by Raqif Makhdoomi
Ramadan is the holiest month of Ramadan. It’s the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which falls after Shaban. In the month of Ramadan, good deeds get 70 times more reward than normal. Ramadan is pronounced differently in different languages. Azerbaijanis say ‘Ramazan’, the same as it’s pronounced in Persian. In Bengali, “Romojan”. In Kurdish, it is romanised as ‘Remezan’. In Somali, it’s Rabadaan or Rabmadaan. While in Turkish it is Ramazan and in Zazaki it is Remezan. With the observance of Sawm (fasting), the other observances done during this whole month are Zakat and Sadaqah (alms giving), commemorating (Nights of Al-Qadr), reading the holy Quran, abstaining from all bad deeds, staying humble and offering taraweeh prayers.
Most importantly, intercourse between married people is banned, and any other sexual activity is completely banned in the month of Ramadan, as it’s among those things that break the fast. Fasting from sunrise to sunset is Fard (Obligatory) for all Muslims except minors (minors declared by Islam), the acutely or chronically ill, travellers, the elderly, breastfeeding women, diabetics or menstruating women. The Roza begins with a predawn meal called “Suhur” and ends with a nightly feast called “Iftaar”. In other words, from sunrise to sunset. But in some parts of the world where the sunset takes place very late or where no sunset takes place (midnight or polar night), the fatwas for those places have been issued so that they follow the timetable of Mecca.
It’s a common practice to follow the timetable of the closest country in which night can be distinguished from day. With restrictions on eating from sunrise to sunset, drinking, use of tobacco products and sinful behaviour are strictly prohibited in Ramadan. If we speak about the etymology, the word “Ramadan” derives from the Arabic root R-M-D, “scorching heat”, which is the classical Arabic verb “ramidha”, which means “becomes intensely hot”. In the second year of Hijra (624 CE) came the command of the Fast. In the Quran, Almighty Allah says in Chapter 2, Verse 185, “The month of Ramadan is that in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, a number of other days. Allah desires for you ease; He desires not hardship for you; and that you should complete the period and that you should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that perhaps you may be thankful.”
In the month of Ramadan, a holiest night falls called Laylat al-Qadr. The Laylat al-Qadr, referred to as Shab-E-Qadr, falls on the odd nights of the last 10 days of Ramadan, but the common agreement on Shab-E-Qadr is that it’s on the 27th day of Ramadan. Laylat al-Qadr is the day when the Quran was sent down on the earth. During the month of Ramadan the gates of hell are shut and the gates of Paradise are thrown open; with that the devils (Ibees) are put in chains. Ramadan is the month which is for the cleaning of the soul, making the heart give up worldly desires and filling it up with the power of Iman again. With these things, Ramadan teaches self-control. It prohibits us from using abusive words during the course of roza, as it affects the fast. Fasting shows us the value of having food and also gives an understanding about the plight of those who have nothing or barely enough to eat.
The fasting mainly is concerned with the spiritual uplifting, as during the whole month people are involved in prayers and reciting the holy Quran. Iftar is one of the things that attracts people all around the world. In different places of the world, different types of dishes are served at the time of Iftaar. Khajoor is the most preferred thing while breaking the fast, which was used by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself. As many as scores of dates are used all round the month of Ramadan. Water is usually the beverage of choice, but juice and milk are also often available, as are soft drinks and caffeinated beverages.
The fasting mainly is concerned with the spiritual uplifting, as during the whole month people are involved in prayers and reciting the holy Quran. Iftar is one of the things that attracts people all around the world. In the Middle East, iftar consists of water, juices, dates, salads and appetisers; one or more main dishes; and rich desserts, with dessert considered the most important aspect of the meal. Typical main dishes include lamb stewed with wheat berries, lamb kebabs with grilled vegetables, and roasted chicken served with chickpea-studded rice pilaf. Desserts may include luqaimat, baklava or kunafeh. Over time, the practice of iftar has evolved into banquets that may accommodate hundreds or even thousands of diners. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, the largest mosque in the UAE, feeds up to thirty thousand people every night. Some twelve thousand people attend iftar at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad.
The tarawih after the isha prayers is offered during the month of Ramadan. A special kind of prayer offered only in the month of Ramadan. In some Muslim countries, eating in public during daylight hours in Ramadan is a crime. The sale of alcohol becomes prohibited during Ramadan in Egypt. The penalty for publicly eating, drinking or smoking during Ramadan can result in fines and/or incarceration in the countries of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Malaysia. In the United Arab Emirates, the punishment is community service. In some countries, the observance of Ramadan has been restricted. In the USSR, the practice of Ramadan was suppressed by officials.
In Albania, Ramadan festivities were banned during the communist period. However, many Albanians continued to fast secretly during this period. China is widely reported to have banned Ramadan fasting since 2012 in Xinjiang. Those caught fasting by the government could be sent to a “re-education camp”. Some countries impose modified work schedules. In the UAE, employees may work not more than six hours per day and thirty-six hours per week. Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait have similar laws. The month of Ramadan ends with the Celebration of Eid, which allows Muslims to have food in their normal routine.
The author can be mailed at raqifmakhdoomi818@gmail.com
