اَلسَلامُ عَلَيْكُم وَرَحْمَةُ اَللهِ وَبَرَكاتُهُ
﷽
Peace and blessings be upon you all.
In the Name of Allahﷻالله, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
What is Ramadhan?
Ramadhan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. A foundational pillar of practicing Islam is fasting during the month of Ramadhan. This devotional act is observed by over a billion Muslims worldwide today. Fasting is a major act of worship, and it is a powerful means of cultivating God-consciousness in the heart, mind, body and soul. Fasting has both physical and spiritual benefits, including purifying the soul, inspiring self-reflection, and increasing empathy and good charitable acts.
Ramadhan is considered one of the holiest months of the year. It is the month in which the Holy Qur'an - the very word of Allahﷻالله (God) - was being revealed to his final messenger Prophet Muhammedﷺ in 610. The companions of Prophet Muhammadﷺ also played an important role in the compilation and preservation of the Holy Qur'an, which is to serve as the book of light and guidance for all of mankind, with clear rulings and judgement between right and wrong and confirmation of preceding prophets and holy scriptures.
When is Ramadhan?
Ramadhan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which follows the lunar system. As a natural phenomenon, lunar months vary in length, containing either 29 or 30 days. This means that the lunar year is 10 or 11 days shorter than the solar year, since months in the solar year often have 31 days. Ultimately, this means that those measuring against the solar calendar will perceive Ramadhan as “shifting” a few days earlier each Gregorian year.
In 2024, Ramadhan will begin around March 11th and end around April 9th. The exact days are confirmed by the sighting of the new crescent moon at the start of the month.
Who observes Ramadhan and why?
Muslims celebrate Ramadhan by ritually fasting for the entire month in gratitude to Allahﷻالله (God) for His final revelation. By restricting the body’s appetites during daylight hours, believers rejuvenate their spirituality, repair their religious conscience, purify their hearts, bodies and minds, and cultivate their devotion to Allahﷻالله (God). This is the most significant objective of the fast: restoring the centrality of Allahﷻالله (God) in our daily lives.
How do we observe Ramadhan?
Muslims observe Ramadhan by abstaining from food, drink, smoking, and sexual intimacy—all out of devotion to their Creator. They are also called to practice self-restraint and respond to every situation with patience and kindness.
The Prophet Muhammadﷺ informed us,
“Whoever does not give up lying and acting dishonestly, then [know that] God has no need for this person to give up food and drink (i.e., fasting).” [Sahih al-Bukhari #1903]
In addition to fasting, Muslims also celebrate Ramadhan by reciting and studying the Holy Qur’an, performing acts of service, and giving to charity. Many people read the Holy Qur’an cover to cover multiple times over the course of the month. Believers complete their readings individually and in nightly congregations that take place in virtually every mosque on the planet. This is all in emulation of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who would annually rehearse with the archangel Gabriel all that had been revealed to him of the Holy Qur’an.
What is the purpose of Fasting during Ramadhan?
Muslims fast for the entire month in gratitude to God for His final revelation. By restricting the body’s appetites during daylight hours, believers rejuvenate their spirituality, repair their religious conscience, purify their hearts, bodies and minds, and cultivate their devotion to Allahﷻالله (God). This is the most significant objective of the fast: restoring the centrality of Allahﷻالله (God) in our daily lives.
Ramadhan is a period of practicing extra awareness about all the things that could soil our spirituality and fuel the ego that feeds off our catering to its appetites throughout the year. Vices are always forbidden, but we work with even greater dedication to avoid them and excel in devotion, kindness, patience, and forgiveness in Ramadhan. Such inner purity is the intended result of fasting.
How long do you Fast for during Ramadhan?
Healthy adult Muslims fast from before sunrise until sunset. During this time, Muslims cannot drink (not even water), eat, smoke, or be sexually intimate, out of devotion to God. Muslims must also refrain from any malicious intentions/acts or foal behaviour/language that may invalidate their entire fasting day/month.
Who is required to Fast during Ramadhan?
All healthy, able-bodied, and of-age Muslims must observe and fast the month of Ramadhan. However there are exception such as children who have not reached puberty. In addition travellers, pregnant or nursing women, or those who are sick and are unable to are not required to fast but must make up the fast later on.
How long do you Fast for during Ramadhan?
Yes. Our creator is Most Gracious and Most Merciful, so of course Islam has a merciful and pragmatic legal framework that allows many exceptions to the rules. The categories of people exempted from fasting are an excellent example of that.
Children who haven’t reached the age of puberty are not required to fast, although some like to practice and participate in Ramadhan activities. Pregnant women and nursing mothers who struggle to fast, as well as those who are traveling, are allowed to break their fast and make up for the days they missed in Ramadhan later on in the year. In addition, women experiencing menses are allowed to rest from the five daily prayers and from fasting. Women are expected to repay any missed obligatory fasting days at another time during the year. Women's missed prayers, on the other hand, do not need to be compensated for if they are missed for valid reasons.
How often do Muslims pray during Ramadhan?
Muslims should always do their best to maintain the obligatory five daily prayers as they would usually do at any other time of the year, but they should also strive to increase the amount of worship that they perform during Ramadhan.
In addition to the usual five daily prayers, many Muslims perform extra nightly prayers called Taraweeh and additional forms of worship such as Tahajjud, Itikaf, and an increase in reading the Holy Qur’an. Again, this is only for individuals who are fit and healthy and free from any exemptions that would make it very difficult for them to perform any of these fundamental, extra acts of worship.
What are Taraweeh Prayers?
Taraweeh are additional prayers performed nightly during Ramadhan. They are optional prayers. Taraweeh is prayed in sets of two rakats each, in the same way Muslims pray the standard salah (prayers). Most masjids (mosques) around the world hold Taraweeh prayers, providing each community with a chance to listen and reflect on the recitation of the Holy Qur’an behind an imam or expert reciter throughout the blessed month.
What is Laylatul Qadr?
Laylatul Qadr can be translated as The Night of Decree or The Night of Power.
In the context of this holy night, some scholars define “qadr” as “decree” (qadar). In other words, it is the night in which the destiny of each person–their sustenance, lifespan, and other critical matters–is decided and sealed for the coming year.
Other scholars define “qadr” as “power,” indicating the greatness of the night. Similarly, some who interpret “qadr” as “power” do so to bring attention to the fact that righteous deeds performed during this night are far more powerful than they would be on any other night.
Why is Laylatul Qadr so important?
Laylatul Qadr, often translated as “The Night of Power,” has a number of significant attributes. Most importantly, the Qur’an was revealed in its entirety on this night.
Laylatul Qadr has also been described as a gift for the Prophet Muhammadﷺ’s community.
There is a hadith that states:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was shown the lifespans of the people (who had gone) before him, or what Allahﷻالله willed of that, and it was as if the lives of the people of his community had become too short for them to be able to do as many good actions as others before them had been able to do with their long lives, so Allahﷻالله gave him Laylat Al-Qadr, which is better than a thousand months.”
When is Laylatul Qadr?
The precise night on which Laylatul Qadr occurs has not been mentioned.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
“Search for Laylatul Qadr in the odd nights of the last 10 nights of Ramadhan.”
There is tremendous wisdom in not knowing exactly when it occurs. As Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi (d. 620 AH/1223 CE) writes, “God has concealed this night from the Muslim community (ummah) so that they may strive in seeking it and performing worship throughout the month in the hopes of catching it."
Why is giving Zakat (charity) especially important during Ramadhan?
Muslims fast for the entire month in gratitude to Allahﷻالله (God) for His final revelation.
Muslims focus on increasing all of their good actions during the holy month, but particularly increase their generosity through making donations, helping the needy, serving the hungry, and paying a mandatory charity (Zakat Al-Fitr) to the poor before the end of Ramadhan.
This spirit of giving comes from the sympathy we feel for those who have less when we experience hunger and deprivation ourselves, and also from deepening our relationship with Allahﷻالله’s word, and understanding the vast mercy and generosity inherent in the nature of Allahﷻالله.
It is authentically reported that:
“The Prophet ﷺ was the most generous of all the people, and that he used to become even more generous in Ramadhan.” [Sahih al-Bukhari #3554]
What is Zakat Al-Fitr?
Zakat Al-Fitr or Fitrana is a mandatory donation made usually by every single adult before Eid Al-Fitr. It ensures that even those who don’t have much are able to eat and celebrate during the holiday. At the time of the Prophet ﷺ Fitrana (Zakat al Fitr) would be given as one saa'. Therefore the quantity is described by the Prophet ﷺ as one saa' of food. One saa' is equivalent to four madd and one madd is the amount of rice, wheat or dried fruit (usually dates) that can be scooped up when a person puts their hands together.
What is Eid Al-Fitr?
Eid Al-Fitr occurs at the end of Ramadhan. After an entire month of fasting and extra worship, Muslims are sad to bid Ramadhan and its spiritual atmosphere another farewell, however, simultaneously also excited to celebrate their efforts with a festive holiday.
The festivities begin early on Eid day with the traditional takbeerat and communal prayers. Celebrants show up in their new clothing to pray together, embrace all of their friends, and wish each other “Eid Mubarak” (Blessed Eid).
After the Eid prayer, specific ways of celebrating vary across a plethora of Muslim cultures, but whether it’s knafeh or donuts, you can be sure that there will be lots of feasting on delicious foods, exchanging gifts, and quality time spent together with family and friends within the community.
In 2024, Eid Al-Fitr will take place on April 10th inshaa Allah (by the will and grace of God). This date is tentative until the sighting of the new moon at the start of the next Islamic month Shawwal.
