Ramadan

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is a special time for Muslims around the world. During Ramadan, people fast from dawn until sunset. This means they don’t eat or drink during the day. At sunset, they break their fast together with a meal called iftar.

Ramadan is important because it is when the Quran, the holy book of Islam, is believed to have been revealed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It is one of the five pillars of Islam. The month lasts about 29 to 30 days, starting when people see the crescent moon.

Besides fasting, Muslims spend time in prayer, reflection, and studying the Quran. They also give to charity and help others, which brings their community closer together. Even though fasting can be hard, many feel that Ramadan is a time for spiritual growth.

Etymology

The word Ramadan comes from an Arabic word that means "scorching heat." This name reminds us of the heat people might feel during this holy month. In some countries with Persian language, such as Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, India, Pakistan, and Turkey, people say "Ramazan" or "Ramzan." In Bangladesh, the word is "Romzan."

History

Ramadan is a special month for Muslims because they believe the Quran was revealed during this time. It is a time for fasting, prayer, and giving to others. Muslims think that important holy books were also given to people during Ramadan. They remember the night when the Prophet Muhammad first received the Quran, called Laylat al-Qadr, which happens in the last ten days of Ramadan.

Fasting during Ramadan was commanded to Muslims early in their history. Muslims believe that fasting has always been important for believers, as a way to show respect and stay strong in their faith.

Important dates

The Islamic calendar is based on the moon. Each month starts when the first thin part of the new moon is seen. Because the moon changes, Ramadan moves through the seasons over time. Each day in this calendar begins after sunset.

Many Muslims look at the moon to know when Ramadan starts, but some use special calculations or announcements from Saudi Arabia. Because the moon looks different in different places, Ramadan can start on different days in different parts of the world, but usually only one day apart.

The most special night of Ramadan is called the Laylat al-Qadr or "Night of Power." Muslims believe this is when the Quran was first revealed. It is thought to be one of the last ten nights of Ramadan.

The holiday of Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan. It begins when another new moon is seen or after 30 days of fasting, whichever comes first. Eid is a celebration of returning to normal life after the month of fasting.

Main article: Night of Power

Main articles: Eid al-Fitr and Eid prayers

Religious practices

During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until sunset. Before dawn, they eat a meal called suhur, and at sunset, they break their fast with a meal called iftar.

Fasting helps people practice self-control and think about others. Muslims also spend more time praying and giving to those in need. Many try to read the whole Quran during Ramadan. Special nightly prayers called Tarawih are also common, though they are not required.

Cultural practices

In many Islamic countries, people decorate their streets with special lights called fanous. In Bangladesh, people sing songs to wake others up for early meals before sunrise.

In Java, people visit holy springs for a special bath before fasting. In Semarang, they celebrate with a parade featuring a unique horse-dragon creature. In Jakarta, fireworks are used even though they are not officially allowed.

During Ramadan, people greet each other with phrases like “blessed Ramadan” and “generous Ramadan.” In some places, a person walks around beating a drum to wake everyone up for early meals. In Nigeria and West Africa, families share meals and give to those in need. Mosques host nightly prayers and charity events.

Ramadan also brings special TV shows during the evening meals, making it a big event for viewers.

Observance

Many Muslims around the world observe Ramadan. In some places, almost everyone fasts during this special month. Many Muslims also spend more time in prayer and give to charity during Ramadan. Most agreed that Ramadan is a time for kindness and helping others.

Ramadan in polar regions

Main article: Islamic views on fasting in the polar regions

The time between sunrise and sunset changes depending on where you are and the season. While most Muslims fast for about 11 to 16 hours, in places near the poles, this time can be much longer—over 22 hours! In areas where the sun doesn’t rise or set for days, some Muslims follow the schedule of the nearest city where the sun does rise and set, while others follow the times from Mecca.

Ramadan in Earth orbit

Because sunrise and sunset happen many times each day in space, Muslim astronauts plan their religious practices based on the time zone of the last place they were on Earth. For example, astronaut Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor from Malaysia, calculated fasting and prayer times using the sunrise and sunset times in Cape Canaveral, which is in the Eastern Time Zone.

Laws

Some Muslim countries have rules about not eating or drinking in public during the daytime in Ramadan. For example, selling alcohol is not allowed during Ramadan in Egypt. In places like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Algeria, and Malaysia, people can get fines or have to spend time in jail if they eat, drink, or smoke in public during Ramadan. In the United Arab Emirates, the punishment is doing community service instead.

In some countries, there have been times when following Ramadan was not allowed. During a certain period in Albania, people were not allowed to celebrate Ramadan openly, though many still fasted in secret. In China, especially in Xinjiang, there have been reports that some leaders, students, and teachers were not allowed to fast during Ramadan. However, not everyone in the area follows these rules.

Employment during Ramadan

During Ramadan, many Muslims still go to work. Some countries like Oman and Lebanon have shorter work hours to help people who are fasting. It’s a good idea for Muslims who are fasting to tell their bosses, so they can plan. The rules about help for workers during Ramadan are different in each country.

In places like Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE, workers might only need to work up to six hours a day and 36 hours a week. Even with slower work, shops and businesses can earn more money because people buy things for special meals.

Health effects

During Ramadan, many people do not eat or drink from sunrise to sunset. This can be safe for healthy people. But it might not be good for people who are sick, very old, children who have not started growing up, or women who are pregnant or feeding a baby.

Fasting can help the body in some ways, like helping it handle sugar better and being good for the heart. It can also help with weight loss, but people might gain the weight back after Ramadan ends. Eating and drinking too much at meals before sunrise and after sunset can cause health problems.

Schools in places like Berlin and the United Kingdom sometimes tell students not to fast, because it might make it hard to focus and do schoolwork. People with kidney problems should be careful. Some athletes find that they do worse during Ramadan. It is important for anyone with health concerns to talk to a doctor before fasting.