So what is Ramadan and what is it all about? Instead of digging into my own knowledge file and giving you only half of the “must know” information on it, Wikipedia comes in handy, it was good getting even more insight on it for myself, I already know more than half of what’s written, but with the details missing, so here goes:
“Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, sexual conduct, smoking, and indulging in anything that is in excess or ill-natured; from dawn until sunset. Fasting is meant to teach the Muslim patience, modesty and spirituality. Ramaḍān is a time to fast for the sake of Allah, and to offer more prayer than usual. During Ramaḍān, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds. As compared to solar calendar, the dates of Ramadan vary, moving forward about ten days each year. Ramadhan was the month in which the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed[Qur'an 2:185] to the Prophet Muhammad…Ramaḍān ends with Eid ul-Fitr on the 1 of Shawwal, the month following Ramaḍān with much celebration and feasts.”
Fasting
The most prominent event of this month is fasting. Every day during the month of Ramadan, Muslims around the world get up before dawn to eat Sahur, the pre-dawn meal, then they perform the fajr prayer. They have to stop eating and drinking before the call for prayer starts until the fourth prayer of the day, Maghrib. Muslims may continue to eat and drink after the sun has set until the next morning's fajr prayer call. Then the process starts all over.
Ramadān is a time of reflecting and worshipping God. Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam and to avoid obscene and irreligious sights and sounds. Sexual thoughts and activities during fasting hours are also forbidden.[Qur'an 2:187] Purity of both thought and action is important. The fast is intended to be an exacting act of deep personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised awareness of closeness to God.
The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. It also allows Muslims to practice self-discipline, self-control [6], sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate; thus encouraging actions of generosity and charity. However, a certain level of self-control can be lost by those who suffer from eating disorders.[7]
The elderly, the chronically ill, and the mentally ill are exempt from fasting, although the first two groups must endeavor to feed the poor in place of their missed fasting. Also exempt are pregnant women, women during the period of their menstruation, and women nursing their newborns. A difference of opinion exists among Islamic scholars as to whether this last group must make up the days they miss at a later date, or feed poor people as a recompense for days missed.[8] While fasting is not considered compulsory in childhood, many children endeavor to complete as many fasts as possible as practice for later life. Lastly, those traveling are exempt, but must make up the days they miss.[Qur'an 2:184]
Since it is a festival of giving and sharing, Muslims prepare special foods and buy gifts for their family and friends and for giving to the poor and needy who cannot afford it; this can involve buying new clothes, shoes and other items of need. There is also a social aspect involved the preparing of special foods and inviting people for the Iftar meal (the meal to open the fast).
In many Muslim and non Muslim countries with large Muslim populations, markets close down in the evening to enable people to perform prayers and consume the Iftar meal – these markets then re-open and stay open for a good part of the night. Muslims can be seen shopping, eating, spending time with their friends and family during the evening hours. In some Muslim countries, failing to fast or openly flaunting such behavior during Ramadan is considered a crime and is prosecuted as such.
The beginning of Ramadan is based upon the Islamic calendar and observing the first waxing crescent moon. Hilal (The Crescent) is typically a day (or more) after the Astronomical New Moon (No Moon). So, since there is only one new moon a month, we can safely estimate the beginning of Ramadan.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan
As far as how much of the above is carried out, is a personal and cultural matter. I have a different opinion as to what fasting constitutes and what is to learnt from it but then again, what each one makes out of the month is a personal thing, as far as I like to be concerned, fasting, meaning no food or drink from sunrise to sunset, does have a purpose and morale, that is to teach us to not only be graeful for what we have, which should be an everyday prayer,but rather to know what the less fortunate experiences, reminding us to always give charity throughout the year, when possible. As for the self purifying/restairant objectives and prayers for sins to be forgiven, is something I am personally against, if it is carried out only because it is “the holy month Ramadan”, but come the next 11 months and everyone is out of their way, to me it is a cycle of hypocrisy. To quit a habit or an act of sin, if it is believed as such, should come from personal belief and reason. However, if Ramadan is a starting point to that, then it has done its purpose.
As any other occasion or celebration, Ramadan also has its contemporary culture and symbols, which are always a delight, a look at my first day is a good example.
-I wake up this morning with 3 texts and a facebook wall post wishing me Ramadan Mubarak.
-Most T.V. channels' commercial breaks included a Ramadan Kareem caption, in addition to all the Ramadan special series and soap operas starting today.
-On my way to Fitness First this morning, the RTA board between Dubai/Sharjah road, that usually has “road x is congested” meaning traffic, had a “Ramadan Mubarak” message instead :)
-Dubai Festival City, a mall, had planks with pictures of lanterns and crescents.
-And all the restaurants were shut down.
So yep it definitely is Ramadan, this also made me realize how tolerant and open minded Middleeast countries are, contrary to what is usually proposed, when it comes to religion. In the Gulf, whether it is Ramadan, Eid or Christmas, the decoration in the malls and shops will just let you know. In the Levant area, restaurants do not close during Ramadan, as most of the countries are secular, the U.A.E. isn’t so it is understanable, and we celebrate Ramadan as much as we do for Christmas, New Year’s and Easter.
I’m off to Syria tomorrow for 3 days, my first time there with it being Ramadan, so it’ll be interesting to observe the different feeling to it there.
If you’re wondering the difference between Ramadan “Kareem” and “Mubarak”, well both are Arabic words, Kareem means “generous” and Mubarak means “blessed” I prefer using the latter, as I’d rather think of it being a blessed month, than just necessarily generous.
The change in lifestyle that usually happens in my household during Ramadan , when the whole family is here, is the following:
-Dinning room table is put to use until around the second last week of Ramadan, when we get tired of the drama of spreading out a big table and are content with one meal.
- A meal course is abopted, which constitutes of soup, salad, main course, desert ;)
-The whole family is at the table, with Thursdays an exception sometimes, mum can explain why. :p
Yes that sums it up, as for this year, it’ll be quite different, we went down from 6 people in the house to 3 and soon enough with me gone, it’ll be 2, but this is life. Neveretheless, whatever way it be, Ramadan Mubarak!
