Religious Practice of Ramadan Month - Article Example

English 8 July Ramadan Introduction Ramadan is a period of observance that takes place once each year and lasts a month in the Islam calendar. During this period, Muslims focus on devotion to Allah, spiritual reflection and self-control. Each day from dawn to dusk, Muslims are required to abstain from food, drink and sexual relations. This is important since during Ramadan, the focus of Muslims should be divinity, dignity, charity among other spiritual acts. Since fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam, every Muslim from the age of puberty is required to fast during this month. According to the American Dietetic Association, “exceptions to the fast are made for individuals who are sick or travelling; women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or menstruating; children younger than the age of puberty; and the elderly, if their physical condition warrants exception” (187). The dates during which the period of Ramadan takes place can vary from year to year, but it is always during the Islamic calendar, which is a lunar calendar. As the month of Ramadan approaches its end, the Night of Power, which is sometimes referred to as the Night of Destiny is celebrated. The night marks the “night when the first verses of the Koran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad in a remote cave on Mount Mira, near Mecca, Saudi Arabia” (McMahon 262). The end of the month is marked by a holy feast known as Eid al-Fitr. History of Ramadan The religion of Islam was created by Prophet Muhammad. Muslims do not consider him the founder of the religion, since they believe that all he did was following the teachings of Allah. Muslims also believe that Muhammad was the last prophet that Allah spoke to. The scriptures written in the Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad by angel Gabriel. It took angel Gabriel years to reveal the scriptures to Prophet Muhammad, but it is believed that it is during the month of Ramadan that the transmitting of text began. Cragg points out that Ramadan “celebrates the beginning of the Quran revelation to Muhammad” (22). The word Ramadan means excess heat and the reason the month was named so, is because when the ancient people “changed the names of the months from the ancient language, they named them according to the seasons in which they fell, and this month agreed with the days of excessive heat” (Ali n.p.). Key Dates in the Month of Ramadan The beginning, night of power and end of Ramadan are important dates during Ramadan. Ramadan begins when the new moon is sighted. According to Glassé, “a new moon cannot be seen with the naked eye until at least twenty hours after the astronomic new moon or conjunction of moon and sun” (377). Sometimes the moon may fail to be sighted on the twenty-eighth day of the previous month and this requires it to be pushed to the twenty-ninth or thirtieth day. Another reason that leads to the moon not being visible on the same day around the world is the presence of clouds in some parts of the world. Blackwell points out that “in today’s world, many Muslims let the mufti of Cairo, Egypt make the determination of when Ramadan begins and ends so that all Muslims can observe Ramadan at the same time” (8). For other Muslims however, the ultimate authority comes from Saudi Arabia. The night of power, which is also known as night of destiny is called Laylah al-Qadr in Islam (Marshall Cavendish Corporation 84). This night marks the time when angel Gabriel revealed the first verses of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad. The exact date when the revelation took place is usually disputed, but it is believed that it was an odd day among the last ten days of the month of Ramadan. The twenty-seventh is believed to be the most probable date, but today, it is not held with so much esteem. Instead, Muslim faithful’s “tend to concentrate their attention on the last 10 days as a whole, viewing them as the most important time of the entire month, during which all Muslims should redouble their efforts to achieve a state of connectedness with God” (Marshall Cavendish Corporation 84). The month of Ramadan ends with the feast of Eid al-Fitr (Marshall Cavendish Corporation 84). In fact, the word Eid al-Fitr means breaking the fast. Eid al-fitr marks the successful completion of the holy month of Ramadan. The hallmarks of the day are usually jubilation and thanksgiving. However, the end of Ramadan cannot be declared until the new moon is sighted. This is because the new moon is what signifies the end of the holy month. When the new moon marking the end of Ramadan is sighted, a special prayer known as ‘Id is performed by the entire Muslim community. After the prayer, Muslims spend the rest of the day giving presents and feasting. Religious Practices during Ramadan During the month of Ramadan, the religious practices observed include fasting, nightly prayers, recitation of the Quran and charity. As mentioned earlier, fasting is one of the pillars of Islam and it is a requirement for every Muslim beyond the stage of puberty. Only those forbidden or unable to fast are exempted. These include the elderly who are unable to fast, children, the sick, as well as pregnant women and those going through their menstrual periods. According to Marshall Cavendish Corporation, “once Ramadan begins, Muslims are expected to abstain from eating food and drinking water in daylight hours” (82). There is variation in what else is forbidden during Ramadan, but for most Muslims, engaging in sexual intercourse, smoking and becoming intoxicated are forbidden. Nightly prayers are another religious practice during Ramadan. It is a requirement for all Muslims to pray five times each day, but during the month of Ramadan, extra nightly prayers are said. The prayers are known as taraweeh. In mosques where the nightly prayers are held, the Quran is read chapter by chapter from the beginning to the end and within the month, the entire holy book is read. The other religious practice comprises of acts of charity that Muslims call sadaqa. These are usually conducted in an informal way, especially through inviting guests and sharing with neighbors and the community. Conclusion Ramadan is a holy month in the calendar of Muslims and is celebrated once each year. This period is important as Muslims utilize it to renew their spiritual connection with Allah and focus on their devotion to Him, as well as to go through spiritual reflection and practice self-control. The special days during the month are the beginning, the night of power and the end. During this time, fasting, nightly prayers, recitation of the Quran and charity are practiced. Works Cited Ali, Maulana Muhammad. Holy Quran. Sudbury: Archieboy Holdings, 2011. Print. American Dietetic Association. Cultural Food Practices. Illinois: American Dietetic Association, 2010. Print. Blackwell, Amy Hackney. Ramadan. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2009. Print. Cragg, Kenneth B. Christians and Muslims: From History to Healing. Bloomington: iUniverse, 2011. Print. Glassé, Cyril. The New Encyclopedia of Islam. California: AltaMira Press, 2003. Print. Marshall Cavendish Corporation. Islamic Beliefs, Practices, and Cultures. New York: Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 2011. Print. McMahon, Robin. On the Origin of Diversity. Surrey: Filament Publishing Ltd., 2011. Print.   Read More