{"id":4425,"date":"2024-03-06T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-06T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/library\/?p=4425"},"modified":"2024-08-13T14:20:09","modified_gmt":"2024-08-13T13:20:09","slug":"finding-out-about-ramadan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/library\/finding-out-about-ramadan\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding out about Ramadan"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is Ramadan?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Rama\u1e0d\u0101n is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, it is 30 days of \u1e63iy\u0101m (fasting) in commemoration of the first revelation of the Qur\u2019an to the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS). <\/span><\/p>\n

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This year Rama\u1e0d\u0101n begins on Monday 11th<\/sup> March, although the official beginning of the month long \u1e63awm (fast) is with the sunset on the 10th<\/sup> March, and Rama\u1e0d\u0101n ends when the new moon is visible or 30 days of \u1e63iy\u0101m has past therefore this year it will end on Tuesday 9th<\/sup> April. Rama\u1e0d\u0101n ends with Eid-al-Fitr, this is a massive celebration of the end of the \u1e63iy\u0101m and falls on the first day of Shawwal, it is the only day of this month where Muslims are prohibited from fasting.<\/span><\/p>\n

What happens during the month of Rama\u1e0d\u0101n?<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

Everyday there is a pre-dawn meal known as suhoor, this must be consumed prior to the first azan (call to prayer), the first prayer being Fajr usually performed between 02:00 and 03:00. If\u00a0a person\u00a0is still consuming food after the first azan then they are disqualified from that day’s fasting. Through the day, a fasting Muslim must not eat any food, drink any liquids or engage in sexual activity. There are exceptions to the food or drink rule for those who are ill, pregnant, menstruating, elderly, diabetic, and for children under the age of 12 years. After the Maghrib prayer has been performed and the sun has set, the days fasting temporarily ends until the Fajr of the next day.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>There is so much meaning to Rama\u1e0d\u0101n for the Muslim community. \u1e62iy\u0101m or fasting means abstention, this abstention over the 30 days is\u00a0undertaken to heighten the body’s awareness of its own needs. <\/span>Consequently, one gains a greater awareness of the presence of Allah (SWT). Islamic scholar Ziauddin Sardar (2006) in his book What do Muslims Believe? <\/em>(297 SAR)\u00a0has described this annual ritual to be a time where Muslims can exercise their self-assurance as well as self-control. Just as many people exercise the body to maintain their health, Muslims \u1e63awm to exercise and maintain a good moral resolve. It is important to demonstrate a good moral resolve and this is depicted within the Qur\u2019an in surah Al-Baqara, where\u00a0the doors to heaven remain open during the month of Rama\u1e0d\u0101n. Consequently, many Muslims will perform extra prayers such as the Qiyam or a sunrise prayer. Furthermore, the Imam will encourage the household to read the Qur\u2019an from cover to cover over the period of the 30 days (which can be between 541-641 pages depending on font size).\u00a0These are just two examples of how Muslims show devotion to Allah (SWT) during this sacred month. <\/span><\/p>\n

Rami Younes, International Relations & Partnerships Manager at the Uni, has recommended the following website which highlights the social\/human side of Ramadan and explains why Muslims abstain from food and drink during the day:<\/span><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.islamicinsights.com\/religion\/the-spiritual-and-ethical-dimension-of-ramadan.html<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Charitable or giving acts are also very common within this month, for example the organisation Muslim Aid are using the Laylat-ul-Qadr, or Night of Power, to fundraise for their charity projects. This celebrates the night that Muslims believe the Quran was first sent down from heaven to the prophet Muhammad, and while the exact date is unknown it is traditionally celebrated across the last 10 days of Ramadan. Muslim Aid are using the holy period to fundraise for countries such as Palestine and Yemen.
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