Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, may be 29 or 30 days long. An Islamic month begins with the sighting of the new crescent in the western horizon, immediately after sunset. Muslims look toward the western horizon for the new moon on the 29th day of Shaban, the eighth month. If the new moon is sighted, Ramadan has begun with the sunset but fasting begins with the next dawn. If the new moon is not sighted on this 29th day, Muslims complete 30 days of Shaban and Ramadan begins the following day.
The Significance of Ramadan and Fasting:
Allah says in the Quran:
'O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain God-consciousness. (2:183)
"In the month of Ramadan, the Quran, a book of guidance with proofs of guidance distinguishing right from wrong, was revealed. Therefore, whoever of you is present in that month let him fast. But who is ill or on a journey shall fast a similar number of days later on. Allah desires your well-being, not your discomfort. He desires you to fast the whole month so that you may magnify Him and render thanks to Him for giving you His guidance." 2:185
Accordingly, the month of Ramadan is called the month of the Quran; therefore, Muslims have tradition of reciting Quran frequently in this month.
Sawm or Fasting:
Sawm means a fast that begins with dawn and ends with sunset. Muslims rise before dawn, eat Suhur (pre-dawn meal) and drink liquids for the preparation of Sawm (fasting). Eating and drinking stops at dawn. During the day no eating, drinking or sexual activity is allowed. In addition, a Muslim must adhere to the moral code of Islam very strictly as failure violates the requirements of fasting.
Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the deeds of worship required of all Muslims who have attained puberty. Women who are having their menstrual period or who have not fully recovered from childbirth, postpone the fast until they are completely out of their special conditions. In addition, those who are ill or in travel may choose to postpone their fast.
Muslims fast because Allah has commanded them to do so. However, they may also think about the benefits of fasting which may include developing control over hunger, thirst and sexual urges, training to be a good moral person and, testing sincerity to the Creator. During the fast, Muslims may conduct their business as usual. However, in the Muslim countries working hours are shortened by a couple of hours a day and the hours are changed to make the work comfortable.
The fast is broken immediately after sunset, usually by eating dates and drinking water or juice. However, any lawful food or drink may be used to break the fast. This is followed by the Maghrib salah (after sunset prayer) which is followed by a complete meal. After a brief rest, Muslims go to the mosque to offer the Isha salah (night prayer) and then a special night prayer, called Taraweeh.
Taraweeh:
This nightly congregational salah (prayer) is performed after the Isha salah. Traditionally, a Hafiz of the Quran, a person who has memorized the whole Quran which is in Arabic, leads the prayer. He recites the Quran in small portions, in proper sequence, every night and completes the recitation of the whole Quran before the end of the month of Ramadan. Every Muslim who attends such prayers regularly gets the opportunity of listening to the whole Quran in a month. If a Hafiz of the Quran is not available, the Muslim who has memorized the most in a group leads the prayer and recites according to his ability. In the absence of a Hafiz, some Muslims hold the Quran in the hand during their salah and read from it. Some Islamic scholars cite the report of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) that, with the exception of three nights in one Ramadan, he always prayed during the night in his house whether it was Ramadan or not.
Ramadan Generosity:
The month of Ramadan brings many blessings multiplied manifold for those who do good. During this month people are more generous, more cordial, more friendly and more ready than other times of the year to do good work. The poor and the needy receive food, clothing and money from the well-to-do in the community. Many people go to the mosque in the neighborhood for fast breaking and meals. People in the neighborhood send fruit, food and drinks to the mosque - the atmosphere is that of a friendly pot luck dinner every evening of the month.
Well-known philanthropists of the Muslim community find themselves surrounded by the needy people and Islamic workers for donations. Zakat, a wealth purifying tax, and donations are given at this time of the year since many Muslims wish to take the opportunity of multiplied rewards from Allah.
Laylat al-Qadr:
This is the night of the Qadr. The term Al- Qadr has been frequently translated as "the power". A better translation may be "the value" or "the decree" because Allah says the value of this night is better than one thousand months, a life time of over eighty-three years. Allah sends His decrees at this night. This is the night when the Quran was revealed. Allah says in the Quran:
"We have indeed revealed this (the Quran) in the Night of Value (or Measure). And what will explain to you what the Night of Value is? The Night of Value is better than a thousand months. Therein come down angels and the Spirit (the angel Gabriel) by Allah's permission with all decrees. (That night is) Peace until the rising of the dawn." 97:1-5
The night of value is a gift to mankind from Allah. However, it is not clear which night is Laylat al-Qadr. Some reports by companions of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) elude it to be the 27th night of the month of Ramadan, but many more sayings point to any of the odd date nights during the last third of the month of Ramadan. According to authentic teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) Muslims are advised to spend the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 29th nights of Ramadan in worship and doing good works to assure finding Laylat al-Qadr. A portion of the Muslims stay up all night in prayers and good works, however, the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) and his companions used to sleep at least one-third of the night.
In Muslim countries, the 27th of Ramadan is a holiday to enable people to rest during the day after all night of worship. Schools are closed from the 27th of Ramadan through the 2nd of Shawwal (5 to 6 days) to combine Laylat al-Qadr and Eid al-Fitr observances.
I'tekaf or Seclusion:
The practice of the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) was to spend the last ten days and nights of Ramadan in the Masjid (mosque). Following his practice, it is considered a community duty that some people go in I'tekaf (seclusion) in a neighborhood Masjid. The people in I'tekaf spend their time in various forms of Dhikr (remembrance of Allah), such as doing extra salah, recitation and study of the Quran, study of the Hadith, repetition of some phrases of praise and glory to Allah, exhorting each other to be good through obeying Allah and His Messenger (pbuh). Since people in I'tekaf are not permitted to go outside the Masjid except for emergencies, they sleep in the Masjid and use available facilities of the Masjid. The food for the people in I'tekaf is provided either by their own families or people in the community. I'tekaf is terminated, generally, at the declaration of sighting of the moon or the end of the month of Ramadan. For busy people a shorter version of I'tekaf is allowed, such as one night, one day or a few days.
Sadaqat al-Fitr:
In general, any material help extended to the poor, needy and to those who ask and deserve is called Sadaqah. Sadaqat al-Fitr, which is also called Zakat al-Fitr is the obligatory material help extended to the poor of the society before the Eid prayers, preferably to be given early enough for the poor to prepare for the celebration. In North America, the estimated amount is $5 to $8 to be given on behalf of each member of the donor's family, including infants.
Eid al-Fitr:
The end of the fasting month is celebrated on the first of Shawwal, the 10th month, which follows Ramadan. Traditionally, on the 29th of Ramadan after sunset, people go out in the open looking for a new crescent in the western horizon where the sun sets. If the crescent is sighted, the end of Ramadan and Eid are declared. If the crescent is not sighted, Ramadan is extended by one day.
On the day of Eid, people take a bath or shower in the early morning, eat breakfast, wear their best clothes, apply perfume and proceed to the place of Eid congregation while pronouncing takbeerat, saying, "Allah is the Greatest, there is no deity but Allah and all praise belongs to Allah." Muslims pronounce takbeerat in their homes, streets and place of congregation while waiting for the leader, Imam. It was the practice of the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) to hold Eid prayer congregations in open grounds. Following the practice of the Prophet(s), Muslims are advised to hold Eid prayers in open grounds. In the Muslim countries with warm climate there are designated Eid prayer grounds. However, in North America Muslims rent halls at convention centers or major hotels.
The Imam rises at the appointed time, leads the prayers and delivers a khutbah, sermon. At the end of the sermon, people supplicate, greet, embrace and congratulate each other for the successful completion of Ramadan and ask Allah for the acceptance of their efforts in His obedience.
During the day, people visit each other and children may receive gifts. In some countries, people go for picnics and other gatherings. In addition, special Eid celebrations may be arranged at work or in social settings. Essentially, Eid is a day of thanks to Allah, and also a gathering of family and friends.
Umrah or Minor Hajj in Ramadan:
There is a report from Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) saying that performing Umrah in the month of Ramadan is equal to performing a major or complete Hajj. Hajj is a pilgrimage to Makkah (commonly misspelled as Mecca). Hajj is the enactment of some of the trials and tribulations of Prophet Abraham (A), his wife Hjir (Hagger) and his oldest son, Isma'il (A) (Ishmael). Hajj includes the sacrifice of Ishmael, represented by the sacrifice of an animal, such as ram, goat, sheep, cow or a camel. Complete Hajj lasts for five days but Umrah is completed in a couple of hours. Umrah is only a small part of the Hajj. An animal sacrifice may be offered at the completion of Umrah. Umrah may be performed anytime during the year but it has special significance in Ramadan. Hajj is performed only during the 8th and 13th days of Dhu al-Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar.
Ramadhan is the 9th Month in the Islamic Lunar calendar most meritous month of the whole year
Philosophy of Ramadhan
The Holy Quran has told us that the basic objective for which man is created by Allah is that he "worships" Him:
And I did not create Jinn and human beings except that they should worship Me.
The word used by the Holy Quran for the worship is "Ibadah", which has a much wider sense than "worship".
The month of Ramadhan has been designed to maintain a balance between material and spiritual aspects of the human life. This month is meant to maximize the direct acts of ibadah and to maximize the pure mundane activities, so that one may accelerate his spiritual progress to make up the distance and to repair the spiritual loss one may have suffered through his deep involvement in the mundane activities during the year. The days of Ramadhan are designed to keep fast which is an act of ibadah for the whole day, and depriving oneself from any material food for many hours, it lessens the bad spiritual effects, if any, of the material pleasures. The nights of Ramadhan, on the other hand, are spent in offering Tarawih and waking up for tahajjud and suhoor, reducing the time of one's sleep much less than in the normal days. The rewards of the virtuous acts in this month has been multiplied, to encourage the Muslims to the maximum possible acts of ibaadah.
Merits of Ramadhan
It contains a night far better than one thousand months (Laila tul Qadr).
It is a month where Allah has made it obligatory to fast.
It is commendable to stand up praying in its nights.
An optional act of worship (nafl) in this month has the same reward as an obligatory worship (fard) in other days.
Performing an obligatory (fard) act of worship will carry as much reward as the reward of performing seventy obligatory acts of worship in other days.
It is a month of patience and the reward of patience is Jannah (paradise).
It is a month of sympathy.
A month in which the provision for a believer is increased.
If someone provides another person with food to make Iftar, it will cause forgiveness to his sins and freeing his neck from hell and he will be awarded the same thawab as the fasting person will be rewarded for his fast, without decreasing his own thawab.
The first part of this month is mercy from Allah.
The middle part of this month is forgiveness from Allah.
The last part of this month is liberation from hell.
In this month, you should do four acts frequently : bear witness that there is no God but Allah
seek forgiveness from Allah
pray to Allah to give you the Jannah
seek refuge to Allah from the Fire.
It is a month of divine blessing.
It is a month of purification, to purify one's soul and heart.
It is an opportunity to strengthen one's Imaan.
Show Allah the best of deeds from your side, because unfortunate is the person who deprives himself from Allah's mercy in this month.
Characteristic honours for Muslims in Ramadhan The smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better with Allah than the smell of musk.
Fish (in the water) keep praying to Allah to forgive the fasting persons until they make Iftar.
Every day, Allah decorates the Jannah and addresses it saying 'It is not too far that my righteous servants shall throw away the burdens (of the worldly life) and shall proceed towards you .
Rebellious satans are shackled in this month.
In the last night of this month, the fasting persons are granted amnesty.
How to Spend Ramadhan
Among other things, one should carry out the following with due care :
To offer every prayer with Jamaah in a mosque.
To rise up a little earlier than the exact time of Suhoor and offer the salah of Tahajjud.
To offer the nafl prayers of Ishraq, Duha and Awwabin.
Recitation of Holy Quran should be done as much as possible.
Dhikr or Tasbeeh, throughout the day.
Prayers and supplications - as much as one can.
A Muslim should give as much money in Sadaqah (charity) as he can afford.
What should be avoided in Ramadhan
Although the sinful acts are totallly prohibited in Shariah, whether in Ramadhan or at any other time, but their prohibition becomes even more severe in this month. If a Muslim continues to commit sins in Ramadhan, it will be a mockery to avoid lawful things and yet be engaged in unlawful acts never allowed in Shariah.
Specially the following acts should be avoided totally:
1. Telling a lie.
2. Backbiting
3. Quarrelling
4. Eating unlawful things
5. Earning through unlawful means.
6. Any act which may harm a person without a valid cause.
In short, one should try his best to refrain from all kinds of sins, and protect his eyes, ears, tongue and all other organs from indulging in an unlawful activity.
Rules of fasting
"Fast" means "to refrain from eating, drinking and having sexual intercourse throughout the day, right from the break of dawn upto sunset, with a clear intention of seeking the pleasure of Allah". It is necessary that there should be an intention which is callled the "Niyyah".
Acts nullifying the fast
Acts nullifying the fast are of two kinds :
1. Acts which make one liable to both qada and kaffara, namely :
(a) Eating something
(b) Drinking something
(c) Having sexual intercourse.
These three acts are liable to kaffarah when they are committed deliberately after one has started a fast, provided that the person committing them knows that they render the fast broken.
In such cases, both qada and kaffarah are obligatory on him. Qada means to keep another fast in lieu of the broken one. And kaffarah means to perform an act to expiate the sin of having broken the fast.
Kaffarah may be given in the following three ways :
(a) freeing a slave
(b) fasting for two months constantly without a break
(c) giving food to sixty persons
2. Acts which do not make the relevant person liable to kaffarah (only Qada is obligatory) :
(a) Eating or drinking unintentionally.
(b) Dropping medicine or anything else in the nose and ear.
(c) Smoking
(d) Emission of semen while touching, kissing or caressing a woman.
(e) Eating or drinking under the wrong impression that dawn has not yet broken, or the sun has set, while otherwise was true.
Acts rendering the fast makrooh
(a) Chewing something or tasting it with the tongue without eating it.
(b) Using tooth paste or tooth powder. However, cleaning teeth with a miswak or a brush is allowed.
(c) Remainig in the state of Janabah (major impurity) for the whole day.
(d) Giving blood to anyone.
(e) Quarelling with someone or abusing him.
(f) Gheebah i.e. to abuse or to blame someone in his absence.
(g) Telling a lie.
Acts which are allowed
(a) Cleaning teeth using a miswak or a brush and ear with cotton swabs
(b) Applying oil or henna to hair
(c) Using eye-drops or kohl (surma/kajal).
(d) Wearing perfume
(e) Taking a shower
(f) Vomiting unintentionally
(g) Entrance of smoke or dust into the throat unintentionally
(h) Ejaculation while dreaming
(i) Delaying the ghusl of janabah upto sunrise.
Suhoor (Sehri)
Suhoor is the meal one takes in the last hours of the night before commencement of a fast. It is a sunnah to have Suhoor. If someone has no appetite at that time, it is advisable for him to have something light. Even by having a few sips of water the sunnah of suhoor can be fulfilled.
Iftar
Iftar means to conclude a fast after sunset by eating or drinking something. It is also sunnah to make iftar soon after sunset, and it is makrooh to delay Iftar after sunset without a valid excuse. However, if someone is doubtful if the sun has set or not, he should not make iftar until he is sure about it, because if it proved at any time that he made iftar even half a minute earlier than the sunset actually took place on his horizon, his fast will be renderred nullified and void.
Tarawih
Another important feature of the month of Ramadhan is Tarawih. It is a special salah (prayer) consisting of 20 rakat which is performed immediately after Isha prayer. This Salah is Sunna Mu`akkadah (repeatedly emphasized) and should not be missed. It is sunnah to complete the recitation of the whole QUran in Tarawih in Ramadhan.
LailatulQadr
One of the most meritous aspects of the month of Ramdhan is that it contains LailatulQadr, the most blessed night of the year. It is a night better than a thousand months. The authentic traditons mention that, in this night, Allah Almighty directs His special mercy towards the people of the Earth, accepts the supplications made by His slaves and forgives a large number of people who repent and pray. LailatulQadr falls in one of the last five odd nights of Ramadhan i.e. 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 29th. The purpose of this alternation is that one should spend all five nights in worship and prayers, so that he may find lailatulqadr with certainty.
No special form of worship is prescribed in this night. The night should be spent by offering as many nafl prayers as one can offer, in recitation of the Holy Quran, in dhikr and Tasbeeh, in supplications and in making sadaqah (charity).
The follwoing Dua can be recited in this night :
Allahumma innaka `afuwwan tuhibbul `afwa f`afu `anni
Allah, You are surely most forgiving and You like forgiving, so forgive me.
I`tikaf
Another unique form of worship in this month is i`tikaf, in which a person gives up all his activities, abondons his attachments, associations and routines and enters the mosque for a specific period. In i`tikafd onre leaves his home and family and undertakes to remain in the mosque for a limited period. It has been declared as Sunnah in the last ten days o f Ramadhan, because Ramdhan is the most suitable time to carry out this worship.
Extracted from the book : Islamic Months (by Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani).
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