The Holy Month of Ramadan

The Holy Month of Ramadan



Definition of Ramadan: Muslims believe that during Ramadan, the revelation of the Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad began. The entire month is spent fasting from sunrise to sunset.


From Quran: Allah says: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you that you may (learn) self-control.” [Sűrah al-Baqarah: 183]

From Hadith: “He who fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven; he who prays during the night in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven; and he who passes Lailat al-Qadr in prayer with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven.” (Al-Bukhari & Muslim)

Intention (Niyat): “Nawaitu-Un-Assuma Gadam Min Shahri Ramadanal Mubarak, Fardullaka Ya Allah Fatakabbal Minni Innaka Antas Samiul Alim.” (I intend to fast today in the month of Ramadan which is obligatory, O Allah, please accept from me as you are the All Hearing and All Knowing.)

Supplication (Braking Fast): “Allahumma Laka Sumtu Wa Tawakkaltu, Wa’alaa Rizkika Aftartu.” (O Allah, for you I have fasted and with your provision I have broken my fasting.)

Practices for during Ramadan:
1. Tarawih (Teravih): During this month, extra optional prayers of eight to twenty raka'ah, called tarawih, are prayed each night in the mosque. For those praying at the mosque throughout the month of Ramadan, the whole Quran in many mosque is recited during this month.
2. Suhoor (Sahur): Most practicing Muslims, especially children and the elderly, have a light meal or snack before dawn. This light meal is called Suhoor or Sohoor or Sehri.
3. Keep Fasting: Eating, drinking, sexual intercourse and smoking are not allowed between sunrise (fajr) and sunset (maghrib).
4. Laylat-Qadr: “This is the night of power, a night better than thousand months -Sura-Al-Qadr”. “Seek Laylat-Ul-Qadr on an odd number night among the last ten nights of Ramadan - Bukhari”. The exact date of Laylat al-Qadr is unknown, but it is known to have occurred in one of the last ten nights of Ramadan, usually thought to be on one of the odd-numbered dates are 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 29th.
5. Eid ul-Fitr: The Islamic holiday of Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan and the beginning of the following month nth. Eid ul-Fitr means the Festival of Breaking the Fasts. On the day of the Eid, congregational prayers are held in mosques or Islamic community centers. It is two rakaahs only. Following the prayers, people congratulate each other and eat sweets at a mosque or community center.

Time of Ramadan: The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. Since the Islamic lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year. It should be 29 days or 30 days for keeping fasting month of Ramadan depend on moon or calculation method.

Main four things Prohibited during the Ramadan:
1. We can not eating from sunrise (Fajr) to sunset (Magrib).
2. We can not drinking from sunrise (Fajr) to sunset (Magrib).
3. We can not sexual intercourse from sunrise (Fajr) to sunset (Magrib).
4. We can not smoking from sunrise (Fajr) to sunset (Magrib).

People who are exempted from fasting: It has eight categorical of people.
• Minors
• Aged
• Sickness
• Traveler
• Pregnant Women
• Sucking Women
• Menstruating Women
• Mentally Retarded

Days of Ramadan: It has three parts of Ramadan.
• God’s Mercy: First ten days from Ramadan (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10)
• God’s Forgiveness: Second ten days from Ramadan ( 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20)
• Salvation from Hell-fire: Last nine or ten days from Ramadan (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 or 30)