Assalamu Alaikum and Ramadan Kareem!

Our beautiful month has

arrived and we will greet our friends and family with the kind words
of Ramadan Mubaruk, which means Ramadan blessings or Ramadan
Kareem which means Ramadan is generous.

“O you who believe fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to

those before you so that you can learn self restraint”. (Quran, Surah Al
Baqarah 2:183)

The Meaning of Ramadan

Ramadan is taken from the word ‘ramad’ which means, that which is
intensely or vehemently heated by the sun, and the
word ‘ramdhaa’ means, the intense heat of the sun. The Arabs changed
the names of the months from the ancient language, they named them
according to the seasons in which they fell, and this month fell in the
days of intense heat and that is why it was named Ramadan. This
month was named Ramadan because it burns the sins of people with
righteous deeds (source: MuslimMatters).

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and lasts 29 or 30

days, depending on the visual sighting of the new crescent
moon. Ramadan (like all the other Islamic months) adheres to the
lunar calendar (which follows the phases of the moon), and since this
is eleven days shorter than the Gregorian calendar (which follows the
sun), it comes eleven days earlier every year. This means that
Ramadan will occur in various seasons and weather throughout the
years.

Sawm is the Arabic word for fasting, and is the fourth pillar in Islam,
which is incumbent on all Muslim males and females who have
reached the age of puberty, and who are mentally and physically fit. A
person who fasts must refrain from dawn until dusk from:

 Eating
 Drinking
 Smoking
 Sexual relations
 Foul language
 Bad Conduct
 However, there are many people who are exempted from observing
fasting. People such as:

 The elderly
 The sick
 Those who are on a journey
 Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
 Women who are menstruating

Fasting is an act of worship, so those who miss their fasts, are

required to make up the equal amount of missed days later in the year.
Those who are unable to fast at all, must feed a needy person for each
missed Ramadan fast.

“Every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month
should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the
prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. Allah intends
every facility for you; He does not want to put to difficulties.” (Al-
Baqara 2:185).

Suhoor
In Ramadan, Muslims awaken before dawn, when the “white thread
becomes distinct from the black thread,” (Al-Baqarah 2:187), for an
early meal called suhoor. Suhoor helps our physical health by
providing the essential nutrition and strength to sustain our body
during the long hours of the day. It is recommended that one who
intends to fast should:

 Have suhoor
 Have dates with suhoor
 Make your intention to fast for that day
 We should not have suhoor too far away from Fajr

Narrated Anas: Zaid bin Thabit said, “We took the Suhur with the
Prophet . Then he stood for the prayer.” I asked, “What was the
interval between the Suhur and the Adhan?” He replied, “The interval
was sufficient to recite fifty verses of the Quran.”

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “Eat suhoor for in suhoor there is
blessing.” (Bukhari, 1923; Muslim, 1059).
 “How excellent are dates as the believer’s suhoor.” (Abu Dawood
2:303).

Iftaar
At dusk, Muslims break their fast with a meal known as Iftar. It is
considered to be a time for families to gather together and share a
supper. It is recommended at iftaar to:

 Hasten to break one’s fast

 Break one’s fast with dates and water
 Say Bismillah and make your intention to break your fast

The Prophet (SAW) said: “The people will continue to be fine so long
as they hasten to break the fast.” (Bukhaari, 1957; Muslim, 1098).

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: ” The Messenger of Allah
(SAW) used to break his fast with fresh dates before praying; if there
were no (fresh dates) then with dry dates, and if there were no (dried
dates) then he would take a few sips of water.” (Abu Dawood 2356; al-
Tirmidhi 696).

When the Prophet (SAW) broke his fast he would also say: “Thirst is
gone, veins are flowing again, and the reward is certain, Inshallah.”
(Abu Dawood 2:765).

The Virtues of Ramadan

Ramadan is a gift to Muslims because it helps us to achieve Taqwa or
God-consciousness. It teaches us sincere love for Allah, patience,
unselfishness, kindness, moderation, willpower, discipline, a spirit of
social belonging, unity and brotherhood, to name a few. In the Quran
and Sunnah, the month of Ramadan has advantages over the other
months, because it will bring our attention to the following virtues:

1. It is the month of the Qur’an

In regards to revelation and study. On the authority of Ibn Abbas:

Angel Jibreel used to meet the Prophet (saw) every night in Ramadan
and used to study Quran with him. We are strongly advised to recite
the Quran even more during Ramadan, and if possible, to complete the
entire Quran at the completion of Ramadan.

“…The month of Ramadan, during which the Qur’an was revealed, a

guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance and the
criterion; and whoever of you is resident, let him fast the
month.” (Qur’an 2:185).

2. It is the month of Seclusion

In the last ten days of Ramadan, many Muslims go into seclusion,

known as Itikaf, for prayer and meditation in search for Lailut ul-
Qadar or the Night of Decree. Many spend this night in supplication to
Allah. The exact date that this night falls on is uncertain, but it is
widely agreed that it occurs in the last ten days of Ramadan, and some
evidence that it occurs in one of the odd nights or on the 27th of
Ramadan. To spend this night in payer is considered to be more
rewarding than a thousand months of devotion.

Ibn Umar said, “The Messenger of Allah (SAW) used to seclude himself
for the last ten days of the month of Ramadan.”

3. It is the month of Generosity

We should be more generous in Ramadan by having a good

attitude, sharing our knowledge, giving money, and using one’s
position of authority or physical strength to help others. Combining
fasting with feeding the poor is one of the means of reaching Jannah.

“The Messenger of Allah (SAW) was the most generous of people [in
doing good], and he was most generous of all in Ramadan when Jibreel
met with him, and he used to meet him every night in Ramadan and
teach him the Qur’an. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) was more
generous in doing good than a blowing wind.” (Bukhaari, al-Fath, no.
6).

The Prophet (SAW) said: “In Paradise there are rooms whose outside
can be seen from the inside and the inside can be seen from the
outside. Allah has prepared them for those who feed the poor, who are
 gentle in speech, who fast regularly and who pray at night when
people are asleep.” (Reported by Ahmad 5:343; Ibn Khuzaymah 2137).

The Prophet (SAW) also said: “Whoever gives food to a fasting person
with which to break his fast, will have a reward equal to his, without it
detracting in the slightest from the reward of the fasting
person.” (Tirmidhi, 3:171; Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1:451).

4. It is the month of standing in Voluntary Night Prayer

Throughout this month there are long nightly prayers during which
lengthy chapters of the Quran known as taraweeh are recited. These
prayers, although not compulsory, are greatly recommended. The
word taraweeh comes from the Arabic word for ‘rest’, as during these
prayers worshippers sit for brief periods to rest before resuming their
prayer.

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah: The Messenger of Allah (SAW)

said, “Whoever stands (in voluntary night prayer) during Ramadan,
with faith and in expectancy of reward, his previous sins are forgiven
for him.”

5. It is the month of the Compulsory Fast

By fasting and giving your stomach a rest, it is regarded as a method of

self-purification. Cutting oneself off from worldly comforts, even for a
short period of time, helps a person to gain true sympathy with those
who go hungry. Fasting is a very enriching experience as one
transcends the needs of material components for spiritual uplifting. It
is as if a person goes into maintenance by recharging one’s batteries
for the rest of the year.

Allah says, “So, whoever among you witnesses the month should
fast.” (Qur’an, 2:185).
Islam is one of the world's major religions, and is the final link in the Judeo-
Christian-Islamic tradition of monotheism (belief in One God). Islam has two major
religious celebrations.

One of them, known as Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice), takes place during the
time of the Hajj, or annual pilgrimage to the city of Makkah (in modern-day Saudi
Arabia).

The other celebration occurs after the completion of Ramadan, the Islamic month
during which Muslims (believers in Islam) fast daily from dawn to sunset as part of
an effort towards self-purification and betterment. This holiday is known as Eid al-
Fitr (Festival of Breaking the Fast).

The Lunar Calendar

Among the most important duties for a Muslim is fasting during the Islamic month of
Ramadan, which is the ninth of the twelve months in the Islamic lunar calendar.2

Muslims use a lunar calendar for many of their religious observances. A new month
in the lunar calendar is determined by the appearance of a new crescent moon.

Since this occurs every 29 or 30 days, the lunar month is generally 1 or 2 days
shorter than a typical month in the Gregorian calendar. Similarly, a lunar year is
about 11 days shorter than a typical Gregorian year.

As a result, dates of events in the Islamic lunar year "move forward" about 11 days
every year. For example, in 1995 Ramadan began on February 1, and in 1996, it
began on January 22.

The Importance of Ramadan

Ramadan is important for Muslims is because it is believed to be the month in which
the first verses of the Holy Quran (the divine scripture) were revealed by Allah (God)
to Prophet Muhammad (570-632 C.E.).

From time to time, Muhammad used to go out from Makkah, where he was born and
where he worked as a caravan trader, to reflect and meditate in solitude. Like
Abraham before him, he had never accepted his people's worship of many gods, and
felt a need to withdraw to a quiet place to reflect on the One God.

One night, while contemplating in a cave near Makkah, he heard a voice call out,
telling him to "Read!" Muhammad protested that he was unable to read. The voice
insisted again, and then a third time, and Muhammad found himself reciting the first
verses of the Quran:
 "Read, in the name of thy Lord, Who created?

Created man, out of a clot (embryo).

Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful,

He Who taught the use of the pen?

Taught man that which he knew not.

Nay, but man doth transgress all bounds,

In that he looketh upon himself as self-sufficient.

Verily, to thy Lord is the return (of all)." (ch.96: 1-8)

The voice was that of the angel Gabriel, and he confirmed that Muhammad was
selected for an important and challenging mission?he was to call people to
monotheism and righteousness.

Muslims consider the Quran to be God's speech recorded in the Arabic language,
and transmitted to humanity through Muhammad, who is considered the last of the
prophets.

This tradition of God-chosen prophets or messengers is believed to include such

figures as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus.

Muslims believe that over a period of twenty-three years, various verses and
chapters of the Quran were revealed to Muhammad through Gabriel. The Quran is
comprised of 114 chapters of varying length, with titles such as "Abraham," "The
Pilgrimage," "Mary," and "Repentance."

During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset every day. This means not
consuming food and drink, including water, during the daylight hours.

For married adults, it also includes refraining from marital relations during the hours
of fasting (i.e. the daylight hours).

In the Arabic language, fasting is known as Sawm. Muslims arise early in the
morning during Ramadan to have a pre-dawn breakfast meal, known as Suhoor. At
the end of the day, the fast is completed by taking the Iftar meal, which usually
includes dates, fresh fruits, appetizers, beverages and dinner.
Later in the evening, Muslims attend special nightly Tarawih prayers at their local
Masjid.

Each night during Ramadan, approximately 1/30th of the Quran is recited in the
Tarawih prayers, so that the entire scripture is recited in the course of the 29 or 30
days of the month.

Why Muslims Fast

For Muslims, fasting has a number of benefits:

1. It helps one to feel compassion for those who are less fortunate and
underprivileged, since each day Muslims feel greater appreciation for what they have
as a result of feeling hunger and th1irst.

2. It allows one to build a sense of self-control and willpower, which can be

beneficial throughout life in dealing with temptations and peer pressure. Through
fasting, Muslims learn to control their natural urges such as hunger and thirst, and
thus are able to better resist temptations for things which are not necessary, such as
drugs or other unhealthy or harmful substances and behaviors.

3. It offers a time for Muslims to "purify" their bodies as well as their souls, by
developing a greater sense of humility, spirituality and community. Ramadan is a
very spiritual time for Muslims, and often they invite each other to one another's
homes to break the fast and pray together. A greater sense of generosity and
forgiveness is also characteristic of this time.

As with other duties in Islam, fasting becomes obligatory (i.e. one becomes
accountable) after the age of puberty.

Eid al-Fitr
After the end of Ramadan, a very festive and joyous holiday is celebrated by
Muslims, known as Eid al-Fitr [eed ul fit-ur], the Festival of Breaking the Fast. On the
day of the Eid, Muslims attend special congregational prayers in the morning,
wearing their nicest clothes.

After the completion of prayers and a special sermon, Muslims rise to greet and hug
one another, saying "Eid Mubarak," which means "Holiday Blessings."

Later on, Muslim families visit each other's homes, and have special meals together.
Children are often rewarded with gifts, money, and sweets. Lights and other
decorations mark the happy occasion.

VOCABULARY LIST
Ramadan & the lunar calendar

Ramadan ? the 9th month of the Islamic lunar calendar, during which Muslims fast
from dawn to sunset.

Sawm ? Arabic word meaning "fasting."

Suhoor ? the pre-dawn breakfast meal eaten before beginning the daily fast.

Iftar ? the evening meal, taken after sunset to break the daily fast.

Tarawih ? special prayers offered nightly during Ramadan, in which approximately

1/30th of the Quran is recited each night.

Eid al-Fitr ? Festival at the end of Ramadan, in celebration of completing the month
of fasting. This takes place on the 1st day of the next month, Shawal.