Introduction
In Islamic religion, a lunar calendar is used instead of a solar calendar. In this calendar, each month starts with the appearance of the new moon (“Celebrating Ramadan”, n.d). Therefore, because of the fact that the lunar calendar is found to be shorter by eleven days as compared to the solar one, the “Islamic months ‘move’ each year” (Stacey, 2008, p.1).
For instance, it is reported that in the year 2008, the month of Ramadan was found to coincide directly “with the month of September” (Stacey, 2008, p.1). In the course of a Muslim’s life, the month of Ramadan can take place in the period of winter when the days are much shorter as well as during summer, being the toughest time for Muslims since days are much longer in summer, so it takes more efforts for a Muslim to withstand the fast.
In this regards, there exist some differences between the Muslims who dwell in different hemispheres of the globe (Ramadan: A guide”, 2013). Similar to any form of celebration existing in any culture and religion, the celebration of Ramadan is associated with joy.
However, it is celebrated in a way that is quite different from the one followed by the non-Muslims. Ramadan is not the time of merry-making and socializing but, it is rather the time to worship through fasting, since fasting during the Islamic month of Ramadan is among the Islam pillars.
Fasting: An Overview
Fasting during the month of Ramadan starts at dawn and goes on till sunset. The Muslims wake up before dawn and they take the pre-dawn meal or what is referred to as Sahur, and drink enough quantities of the liquid as a preparation for fasting. In the course of the day, there is no eating or drinking. The Muslims also abide by an Islamic moral code because if one fails to do that, it means not following or violation of some requirements of the proper fast
Fasting during Ramadan is a worship activity which all the Muslims who have reached puberty carry out. However, not all adults take part in fasting during this month. For instance, the women who at the time of Ramadan have their menstrual cycle, or those who have recently gave birth to a child may not follow the fast until the time the period is over or a woman is totally recovered and gets stronger. Moreover, the people who may feel sick or travelling may decide to fast some time later.
The Muslims engage in fasting for the main reason that this is a command from the Most High God. At the same time, they may as well enjoy some other gains that fasting can include, such as exercising control over one’s hunger, thirst, or restrain one’s sexual desires, “training to be a good moral person and testing sincerity to the creator” (Ali, 2007, p.2). In the course of fasting though, the Muslims may engage in carrying out their businesses the same way they conducted them during the whole year round.
Breaking of the fast is carried out in the evening after the sun has set by drinking water and eating some food. Any accepted in the religion drink or food or meal can be utilized in breaking the fast. After breaking the fast, this is followed by a sunset prayer or “the Maghrib salah” (Ali, 2007, p.2). This prayer is followed by a full meal and then a brief rest. After resting, the people then move to the mosque to give the “Isha salah (night prayer) and afterwards Muslims conduct a special night prayer, which called taraweeh” (Ali, 2007, p.2).
Significance of Ramadan
The Muslims show love as well as gratitude for God by worshipping and being obedient to Him (Perry, 2005). They worship in line with God’s guidance taught in the Quran and they also worship through the true traditions presented by the prophet Muhammad (Segle, 2004).
Ramadan is an exceptional month during the period of which people engage in fasting, reading the Quran and trying to fully comprehend it. They also engage themselves in special prayers. During the night time, the mosques are filled with people who convene to break their fast and to engage in praying. They recite the Quran all through the night, pray together and praise their only true God (“Islam FAQ: Muslim Holy days”, 2013).
In the course of the Islamic month of Ramadan, all the Muslim people who are above eighteen and physically healthy are supposed to engage in fasting. They all know that, they are not supposed to take any food, drink, smoke, or have any sexual contact with their spouses from morning to evening.
However, these are just physical aspects of following the fats. Spiritual aspects observed also exist, such as avoiding engaging in gossips, telling lies, insulting as well as engaging in all behaviors that are in conflict with the appropriate ones (“Islam FAQ: Muslim Holy days”, 2013).
The people try to evade looking at and listen to all indecent and sinful things as a means through which actions and thoughts are made clean. Fasting is as well considered as “a way of experiencing hunger and developing sympathy for the less fortunate and learning thankfulness and appreciation for all of God’s bounties” (Stacey, 2008, pp.1-2).
The Islamic month of Ramadan is considered to be a month during which the Muslims make an effort to either “establish or re-establish a relationship with the Quran” (Stacey, 2008, p.2). It is pointed out that even if this may be viewed as strange for followers of other religions, God’s words are “a guiding light and a mercy” (Stacey, 2008, p.2). People read the Quran with the basic reason that it helps in changing their lives in one way or another.
The Quran and the month of Ramadan are intricately intertwined. Possessing the book of Quran, reciting it, reading it, remembering its readings and thinking over their meanings uplift a person spiritually, comforts him or her, and also serves as a source of his or her strength (Asad, 2003).
Reciting the Quran during the whole night is especially of great benefit since the disruptions that occur during the day have gone away and God’s closeness is profound in the calmness of night. In the evening, there is a performance of special prayers during which people recite some sections of the Quran. These special prayers are referred to as Taraweeh. During Ramadan, 1/30 of the Quran is being read every evening so that “by the end of the month, the entire Quran has been completed” (Stacey, 2008, p.2).
Among the last odd-numbered nights of the Islamic month of Ramadan, there is Laylat ul-Qadr. It is also referred to as the “Night of Destiny” or “Night of Power” (Stacey, 2008, p.3). This night is said to be the holiest one during the holiest month of the year. This night is believed to be the one when God initially started to reveal the Quran to Muhammad.
God did this through Angel Gabriel. This is the season for particularly passionate and dedicated prayer on such nights; what is more, there are several rewards that such prayer brings. The Quran teaches the Muslims that engaging in praying all through this single night is far more important than a constant praying for several months. No person can tell exactly which night this is because this is considered to be one of the God’s mysteries (Foucault, 1994).
Moreover, the month of Ramadan is regarded as a month of doing good things and engaging in various charitable activities. The Muslims strive to show generosity to their neighbors and friends. They also try to carry good deeds only and avoid being sinful at all costs. The simplest charity activity may involve smiling, among other lavish activities.
Charity that is offered in a quiet manner is found to be good for the giver as well as for the one who gives it. Muhammad gave whatever he had to other people with a good heart at all times; he never owned more than what was sufficient for him to meet the immediate needs that he had. Whatever the excess he had, he gave everything out in a generous way to the people around; of course, during the month of Ramadan, he was even more generous in giving food or providing support for the people.
One may think that these are virtues as well as qualities a Muslim person dedicated to serving God, must always display despite the month of the year. The Muslims need portray these virtues all the time all year round. But, on the other hand, all the human beings have their own weaknesses and happen to engage in committing sins and mistakes against other people and Allah. The nature of life makes people tend to forget and fail to remember the purpose in their life.
The purpose of a Muslim in his or her life is to engage in worshipping God and as Stacey (2008) points out, “God in his infinite wisdom and mercy has given us Ramadan” (Stacey, 2008, p.3). The month of Ramadan, if utilized in a wise manner, can help in recharging a person’s spirit.
This is the month dominated by a show of forgiveness as well as kindness when God makes it easier for the human beings to get over their weaknesses and lack of perfections, when He rewards them in plenty. God is a Creator of the whole mankind and he understands very well that we have a lot of imperfections.
When human beings start seeking God, He meets them; when they hold out their hands, He reaches them and forgives their sins and deeds. Muslims have the whole month of Ramadan for their salvation. Muslims stand “shoulder to shoulder and bow down before God as they submit” (Stacey, 2008, p.3).
There is spreading of Ramadan all over the world while the Muslim people jointly commence and end their fast, “one body, one people, and one nation” (Stacey, 2008, p.3). The month of Ramadan comes softly and the deeds it brings goes up gently to God. It is pointed out that “far from being a trial of deprivation, the month of Ramadan is a joy and a gift beyond compare” (Stacey, 2008, p.3).
Before the month of Ramadan comes to its end, the Muslims start mourning the fact that Ramadan has almost passed and the month has expired, because this is the month they consider as the one which is blessed; they make attempts to prolong the time by staying with the Quran and giving praise to God whenever it is possible (Stacey, 2008).
The end of the month of Ramadan is marked by Eid al-Fitr festival or what is referred to as “Feast of Fast-Breaking” (Poonawala, n.d, p.3). It starts with the appearing of the new moon which comes on the “first day Shawwal, the tenth month in the Islamic calendar, and generally lasts for three days” (Poonawala, n.d, p.3).
The Muslim people participate in the communal prayers and they can do this either in an open space or in the mosque; all the people are obliged to engage in giving charity to the poor people.
This celebration also bears a significant social dimension. The urban centers take up celebratory mood, and people dress themselves in the best way possible. The friends and relatives walk together in the streets, meet in the mosques or visit each other, engage in exchanging presents and gifts, and also embrace and congratulate one another (Poonawala, n.d).
However, there is one question left that a reader may get interested in, namely, can fasting be harmful to the human health, bearing in mind that it may 15 hours for a person to stay without any food or any kind of drinking? (“Ramadan: A guide”, 2013). This question is answered where it is pointed out that, basing on the studies that have been conducted in the past, it has been found out that “fasting is practically the most powerful of all remedial measures” (“Ramadan: A guide”, 2013, p.2).
It makes it possible for a person’s body to get rid of the poisonous substances that may have been accumulated during the year; it helps to purify one’s blood and undertake a kind of renovation of the whole body system of a human being (“Ramadan: A guide”, 2013). As it has been mentioned, fasting, on the one hand, purifies and cleanses the body, on the other hand, however, it adds to the real essential body strength by getting rid of the toxic substances that may make the body nerves and cells weak (“Ramadan: A guide”, 2013).
It is also pointed out that skipping a few meals is not similar to starvation. Studies have shown that the energy that is derived from food is not instantly available, in other words “some of this is stored in and upon the body as and when needed at a later time” (“Ramadan: A guide”, 2013, p.2).
It is also important to underline the fact that during Ramadan some people may lose weight while others do not. It has been recommended that during Ramadan, the meals taken need to be light, however, a larger number of people cannot “resist sampling special sweets and food associated with Ramadan” (“Ramadan: A guide”, 2013, p.2).
Conclusion
As it has been looked in the discussion, the month of Ramadan in the Islamic culture is very important to the Muslims.This is a time every adult Muslim engages in fasting and seeks to have a close relationship with God. During Ramadan, the Muslims engage in celebration and their form of celebrating is found to be very different from the normal celebration in many other cultures. They find joy in this celebration but this joy is not associated with making merry.
They also engage in holding special prayers and reading the Quran. During the night time, the mosques are filled with people who come together to jointly break their fast and to engage in praying. The month of Ramadan is regarded as a month during which the Muslims make an effort to renew their relationship.
During the month, the Muslims hold a strong belief that the word of God is ‘directing light and a mercy’. People read the Quran with the basic reason that it helps in changing their lives, in one way or the other. The Quran and Ramadan are intricately intertwined. In addition, the month of Ramadan is regarded as a month of doing good things and engaging in charitable activities.
The Muslims make an effort to engage in giving in a liberal manner and increase the level of the good actions they engage in doing. It has also been found out, basing on research, fasting is not harmful to the human health. It is not a form of starvation and it is interesting to find out that it is an important way of eliminating toxins from the body.
References
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Asad, M. (2003).The Message of the Qu’ran. Bitton, England: Book Foundation.
Celebrating Ramadan. Web.
Foucault, M. (1994). The Order of Things: An Archaeology of the Human Sciences. New York, N.Y: Vintage Books.
Islam FAQ: Muslim Holy days, (2013). Web.
Perry, M. (2005). Between Muslim and Christian Worlds: Moriscas and Identity in Early Modern Spain. Muslim World 95(1), 177-97.
Poonawala, I. Ramadan. Web.
Ramadan: A guide, (2013). Web.
Segle, Z. (2004). Re-imagining Ramadan: The Significance of Festival Discourse in Pérez de Hita’s Guerras civiles de Granada. Web.
Stacey, A. (2008). Why Muslims love the month of Ramadan. Web.