The Very Minimum That Everyone Should Know About Ramadan
In the Western world, we generally associate spring with renewal and the holidays of gratitude, and the Islamic calendar is no different: the month-long Ramadan, celebrated as the holiest time of the year by 1.8 billion adherents of the religion, is now continuing, bringing with it ancient traditions of fasting. and a spiritual pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia (although this year’s holidays are subject to travel restrictions related to the pandemic).
In your social media feeds, you’ve likely seen brands, community leaders or sports teams express the message of “Ramadan Mubarak” and “Ramadan Kareem”, which means “blessed Ramadan” (or “happy Ramadan”) and “generous Ramadan “. , “accordingly. And since Ramadan is such a rich and legendary time in the Muslim faith, everyone should understand its meaning.
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan marks the time when the Prophet Muhammad discovered the sacred text of the religion – the Koran – 1400 years ago. The roots of the word reflects the arid desert conditions, derived from the Arabic word Ramidha, which, according to the Fluent Arabic , translates roughly as “strong, scorching heat.”
A fluent Arabic explains the meaning of the desert metaphor, noting that the concept of scorching heat is meant to burn sins:
Ramadan is so named because it burns away the sins of believers. Just as the scorching sun evaporates water from the surface of the earth, Ramadan burns away man’s sins. This spiritual heat cleanses and shapes us to become better.
In practice, Ramadan is a month of fasting, worship and fellowship. Fasting (alternately known as Uraza) is one of the five pillars of the Muslim faith, along with the professions of faith (Shahada), prayer (salat), charity (zakat), and the pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj). During Ramadan, devotees fast from sunrise to sunset throughout the month.
Abstinence is also practiced in other areas of life, as Fiza Pirani writes in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
During the month, Muslims also abstain from habits such as smoking, caffeine, sex, and gossip; it is seen as a way to both physically and spiritually cleanse oneself by practicing self-restraint.
The daily routine of Ramadan can be strict depending on whether the person is physically strong and healthy enough to starve all day. There are exceptions in this regard , especially when it comes to pregnant or lactating women, the elderly, young children and those traveling on pilgrimage.
However, for those who can fully participate, the daily schedule often begins with a pre-dawn meal that should be sustained by the practitioner until dusk, so it is usually high in protein and high in water. The day continues as usual until the “Iftar” begins, which is essentially a snack just before the first evening prayer. Some people then head to their local mosque for special services during Ramadan, often followed by a large meal at someone’s home, usually with family and friends involved. The celebrations end with a culminating holiday on the last day, which is called Eid al-Adha.
When is Ramadan?
It changes annually, but insignificantly. Because Islam adheres to the lunar calendar, which functions according to the phases of the moon, Ramadan is shifted 10 days forward annually according to the Gregorian calendar, which is used in most countries of the world. Traditionally, Ramadan begins on the first day of the ninth month of the lunar calendar and lasts 30 days.
This year’s celebrations began on Monday 12 April and will end on Tuesday 11 May.
Although communities around the world generally adhere to the same date and time (although some Muslims prefer to consult their local mosque for the official start date of the holidays), not all fasting regimes follow the same time frame. Because sunlight varies by hemisphere, hours spent in fasting can be markedly different in the farthest reaches of the Northern Hemisphere, in contrast to Muslim fasting in more southern countries.
However, the general principles of the holiday – community, family commitment, and living a virtuous life – are unshakable wherever you worship.