The Holy Month of Ramadan

Monday, March 20, 2023

Ramadan is a holy month of fasting and prayer for Muslims, the followers of Islam.Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam. Ramadan is celebrated as the month during which Muhammad, Peace be upon him, received the initial revelations of what became the Quran, the holy book for Muslims, from Allah.It is believed that the first verse of the Quran was brought to the Prophet Mohammed through Gibrail or also known as the angel Gabriel. Millions of Muslims around the world who observe Ramadan it is the month or the time to focus on their faith and also perform generous acts.The true essence of Ramadan lies in the fact that people pray for forgiveness of all their past sins by practising self-control through fasting and purifying themselves by doing good deeds.

Ramadan is part of the lunar calendar. Muslims tend to wait for the new month’s moon to appear before they announce the first day of Ramadan. However, they can still estimate the day beforehand.Lunar months last between 29 to 30 days depending on when the new moon is sighted. If the moon is not seen on the night of the 29th day, then Ramadan lasts for the full 30 days.

During Ramadan, Muslims aim to grow spiritually and build stronger relationships with Allah. They do this by praying and reciting the Quran, making their actions intentional and selfless, and abstaining from gossiping, lying, and fighting.For Muslims, Ramadan is a period of introspection, communal prayer in the mosque, and reading of the Qurʾān.

Allah forgives the past sins of those who observe the holy month with fasting, prayer, and faithful intention. Throughout the month, fasting between sunrise and sunset is obligatory for all Muslims, except for the ill, pregnant, travelling, elderly, or menstruating.

Meals are opportunities for Muslims to gather with others in the community and break their fast together. Pre-dawn breakfast, or suhoor, before the first prayer of the day,Fajr. The evening meal, iftar, can begin once the sunset prayer, Maghreb.The Quran indicates that eating and drinking are permissible only until the “white thread of light becomes distinguishable from the dark thread of night at dawn.”

The ifṭār usually begins with dates, as was the custom of Prophet Muhammad, or apricots and water or sweetened milk. There are additional prayers offered at night called the Tarawih prayers, preferably performed in congregation at the mosque. To accommodate such acts of worship in the evening, work hours are adjusted during the day and sometimes reduced in some Muslim-majority countries.


The last few days of Ramadan are special, and tare called the “Nights of power” or “The Night of measures”as they believe that Allah sends his blessings on this night. Further, they celebrate the end of Ramadan with a great feast and celebration with friends and family, which is called Eid-ul-Fitr or “Feast of breaking”.

Samia Raut, 10-B, ICSK Khaitan