by Aamir Shaikh Aamir

Created on: July 27, 2010   Last Updated: August 10, 2010

Islamic calendar is called 'Hijra Calendar (started 622 A.D.) and its ninth month is Ramadan, the root word 'Ramad' (dryness) from 'Ramida' (to be scorched means burnt by sizzling sunlight). In Arabia weather is almost hot during maximum part of the year.  So we can say that the month of Ramadan qualifies its meanings because during fast a Muslim bears almost same condition that is depicted here as the meaning of Ramadan.

First I would throw light on the celebration of Ramadan then on ‘Why Muslims fast?’

For a staunch Muslim celebration is a little word for Ramadan because his joy ascends day by day gradually in the waiting of this holy month till the moment when he looks at the ‘Hilal (crescent) of Ramadan’ on the last night of Shaban (8th month of Islamic calendar) and this is, the moment that demands more than a mere celebration. The Muslim is filled with such a joy and delight that continues in the whole month of Ramadan, day and night, rather increases with the passage of time and especially in the last ten nights when he searches for the holy night in which the Holy Koran was revealed.

Islamic date starts from sunset. That is the time when Maghrib, the forth prayer’s time, starts with Azan (a call for prayer). First night’s moon ‘Hilal’ (crescent) can be seen in the West just after the sunset, but it is visible for half an hour and Islamic month depends upon the sight of moon.

Celebrations start just after the sight of crescent. In all the mosques declaration of the Ramadan is announced that is sometime followed by firework. Muslim males get ready for ‘Taraveeh’ prayer that is the obligatory part of the fasting, in which Muslims listen to a part of Koran daily after Isha, the fifth prayer. Then they go to bed and rise in the midnight, the time for ‘Tahajjud’ (a supererogation prayer (not obligatory)).

That is the time of ‘Sahar’ when Muslims are supposed to eat or drink enough to pass the coming day without any eating and drinking till they break the fast in evening with the Azan of ‘Maghrib’ prayer, when another day is started of Islamic month.

 This was the procedure, how Muslims fast in the month of Ramadan. This practice goes on, until the Ramadan’s last day. Other than this procedural practices Muslims offer prayers five times a day rather regularly and punctually. They recite the Holy Koran regularly too. ‘Iftar’ (the time

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>