Why Is Ramadan Celebrated
Ramadan is celebrated as the month during which Muhammad received the initial revelations of what became the Quran, the holy book for Muslims, from God.
The Quran states:
The month of Ramadhan in which was revealed the Quran, guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights the month, let him fast it.
How Are The Dates For Ramadan And Eid Set
The Islamic calendar follows the 12-month lunar calendar.
The month of Ramadan is the ninth of the year, and Eid is celebrated at the beginning of the 10th month, Shawwal.
Each month begins with the sighting of the new crescent moon and lasts either 29 or 30 days.
In the past, this was done by the naked eye, but in recent years, telescopes and technology have been used.
Basic Ramadan Fasting Rules
People fasting for Ramadan 2022 in Nigeria and other parts of the world follow some rules, as listed below.
- One must not consume any food or drink during the hours of daylight.
- One must abstain from sexual activity during sawm.
- Sawm is obligatory for every adult Muslim, male or female, who has reached puberty. However, pregnant, menstruating, and nursing mothers are exempted from sawm. People who have diabetes or are severely ill are also exempted, as are those travelling long distances.
- One should say five prayers a day. Before sunrise, the first session of prayer called the Fajr should be said after suhoor. Zuhr is observed afternoon, Asr in the afternoon, Maghrib after sunset, and Isha at night.
- One must abstain from all ill talks and deeds during sawm.
- One must do acts of charity and goodness to others during this period.
- One should increase their worship of Allah and read the Quran more.
Ramadan fasting in Nigeria started on 1st April 2022. When is Muslim fasting ending? It is projected to end on 30th April, when Eid ul Fitr will be celebrated. We wish all our Muslim readers, friends, and family Ramadan Kareem and Eid Mubarak.
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How Long Is One Fast
As the dates of Ramadan change throughout the year, the times when fasting begins and ends differ too. Muslims fast during the hours of sunlight, so in winter fasts are shorter than in summer.
Many Muslims will eat a large meal before closing their fast at sunrise, also known as suhoor, sehri, or imsak, before the first prayer of the day called Fajr.
When its just after sunset, Muslims will open their fast, also known as iftar, or iftari, and pray the fourth prayer of the day, Maghrib, which marks dusk.
Times of sehri and iftar differ across cities, so its important to check what time fasts close and open in your city.
Rulings For A Fasting Person
Linguistically, the word fasting in the Arabic language means unconditional ‘restraint’ from any action or speech during any time.According to the Sacred Law, fasting is the act of:
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Ramadan 2021 Calendar Fasting And Prayer Times For The Holy Month
Ramadan is the holy month of fasting, prayer and reflection for Muslims, during which they are expected to fast every day from dawn to sunset. This year Ramadan began on April 12 and is currently expected to end on May 11.
In addition to fasting, prayer is also among the five pillars of Islam and Muslims are required to pray five times a day.
The names of each of these prayers are related to the time of day they take place, which is based on the positioning of the sun.
The five ritual prayers are known as Fajr , Zuhr , Asr , Maghrib and Isha .
Fasting and prayer times can differ by country. Further below is a listing of times in Eastern Daylight Time in New York for April 13, 2021 outlined by the Islamic Society of North America . The timings are published on the Al Adhan Service website via the Islamic Network, a network of free digital Islamic services.
The exact times for each day of Ramadan differ by a few minutes each day. See a full calendar of daily times for prayer, sunset, sunrise as well as Imsak, which marks the start of the daily fast during Ramadan, at the Al Adhan Service website. Users can enter their city and country at the website to get exact times for their location.
The Length And Purpose Of Fasting
Muslims fast from pre-dawn to sunset, a fast of between 11-16 hours depending on the time of year for a period of 29-30 days. Ramadan entails forgoing food and drink, and if married, abstaining from sex during sunlit hours. For Muslims, Ramadan is a time to train themselves both physically and spiritually by avoiding any negative acts such as gossiping, backbiting, lying or arguing. Muslims welcome Ramadan as an opportunity for self-reflection, and spiritual improvement, and as a means to grow in moral excellence. Ramadan is also a highly social time as Muslims invite each other to break their fast together and meet for prayers at the mosque.
The ultimate goal of fasting is gaining greater God-consciousness, known in Arabic as taqwa, signifying a state of constant awareness of God. From this awareness a person should gain discipline, self-restraint and a greater incentive to do good and avoid wrong. In commemoration of the revelation of Muslims holy book, the Quran, Muslims attempt to read the entire book during Ramadan. The entire Quran is also recited during special nightly prayers.
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What Happens During Ramadan
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims won’t eat or drink during the hours of daylight and they perform additional religious duties and prayers.
You cannot drink water or the fast is invalid and vaping or smoking is also not permitted which is why many use this time of year to try and quit.
The fast is from sunrise to sunset which means that during the autumn and winter period the fast is shorter whilst in the summer the fast lasts longer.
Sahur is the time in the morning when Muslims will eat and Iftaar is the time in the evening when the fast is broken.
There are exceptions for children and those who have medical conditions.
Do Muslims Fast During Ramadan
Observing Ramadan each year is considered one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Fasting from dawn to sunset is required for all adult Muslims, with some exceptions for age, illness or other medical conditions.
During Ramadan, Muslims observing the daily fast being with a meal before dawn called the suhur, then end each day with an evening meal after sundown called the iftar.
In addition to fasting, Muslims also pray and recite the Quran during Ramadan.
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Ramadan Worship And Prayer
During Ramadan, prayer is an important element for much of the Muslim faithful. Muslims are encouraged to pray and attend a mosque for special services. Nightly prayers called tarawill are common, as is rereading the Quran over the course of the month, often in the form of an epic prayer. At the end of Ramadan, before the final fast is broken, Muslims also recite a prayer called the takbeer, which gives praise to Allah and acknowledges his supremacy.
Details: When Does Ramadan 2021 Start In South Africa
Countries across the world will begin Ramadan on two different days this week and the official start date for South Africa is now set in stone.
After more observations were carried out on Monday, the date for Ramadan in South Africa has been confirmed. The United Ulama Council of SA has been studying the skies this week and we finally have an answer.
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Ramadan Is A Holy Month For Muslims It Is Believed That The God Revealed The Holy Quran To Prophet Muhammad During This Period
Ramadan fasting begins just before dawn and is broken at sunset.
The Muslim holy month of Ramadan is set to start from April 2, though the exact date will be based on the sighting of the Moon. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic Hijri calendar and is marked by long hours of fasting. The first meal at dawn is called Sehri and the evening meal for breaking the fast is known as Iftar. Historically, Ramadan has great importance as this is the time when Muslims believe that the God revealed the Holy Quran to Prophet Muhammad.
Ramadan usually spans across 29-30 days and ends with great celebration and feasting known as Eid-ul-Fitr.
Fasting during the month of Ramadan is mandatory for all Muslims, except those who are sick, travelling or have their menstrual cycle, or are very old.
Ramadan is about prayers and forgiveness. It is also called Ramzan, Ramadan Kareem or Ramzan ul Mubarak.
Dawn to dusk fasting during Ramadan is one of the toughest rituals in the world during which the Muslims don’t even drink water.
The fasting begins just before dawn and is broken at sunset.
The Sun rises and sets at different times across the world, and the number of daylight hours also varies from county to country. So, Muslims living in Southern most countries such as New Zealand will fast for 11 hours, whereas those living in Northern European countries like Norway and Iceland will have to fast for nearly 20 hours.
- Nuuk : 20 hours
- Washington DC : 16 hours
- Ankara : 16.5 hours
When Is Ramadan
This year, Ramadan is expected to begin at sundown on Saturday, April 2, and end at sundown on Sunday, May 1. The final evening of Ramadan consists of a celebration called Eid al-Fitr, when the traditional month-long fast is ended with a feast.
The exact beginning and ending times of Ramadan are based on the sighting of the Moon. Specifically, Ramadan is said to begin at the first observance of the new Moon over Mecca, Saudi Arabia . Because of this, start and end dates are not set in stone and may vary by a day.
The dates listed below are based on expected visibility, so may differ slightly from those seen elsewhere.
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When Is Eid Al
To mark the end of the holy month, there is a three-day celebration known as Eid al-Fitr, which translates to feast of breaking fast where Muslims come together to give their thanks to God for giving them the strength for Ramadan, and celebrate by socialising with their friends and family throughout the day.
Muslims adorn themselves in their finest clothes, and prepare special meals whilst spending time with their loved ones.
Fasting is forbidden on this day as its a day of celebration.
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What Happens After Ramadan
After the fasting, comes the feasting.
Ending a month of fasting, Muslims celebrate with a three-day festival called Eid al-Fitr, or Festival of Breaking the Fast, and wish each other “Eid Mubarak” meaning: “Have a blessed Eid”.
During Eid, Muslims have family, friends and neighbours over, indulging them in a feast and eating traditional foods only made during this time.
“My favourite thing about Ramadan is breaking fast together and celebrating Eid at the end of the month,” Zathia said.
“We get to wear cultural clothing, exchange gifts and be around family.”
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Why Does The Date Vary Each Year
The Islamic calendar is lunar, meaning each month begins with the new astronomical moon.
As lunar months are shorter than solar, the Islamic calendar does not correspond with the Gregorian calendar followed in the West and means Ramadan occurs around 11 days earlier every year.
The period takes place in the ninth month of the Islamic year. Its precise date also varies from country to country by about a day, depending on when the moon is sighted.
Followers of the faith are encouraged to check the precise timings of sunrise and sunset with their local mosques to ensure the fast is not inadvertently broken prematurely.
What Is Eid Al
Eid takes place at the end of Ramadan – a month of prayer and fasting.
The name “Eid al-Fitr” translates as “the festival of the breaking of the fast”.
Like the beginning of Ramadan, Eid begins with the first sighting of the new moon.
For most Muslims in the UK, this was marked on the evening of Sunday 1 May.
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How Long Is Ramadan 2022
This year, Ramadan started on Saturday 2 April, with its date based on the Islamic Hijri calendar, rather than the more widely used Gregorian calendar.
The month begins the sighting of the crescent moon, which generally appears one night after the new moon.
It lasts until the sighting of the next crescent moon, which and the arrival of Shawwal, which is .
Because of this, the holy month of Ramadan can last between 29 and 30 days. This year, it is expected to be 30 days, concluding on Sunday 1 Monday with Eid al-Fitr celebrated a day later.
As a bonus for those celebrating Eid in the UK, Monday 2 May is the date of the Spring Bank Holiday, which means many people will get a day off work for the festivities.
What Do Muslims Avoid During Ramadan
Throughout the Ramadan period, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, and sexual intimacy during the hours of fasting which last from sunrise to sunset.
Smoking and chewing gum are also avoided as the fast asks for abstinence from any sort of consumption.
Charity Rights Sajad Mahmood, says: chewing gum is prohibited during fasting hours, as it contains sugars, which are ingested when chewed.
Even consuming water is off the cards.
Observers are also discouraged from engaging in immoral or bad habits like swearing.
Mahmood explained the purpose of this abstinence period, saying: The aim of Ramadan is to help set you up with good habits for the rest of the year so you are stronger spiritually and mentally than you were before.
He added: As Ramadan is an extremely holy month in which the word of God, Allah, was revealed via the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Mohammed, Muslims are also expected to refrain from other acts to allow their focus to be solely on strengthening their spirituality and reading the word of God through the Holy Quran.
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When Is Ramadan Fasting Starting And Ending In The Year 2022
Ramadan fasting offers all Muslims worldwide ample time to reconnect with Allah. Muslims fast for a month, and during this period, they do spiritual cleansing, participate in acts of charity, and do good deeds. The Islamic religion teaches that every good thing a person does is multiplied 70 times.
In Islam, a month is set aside every year to fast and get closer to Allah. During Ramadan fasting or sawm, Muslims do not eat or drink water for a specified period each day. At the end of this holy month, there is a big celebration known as Eid ul Fitr.
Matt Hancock Thanks Muslims Staying At Home During Ramadan
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Ramadan began on April 23, marking the start of a month-long fast by Muslims around the world. During Ramadan, Muslims fast every day from dawn to sunset.
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Eid Celebrations At The End Of Ramadan
Fasting has other personal and social benefits. Through fasting, the rich know what it means to be hungry. Hence, the rich will be more inclined to give charity when they fast. The annual Islamic alms are usually paid in Ramadan.
Muslims often invite friends and family members to join in the celebration of the break-fast dinners . The rich organise dinners for the poor.
In the past few decades, Muslim minorities in western countries have started to invite their non-Muslim friends to iftar dinners. Muslim organisations have annual iftar dinners for their associates and supporters.
In Australia, the NSW premier, for example, has been holding iftar dinners for members of the Muslim community and other faith leaders since 2004. Presidents of the US have also held iftar dinners in the White House.
Ramadan has become a cultural event for everyone.
Ramadan culminates in a three-day celebration , where Muslims offer a special morning prayer, then visit family and friends. Charity, called fitr, is given to the poor to ensure no one is left out of the celebrations and the joy of success that comes with fasting.
