RAMADAN: A TIME OF FASTING AND SPIRITUAL RENEWAL


Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. The sun sets on the first day of Ramadan, the call to prayer echoes through the streets. This is the Islamic Holy month of fasting and prayer. A time of reflection, peace and acts of kindness. It is observed by Muslims around the world.

Ramadan begins with the sighting of moon and ends by sighting same after a period of minimum span of days between 29 - 31 days of fasting, where people will deprive themselves from food and drinks as an Islamic tradition to commemorate the "Night of Power" usually 27th night that God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (sws) the Qur'an. All Muslims at this time are expected to fast from dawn to dusk and daily performing special prayers and engaging in act of charity.

It is a time to reconnect with family and friends and also reflect on the teachings and communal prayers (salat) in the mosque with reading of the Quran.
It is an obligation period of atonement when God forgives past sins of those who observes this holy month through fasting, prayers and faithful intentions.

"Suhoor" (Sehar) is the first meal of the day which is taken before dawn which expires at 5:08am, while "Iftar" is the evening meal that Muslims eat to break their fast and this ends by 6:32pm. During Ramadan, and before eating the evening meal, most Muslim faithfuls break the fast with fruits, though, it is not a mandatory procedure, but it is a common tradition. Dates are common choices of fruit for breaking the fast as it is mentioned in the Quran as a blessed food.

Fasting is invalidated by eating or drinking at wrong time, though the lost day can be made up and or substituted with extra day of fasting especially, for those who are ill or must travel during fasting.
Special exemptions are permitted to pregnant or nursing mothers, children, old and aged, weak, long journey travelers and mentally ill persons.

The end of Ramadan fast is usually commemorated and celebrated with a unique festival called Eid al-Fitr, meaning; "The Feast of Fast - Breaking".

At this end, it is observed as a time of Thanksgiving to Allah and Celebration. On this day, people wear their best dresses, especially the children and often gather in mosques or at general praying ground for special prayers and sermons from the IMAM, in which after, family gather to enjoy special delicacy of dishes and pastries, graves of dead relatives are visted, exchange of gifts and greetings like Eid Mubarak which means "Blessed Eid".

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