Festival: Starting this week, Muslim communities in the United States, India, Pakistan, and worldwide will observe Ramadan, a sacred month-long practice. During this time, many Muslims will fast from sunrise to sunset, come together for communal prayers, participate in shared meals and celebrations, and engage in other observances.
What is Ramadan?
For numerous Muslim individuals, Ramadan holds great significance as it entails prayer, fasting, spending quality time with loved ones, and other meaningful activities.
According to Muslim belief, the month of Ramadan is significant as it commemorates the time when the Prophet Muhammad received the Qur'an, the sacred book of Islam, from God. This event marked the first revelation where Muhammad was entrusted with the responsibility of conveying God's message as a prophet.
Why do fast?
Fasting from sunrise to sunset is a significant component of Ramadan. Those who have reached puberty in the Muslim community are expected to partake in this practice of self-discipline, which is meant to foster a deeper connection with God.
Sayeed remarked, "Fasting during Ramadan is a means for Muslims to demonstrate piety and devotion to God, and to strengthen their spiritual bond with Him. The month-long practice involves a considerable degree of endurance, as it requires abstinence from both food and drink."
Ramadan also serves as a time for Muslims to engage in acts of generosity by depriving themselves of food and drink, according to Sayeed.
She explained, "By experiencing physical and material scarcity, Muslims are reminded of what it means to endure hardship. The hope is that this will inspire Muslims to be more charitable during Ramadan and throughout the year."
While fasting during Ramadan typically involves abstaining from both food and drink, it can also entail refraining from other indulgences such as sexual activity or smoking, as noted by Adeniyi Odelade Jafar.
After an evening prayer, Muslim individuals break their fast with a meal known as ifṭār, which is often a communal event shared with loved ones. Dates are a popular food choice at these meals, as they serve as a reminder of the Prophet Muhammad breaking his fast with dates.
Pregnant women, nursing mothers, and menstruating individuals, as well as those with illnesses or advanced age, are often exempt from fasting.
How else is Ramadan observed?
According to Sayeed, some Muslim individuals also engage in an additional voluntary prayer called Tarawih.
She explained, "These are extra prayers performed at night, sometimes congregationally in a mosque. One-thirtieth of the Qur'an is recited each night, with the intention that by the end of Ramadan, the entire Qur'an will have been recited during these prayers. It's a highly devotional act, and many Muslims strive to read through the Qur'an during Ramadan."
The holiest night of Ramadan is Laylat al-Qadr, which occurs in the final ten days of the month. This night is known as the "Night of Power," when the Angel Jibril first revealed the initial verses of the Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad.
Should I say ‘Happy Ramadan?’
According to Sayeed, if you do not observe Ramadan but would like to greet a coworker or friend who does, you could use phrases such as "Ramadan Mubarak" or "Ramadan Kareem."
She explained, "The first phrase is simply a congratulatory message for Ramadan. 'Ramadan Kareem' is a particularly beautiful phrase. 'Kareem' connotes generosity and giving, and the idea is that even though Ramadan involves a high level of material deprivation, the month itself and the charitable acts that are heightened during Ramadan evoke generosity and abundance."
The information for this article was given by a guest writer from Nigeria Adeniyi Odelade Jafar.