Ramadan – A Pathway of Sacrifice and Reward

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

The beautiful moon, the variety of sweets, gorgeous dresses, the brightly glistening mosques!

Is that not what comes to mind when you think of Ramadan and Eid? Well, it is much more than that.

It is a celebration of Prophet Muhammad’s first revelation that occurred in a cave on Mount Hira when he saw angel Jibril. Observing Ramadan requires Muslims to be mindful of their faith and also to participate in specific rituals of fasting, prayer and charity.

As of this year, the season of Ramadan will begin from March 10 and end on the 9th of April. For the next 30 days, Muslims all over the world will have to wake up before dawn, have a fulfilling meal and then keep a fast until the moon appears in the evening. This meal is called ‘Suhur’ and is followed by a prayer called ‘Fajr’. In the evening, as the time arrives to break the fast, a prayer ‘Dua’ is said before eating ‘Iftar’. They first have some dates and water and then follow it with dinner. Various special dishes are made like Kebab, Omali, Baklava, Biryani and many other things.

In case you didn’t know, there are several health benefits of maintaining a proper fast. Fasts are said to be really helpful in detoxifying not only the soul but also our body. It cleanses every unhealthy substance present in our body leading to a better life span in us. Fasting also boosts cognitive performances, reduces inflammations and supports healthy weight loss without using chemicals added in protein shakes or weight loss pills.

Maintaining fasts is necessary for the Muslims as Allah rewards them by allowing them to enter the paradise from the gate called Ar-Rayan. The gates only allow those who keep the sacredness and the purity of the fast without disobeying any of its rules. If one desires these rewards, they must be willing to sacrifice what they can during the Ramadan period.

May this season of Ramadan bring prosperity to all those who celebrate. And for those who don’t, let’s pray for our friends that sacrifice food for several hours to do the good deed that they are asked of by Allah.

Sancia Dsouza, 12-E, Indian Community School Kuwait, Senior