The ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Ramadan is a time when Muslims all over the world fast for 29-30 days during daylight hours (preceding sunrise till after sunset). The Islamic calendar is lunar and thus, each year, Ramadan falls a bit earlier. Ramadan start date for the year 2020 is April 24th in the United Arab Emirates.
During Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink anything in daylight hours. One meal (Suhour) is eaten before dawn and the other (Iftar) after sunset. The end of Ramadan is marked by the festival of Eid ul-Fitr. A special celebratory meal is prepared especially for the festival as it is also the first daytime meal for a month.
History of Ramadan
Muslims believe it was during the month of Ramadan that the first verses of the Holy Quran were revealed by God on a night known as ‘The Night of Power’ (or Laylat al-Qadr in Arabic). Fasting or Sawm (Arabic) is one of the five pillars of Islam. The word ‘Sawm’ literally means ‘to abstain’. It is assumed that by abstaining from all activities that break/invalidate the fast will lead to more ‘Taqwa’, or God-consciousness. The practice of fasting serves a variety of spiritually and socially based purposes:
- To remind you of your human frailty or reliance on God for sustenance.
- To show you hunger and thirst, so you have compassion for the poor and vulnerable and the responsibility to support them.
- To minimize the distractions in life so you can repair your relationship with God.
Ramadan Rules for Fasting
The fasting period is meant to be a time of spiritual discipline. Muslims during Ramadan refrain from consuming any food, drinking any fluids and smoking cigarettes from dawn to sunset. This also involves taking medication during fasting. Physical relations are not permitted. Engaging in these acts invalidate the fast for that day and one is required to start over the next day. In addition to these Ramadan rules, it is also encouraged to suppress negative thoughts and feelings throughout the month such as jealousy, rage and even lesser habits such as cursing, complaining and gossiping.
Fasting Obligations
While it is obligatory for all healthy Muslims (not children) to fast during Ramadan, those who are ill or whose health may get affected by fasting are exempt. A person who is on a journey is also exempted with the condition of making up for the missed days later. To make up for the days when fast is missed, one can either fast later in the year or offer meals to people in need for each day that was missed.
Ramadan Timetable
A typical day of Ramadan starts with Muslims waking up well in the morning to eat the first meal of the day (Suhour) which lasts until sunset. It is recommended to eat high-protein foods and consume as much water before dawn sets in, after which you should not eat or drink anything. At dawn, morning prayers are offered. Since it is still pretty early, many go back to sleep for a while before they wake up again to prepare for the day. The rest of the day is utilised normally while following the fasting rules. Many businesses and schools in Muslim countries may choose to minimize the timings or close down completely.
At sunset, just after the evening call to prayer, the fast is broken by consuming dates, followed by a light meal (Iftar). contain a high natural sugar content, so consumption of 2-3 pieces of this fruit along with a glass of water provides immediate energy. After offering evening prayers, many choose to go to the mosque to perform special prayers (Tarawih) done only during the Holy month. Later in the evening, a larger meal is undertaken, often shared with friends and family throughout the month. Post that everyone gets some quality sleep at night until it is time to wake up and prepare for the next day’s fast.
Gifting in Ramadan
Gifting holds significant importance during the Holy month as Ramadan is considered to be the month of giving. Gifts are exchanged between friends, relatives and all family members as a sign of affection, care, loyalty and appreciation. Local Arabic sweets, pieces of home décor and premium dates are the most common gifting items. A box full of gourmet Bateel dates makes for the perfect gift for Ramadan as well as Eid ul-Fitr.
