Muslim Holy Month Begins

Early this morning, my father walked down the halls to the kitchen and had himself  an extra early breakfast. He then venture back to his pray room and began the holy month. Just like him (and my brother) about 1.8 billion worldwide will also do the same and begin preparing to host their yearly guest-- Ramadan. It is the holiest month's in a Muslim's life and it's to focus on spirituality, praying more often and with holding any acts of violence during the fast. All Muslims across the world are expected to participate, with the exception of the elderly, sick and pregnant.

Ramadan (meaning intense scorching heat and dryness especially the ground) is the ninth month in the Muslim calender and it is also believed to be the month that the Holy Qu'ran was sent down from heaven, (to the Prophet Mohammed) "a guidance unto men, a declaration of direction". But to most of the world Ramadan is a month of fasting, 30 days of not eating or drinking during the light hours.

Ramadan or the Fast of Ramadan is a time when Muslims concentrate on their faith and spend less time on the concerns of their everyday lives. It is a time of worship and contemplation. Along with not eating and drinking in the light hours,smoking and sexual relations and consuming alcohol are also forbidden during fasting. 

At the end of the day the fast is broken with prayer and a meal called the iftar. In the evening following the iftar it is customary for Muslims to go out visiting family and friends. The fast is resumed the next morning.

Fasting is one of the pillars of Islam, which a Muslim HAS to follow.

Five Pillars of Islam are:

1.Reciting the two-fold Creed (Shahada) (profession of faith) - 'There is no God but Allah' and 'Muhammad is his prophet' (or 'Muhammadis the Messenger of God')

2. Prayer (salat) - At five set-times a day while facing towards the city of Mecca.

3. Alms-giving (sakat) (zakat - means 'purification', an act of worship) -obligatory and voluntary giving to the poor.

4. Fasting (saum) - Especially during the 'holy' month of Ramadan.

5. Pilgrimage (hajj) - At least once in a lifetime - to Mecca, Saudi Arabia if at all possible, known as The Hajj.

A Koran is seen next to Egyptian men as they rest at a mosque in Cairo July 31, 2011

However, the MOST Important Pillar is:

The pilgrims who came to Mecca should walk around Ka'aba seven times kissing and touching the Black Stone The Black Stone was a meteorite to which great religious significance was attached even before Muhammad was born. Muhammad simply adopted this pagan practice and it became the "Islamic" pilgrimage of "Hajj" - one of the pillars of Islam.


On the evening of the either the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th day* of the month, Muslims celebrate the Laylat-al-Qadr (the Night of Power). It is believed that on this night Muhammad first received the revelation of the Holy Quran. And according to the Quran, this is when God determines the course of the world for the following year.
 
OK, so Ramadan is the ninth month, but it is is also decided by the sighting of the Crescent moon (hilal) and it ends when the Crescent moon can also be seen--with the naked eye. It is sort of hard to tell, its why several people are needed to identify it.
 
When the moon is seen it marks the end of fasting and the beginning of the Eid-Ul-Fitr. Eid occurs on the first day of the Shawwal, the tenth month of Islamic calendar.
 

Eid is the time to spread happiness, love, and triumph thereby creating enthusiasm among all the family members. On the Eid day all the Muslims wear new clothes and go for special Eid Prayer ceremonies in their near by mosque to thank Allah by reciting various prayers and Eid-Ul-Fitr Dua’s. After the prayers there is a get together at Muslims house for an Eid meal and to celebrate the occasion together.
   

From my family to yours Ramadan Kareem!

Muslims attend mass prayer session "Tarawih", which marks the beginning of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, at Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta, July 31, 2011.

Darawish Sufi dance group performs a traditional dance to celebrate the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan during the Ajyalouna Festival in Beirut July 30, 2011.

An officer of Malaysia's Islamic authority uses a telescope to perform "rukyah", the sighting of the new moon of Ramadan, in Putrajaya outside Kuala Lumpur July 31, 2011. .

A traditional group performs with a camel and horses to celebrate the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan during the Ajyalouna Festival in Beirut July 30, 2011