AN INTRODUCTION TO RAMADAN

FOURTH PILLAR OF ISLAM There is no God but Allah, Muhammad is His Messenger 4th Pillar – Sawm – 4th Pillar – Sawm – Fasting during Ramadan 5th Pillar – Hajj – 5th Pillar – Hajj – Pilgrimage to Mecca 2nd Pillar – Salah - 2nd Pillar – Salah - Five Daily Prayers 1st Pillar Shahadah - 1st Pillar - Shahadah - The Declaration of Faith 3rd Pillar – Zakah - 3rd Pillar – Zakah - Charity

WHEN IS RAMADAN? Islamic months are based on the lunar calendar The Islamic month of Ramadan begins when the new moon is sighted and ends when the next new moon is sighted Because of the difficulties of sighting the moon, not all Muslims will necessarily start or finish Ramadan on the same day; there may be a discrepancy of one or even two days Muslims Fast during Ramadan

WHAT IS FASTING? To refrain from eating, drinking and intimate contact from dawn until sunset To engage in any of the above nullifies the fast Smoking also nullifies the fast

DISCOURAGED ACTS WHILE FASTING Using offensive language Harming others Lying and Backbiting Arguing and Fighting   Muslims make a special effort to avoid prohibited acts while fasting such as:  

ENCOURAGED ACTS WHILST FASTING Personal Worship Helping people Giving charity Muslims make a special effort to increase their good deeds while fasting such as:

WHO FASTS? Fasting is a duty upon all Muslims from the age of puberty Pregnant or breastfeeding mothers People who have a long or short term illness The elderly and the young Menstruating women People travelling on a journey There are concessions for certain people; these are:

DAILY RAMADAN ROUTINES SuhoorTo wake before dawn and have the morning meal, ‘Suhoor’, even if only water To engage in extra acts of worship throughout the day where possible IftarTo eat the evening meal at sunset, ‘Iftar’, starting with dates and water, often shared with other family or friends TaraweehTo offer the Ramadan prayer of ‘Taraweeh’ after the night prayer, most often performed in the Mosque

SPECIAL EVENTS DURING RAMADAN This is because of ‘The Night of Power’ which occurs during these nights, most people believe it to be the 27th night The last 10 days of Ramadan are the most important and most worship is done during these nights, especially the odd nights

BENEFITS OF FASTING To learn self restraint To empathise with the less fortunate To increase spirituality

EID UL FITR Children are given presents and money The rest of the day is spent with friends and family On the day of Eid, Muslims usually wear their best clothes and attend congregational prayers in the morning ‘Eid ul Fitr’ ‘Eid ul Fitr’ is one of the two Islamic festivals and occurs at the end of Ramadan

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