Introduction
Customs and traditions are the main distinctive features of the nations which inhabit the Earth. Every nation has traditions, which are either similar in some way to the traditions of other countries, or unique. Ramadan is the unique Islamic tradition, which takes place on the ninth month of Islamic calendar and lasts for a month. Ramadan is the most sacred period in all Islamic countries and the most significant event in the life of every Muslim.
Time limits of Ramadan
As it has been already mentioned, Ramadan takes place during the ninth month of lunar calendar, and the beginning of Ramadan is always different. The starting day of Ramadan depends on the lunar phases (new moon), so every year Ramadan starts 11 days earlier, and different countries count the beginning of Ramadan separately. The event lasts for a month and is the most significant in the life of Muslims. Eid ul-Fitr is the holiday, which follows Ramadan.
The main aim of Ramadan
The main idea of Ramadan is the strengthening of faith, moral growing, consideration of the personal way of life, understanding of life priorities, and shifting of these priorities. The person has the opportunity to leave the city life and to retreat in some cozy and lonely place with the aim to think about true vital values, to evaluate the person’s life and to relax. People are sinful and Ramadan allows pople to look on their life, on their sins and to make some conclusions, to provide some changes in life.
Spiritual purification is provided by means of fasting. Muslims try to refrain from loaves and fish, they try to refuse from eating, drinking, smoking and other life facilities. To avoid bad language and save soul from shady thought is the main consideration of people during the whole their live, but especially during Ramadan. This fasting is obligatory for all Muslims and should be followed since the sunrise till the sunset. When the sun has disappeared, Muslims have the opportunity to interrupt their fasting, but still the food they eat should be of small portions. Fasting is allowed to be avoided by pregnant, children, old and sick people. People should give the food to sick or poor people (in the sum which they spend of their eating everyday) in the case of inability to follow fasting.
People are given the opportunity to confess in all their sins and there is a belief that Allah can forgive all people’s sins during Ramadan in the case of person’s sincere desire to be forgiven. Reading of prayers and God-pleasing action gives the person additional chance in forgiving. The last ten days of Ramadan are the most important, as during these days, Laylat al-Qadr night takes place. This night is considered to be the night of power or the night of predestination, the time when Allah determines people’s destinies.
Conclusion
So, Ramadan is one of the most sacred events in the Muslim world. Wherever people live, wherever they stay during Ramadan, they follow all the traditions and peculiarities of the event, fasting, purification of soul and mind and other facilities, such as reading of prayers. Ramadan helps some people to understand their assignment in this life, to analyze the mistakes made during their life and to give opportunity to correct these mistakes. All people are sinful and reading prayers and living solitary lives at least during Ramadan help them to expiate their scanty sins and to become living life from white sheet.