The global Muslim community celebrates the Festival of Ramadan (Eid-ul-Fitr) annually.
In this article, T.B. Rahaman tells us all about this festival.
Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community. A commemoration of Muhammad's first revelation, the annual observance of Ramadan is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam and lasts twenty-nine to thirty days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next.
Fasting
Fasting from dawn to sunset is obligatory for all adult Muslims who are not acutely or chronically ill, travelling, elderly, breastfeeding, diabetic, or menstruating. The predawn meal is referred to as Sahur and the nightly feast that breaks the fast is called Iftar.
There are some health benefits of fasting in Ramadan including increasing insulin sensitivity and reducing insulin resistance. It has also been shown that there is a significant improvement in 10 years in coronary heart disease risk score and other cardiovascular risk factors such as the lipid profile, blood pressure, weight loss and waist circumference in people with a previous history of cardiovascular disease. The fasting period is usually associated with modest weight loss, but weight can return afterwards.
Food
Social gatherings, many times in buffet style, are frequent at Iftar. Traditional dishes are often highlighted, including traditional desserts, particularly those made only during Ramadan. Water is usually the beverage of choice, but fruit juice and milk are also often available, as are soft drinks and caffeinated beverages.
Zakat, often translated as ‘the poor-rate’, is the fixed percentage of income a believer is required to give to the poor. The practice is obligatory as one of the Pillars of Islam. Muslims believe that good deeds are rewarded more handsomely during Ramadan than at any other time of the year; consequently, many Muslims donate a larger portion – or even all – of their yearly Zakāt during this month.
Nightly prayers
Tarawih are extra nightly prayers performed during the month of Ramadan. Most Muslims yearn to attend these additional prayers as he or she gets the feeling of cleansing during the month with the continuous involvement in prayers.
The spiritual rewards (thawab) of fasting are believed to be multiplied during Ramadan. Accordingly, during the hours of fasting Muslims refrain not only from food and drink, but also tobacco products and sinful behaviour, devoting themselves to (prayer) and recital of the Quran.
The month of Ramadan is that in which the Quran was revealed; a guidance for mankind and clear proof of the guidance and the criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, a number of other days. Allah desires not hardship for you and that you should complete the period and that you should magnify Allah for having guided you and that perhaps you may be thankful.
Muslims believe that all scripture was revealed during Ramadan, the scrolls of Abraham, the Torah, Psalms, Gospel and Quran having been handed down on the first, sixth, twelfth, thirteenth (in some sources, eighteenth) and twenty-fourth Ramadans. Muhammed is said to have received his first quranic revelation on Laylat al-Qadr, one of five odd-numbered nights that fall during the last ten days of Ramadan.
Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid prayers
The festival of Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Shawwal, the next lunar month, is declared after a crescent new moon has been sighted or after completion of thirty days of fasting if no sighting of the moon is possible. Eid celebrates the return to a more natural disposition (fitra) of eating, drinking and normal day-to-day life.