Ramadan

Definition of fasting and Ramadan Sawm is fasting. It's the fourth of the Five Pillars of Islam. Muslims are required to fast during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. During the 29/30 days of Ramadan all Muslims that are of age to fast must give up the following things during the hours of daylight: Food and drink Things that are haram-things that are forbidden in Islam.

People who don’t need to fast Oh you who have attained to faith! Fasting is ordained for you as it was ordained for those before you, so that you might remain conscious of God: During a certain number of days. But whoever of you is ill, or on a journey,(shall fast instead for the same) number of days; and(in such cases) it is incumbent upon those who can afford it to make sacrifice by feeding a needy person. And whoever does more good than he is bound to, does good unto himself thereby; for to fast is to do good yourselves- if you but knew it. People who don’t need to fast include: Little children Illness Old Age People on travel After giving birth Pregnant women

Why is Laylatul Qadr Important? Laylatul Qadr, often translated as the Night of Power, or Night of Decree, or Night of Glory falls in one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. This is the night in which God began the revelation of the Quran. Worship done in this single night is equivalent to 84 years—basically, a lifetime—of worship outside this night. It has the potential, when approached with sincerity, to gain a person grand forgiveness and mercy from God. One narration says, “Whoever prays on Laylatul Qadr out of faith and sincerity, shall have all their past sins forgiven”[Bukhari and Muslim].

When Is Laylatul Qadr? The exact date of this night is not known. The Prophet Muhammad (may the blessings and peace of God be upon him) told us in narrations to seek Laylatul Qadr out in one of the last ten nights in Ramadan, specifically odd nights. This means the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, and 29th nights of Ramadan all have a high potential of being Laylatul Qadr. There is a beauty in the date not being known, because it gives the opportunity to a person to engage in extra worship throughout the last days of Ramadan in hopes of catching the right date. If one specific night was known, humans would naturally put forth their entire effort on that one night, and likely slack off on the other nights.

What do Muslims do on Laylatul Qadr? Today, many Muslims spend these nights in the mosque where there are programs dedicated to foster an extra spiritual environment. Some take off days from work to ensure they can stay up all night without having to worry about their jobs. After the Taraweeh prayers, the imams will give a talk encouraging Muslims to tie their belts and hit the ground running in these final days. It is very possible a lot of people feel burnt out toward the end of the month, but this is the time that matters most! The boost is needed from the scholars of the community to ensure people exit the month on a high note.

The worship done in this night takes on many forms The worship done in this night takes on many forms. Extra prayers, recitation of the Quran, heartfelt supplications, and glorifying God all have their due place. In particular, the Prophet (may the blessings and peace of God be upon him) advised Muslims to recite a supplication that translates to, “Oh Allah, truly you are The Pardoner, you love to pardon, so pardon me.” A beautiful aspect about this supplication: Muslims are asking God to do something He already loves and wants to do, forgive!

What Does Eid-ul-Fitr Mean? Eid-ul-Fitr translates from Arabic as, “the festival of the breaking of the fast,”typically involves a number of traditions including enjoying a large meal following the fasting period during Ramadan. During this time, well-wishers greet each other by saying “Eid Mubarak!” As well as celebrating the end of fasting, the festivity is also a time for forgiveness and making amends. Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, the date of Eid al-Fitr will vary depending on the moon. Eid-al-fitr typically lasts for one or two days. To many muslims Eid- al-Fitr is an important show of gratitude to Allah for the help and strength he gave them throughout the previous fasting month to help them practice self-control. During Eid al-Fitr, most Muslims will visit a mosque and participate in prayer before sitting down with family and friends for their first daylight meal after fasting. Another Eid al-Fitr tradition is known as ‘Zakat al-fitr which is giving money to the poor so those less fortunate can join the feast .

Happy Ramadan!