This means that they can see, hear, or speak bad things. They are prohibited from lying or gossiping. They are also not allowed to smell good food.
The main reason why Ramadan is given much importance is because it is the month in which the Quran was revealed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Fasting during Ramadan is obligatory and is one of the five pillars of Islam. The fast (sawm) begins at dawn and ends at sunset. Muslims fast as an act of worship, a chance to get closer to God and a way to become more compassionate to those in need. Fasting helps to eliminate toxins from the body, reduces blood sugar and fat stores. It promotes healthy eating habits and boosts immunity.
Muslims have a meal called suhoor before starting their fast. At sunset the families break their fast with a meal called iftar. Dates are usually the first food to break the fast. After breaking their fast Muslims pray (the fourth prayer of the day) Magrib. Then they have their main meal.
Charity is very important in Islam. Muslims give a fixed percentage of their wealth to the poor and it is a must for every Muslim. This is known as zakat. They perform an extra prayer at night during the month of Ramadan and this known as tarawih.
Eid Al Fitr is the day of the first sighting of the crescent moon shortly after sunset. If the moon is not observed immediately after the 29th day of the previous lunar month (either because clouds block its view or because the western sky is still too bright when the moon sets), then it is the following day. On this day Muslims pray the eid prayer in eidgah (an open field or ground). Eid gifts, known as Eidi, are frequently given at eid to children and immediate relatives.
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