As Muslims around the world mark the month of Ramadan, EMRE CELIK explains why this period of fasting and prayer is so important to them
RAMADAN is the most holy month of the Islamic calendar. It is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
In a saying, Prophet Mohammed states: “Rajab is the month for God, Shaban is my month and Ramadan has been given to my community”.
It is also the month in which the Koran was first revealed to Mohammed and hence his prophethood was established in this month.
It is a month of reflection, self-discipline, abstinence, worship and charity. It is also considered a divine blessing that the Islamic calendar is based on a lunar calendar which is about 10 days shorter than the solar calendar.
Hence, Ramadan and all other Islamic dates slowly move through the seasons.
The blessing comes in the fact that throughout a Muslim’s lifetime they will have fasted during each of the seasons taking 36 years for Ramadan to cycle through the Gregorian (solar) calendar.
Fasting is commanded by God in the Koran: “O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you be God-fearing …” (2:183).
“He who witnesses that month should fast it” (2:185).
“I have vowed to the Merciful to fast …” (19:26).
Fasting involves abstinence from food, drink and marital relations during the daylight hours.
It is compulsory for all adult Muslims to perform the fast. The only condition when the fast is not mandatory is if the individual’s health may be affected.
Since life is sacred in Islam, Muslims cannot wilfully bring harm to themselves.
Families usually start encouraging their children by allowing them to perform “half-fasts” until mid-morning or lunch.
This is not so much a religious requirement but helps in training the young and allows them to join in with the rest of the family as they slowly gain an understanding of the importance of this worship.
Fasting, at its core, is about sacrifice. Prophet Mohammed states in the Hadith: “God does not require the fast of one who abstains from food and drink but does not abstain from evil.”
So, Ramadan gives the opportunity for Muslims to correct their ways and turn to God.
Muslims will increase their worship while trying to reduce any faults they may have.
Ramadan becomes a sort of a training ground to better oneself and gain a spiritual momentum which, in turn, carries the believer through the rest of the year.
We are reminded of the greatness of the Creator who requires no sustenance while we once again reflect upon how impoverished and weak we are, as without sustenance our life cannot continue.
This reflection also allows us to show thanks for the endless bounties that the Almighty has provided for us – through our life, our food and our drink.
A Muslim is reminded of the beauty of one sip of water as they break their fast – how beautiful and valuable this water is that we seem all too often to take for granted!
Alongside this, we also learn to respect those who are less fortunate than us – those who do not have access to the food and drink we do.
So Ramadan also becomes a means to be empathetic with those who are poorer – not only through reflection but also physically, as we live without any kind of sustenance during the day for 30 days.
Muslims will also provide their charity and donations to the needy during this month, as their hearts are softened towards the needy.
God, as a sign of Mercy has, during this most holy month, favoured believers with the following: “The gates of heaven open, the gates of hell are locked and the devils are chained”.
This chaining of the devils allows Muslims to increase their worship and makes the shunning of temptations and evil easier.
Part of the personal worship within Ramadan includes an increase in the reading of and reflection upon the Koran. Many Muslims will try to perform a “hatim” (read the Koran from cover to cover), increase their “d’ua” (supplications) and perform “zikir” – recitation of God’s beautiful names.
In addition to personal worship, Muslims are encouraged to perform the tarawih prayer. It is considered a very commendable act.
The tarawih is performed at all mosques and lasts for at least one hour.
To gain from the spiritual atmosphere of Ramadan, the Koran is read in these prayers and completed by the end of the month.
Ramadan also contains the Night of Power – a very special and spiritual night that is the equivalent of 1000 months.
The fasting day begins quite early.
Muslims are encouraged to get up for sahoor, the pre-fast meal. This year it has to be completed by 4am.
Though not compulsory, it is a blessing – even if one only consumes a glass of water.
The breaking of the fast at sunset is known as the iftar meal. This is usually indicated by the recitation of the call to prayer (athan).
Muslims will make a supplication offering thanks to God and then break their fast with a date and some water.
Because the time for the evening prayer (maghrib) has commenced, people will perform this prayer – which will only take about 10 minutes. Thereafter they will continue their iftar.
Regarding guests, Prophet Mohammed has mentioned the following: “The guest arrives with 10 blessings and leaves with only one. The remaining nine blessings stay with the host.”
With this in mind Muslims will invite guests to their home.
For many Muslims, their 30 days will be fully booked by the first few days of Ramadan.
They will either have guests in their home or will have been invited by others.
This also adds to the social atmosphere of Ramadan – not only in the spiritual sense, but also in sharing a meal with others.
Some may even stay with their hosts until the following morning to have sahoor together and to perform the morning prayer.
With the end of Ramadan, Muslims will have a festive period known as Eid-ul Fitr (also known as Ramadan Bayram).
Eid-ul Fitr means the Festival of Breaking the Fast and commemorates the end of Ramadan.
On the first day of Eid, Muslims attend a special congregational prayer at their local mosque. This is done in the morning a little after sunrise.
Many Muslims may actually arrive at the mosque to perform the prescribed morning prayer in congregation before sunrise and then wait in contemplation and worship for the Eid prayer. The Eid prayer is short usually lasting 30 minutes.
This period brings the whole community together to rejoice at the end of the fasting period and celebrate the bounties that humanity has been blessed with.
Muslims will usually buy new clothes or wear special attire during the festive period.
Children are showered with gifts and sweets. It is a joyous occasion with significant religious significance.
Happiness is observed at attaining spiritual uplift after a month of fasting.
After attending the special congregational prayer in the morning, worshippers greet and embrace each other in a spirit of peace, love, and brotherhood.
In Australia, people usually request time off from work to celebrate the festive days with their families.
It usually entails having a breakfast together and then visiting one’s parents and the elderly among the community, usually starting with relatives and older siblings.
This is reciprocated on the final day with the older members visiting younger members of the community.
Many festivals and picnics also occur where families have the opportunity to get together and socialise and celebrate the occasion of Eid.
Ramadan is a very active month for Muslims – as an individual, as a family and as a community.
It is considered by many to be a noble and respected guest. It arrives, bringing with it gifts and bounties and when it departs we are saddened – looking forward to be reunited with this “friend” once again in the following year.
May Ramadan be a means of harmony and peace for the whole community (Amin).
Ramandan began this year on September 24 and ends on October 24, although the celebrations of Eid continue into early November.
Emre Celik has a Masters in Teaching and has taught religious studies. He has an interest in interfaith dialogue and is the general co-ordinator of the Australian Intercultural Society.
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