Ramadan: the holy month

Ramadan, popular in the Indian subcontinent as Ramzan, is one of the most important and religious months for the Islamic world. The month of Ramzan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The Islamic calendar is counted on lunar months. The lunar months begin with the sighting of the new moon. The lunar year consists of 355 days. The solar year consists of 365 days. So, the lunar year is shorter by 10 days than the solar year. The Muslim festivals advance by 10 days every year. So, the fasting in the month of Ramzan advances by 10 days every year. Ramzan is observed as a holy month because on the 27th day of Ramzan, the angel brought the first message of Allah to the holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad. So, Ramzan is the month in which the revelation of the Holy Quran started and it took 23 years for completion. Ramzan is the month for fasting and it has become usual for the Muslims to refer to this period as the month of fasting. Fasting is the fourth pillar of Islam. The others are Kalima, Namaz, Zakat and Haj.

Fasting is the practice of abstaining from food, either completely or partially, for a specified period. It is an excellent form of training for the physical, moral and spiritual development of the human beings. In Islam the ordinances relating to the fast are clearly stated and defined, and they are strictly observed to the degree of their applicability. The fast is in no sense a penance. It is a physical, moral and spiritual discipline and the object of fast is the promotion of righteousness and security against the evil. The period of the daily fast extends from the first flush of dawn, normally about an hour and a quarter before sunrise, till after sunset. During this period neither food nor drink nor any kind of nourishment may be taken by a person who is observing the fast. Nor should any drug or other substance be swallowed or injected into the system. The fast may, however, be discontinued in case of emergency and should be terminated if the person observing the fast becomes sick. During the month of Ramzan, sexual relation between wife and husband is completely prohibited. However, the sick person is required to compensate and fast for an equal number of days at some other time. If during the fast, food or drink should be swallowed in complete forgetfulness of the fast, that would not vitiate the fast and it should be continued till nightfall. If something is swallowed through carelessness, even involuntarily, the fast is vitiated and cannot be continued. It is considered desirable that a light breakfast should be taken immediately before the commencement of the fast. This meal is called Saheri. The breaking of the fast after sunset should be made with sweets, fruits and cold water. This meal is called Iftar.

The month of Ramzan is a period of intensive training in beneficent values. Abstention from food and drink and conjugal relations for a certain number of hours each day through a month is a valuable exercise in endurance and steadfastness. The true purpose of Ramzan, as of all forms of Islamic worship, is to draw people closer to Allah. It must never be overlooked that the whole purpose of fasting is to promote righteousness, which means the progressive cultivation of spiritual values.The same applies when the fast is observed as expiation or a penalty. The spiritual recompense of proper observation of the fast is indeed high.
The month of Ramzan begins with the new moon and ends with the appearance of another new moon. As soon as the new moon of Ramzan is sighted, a joyous surge of anticipation inspires the hearts of the youngand old. Mosques begin to fill with eager worshippers for the Maghrib prayer (namaz), to be followed after a brief interval by Isha and then Taravih during the 20 rakas of which the congregation is privileged to listen to the recitation of the Holy Quran from the very beginning to the end in proper sequence evening after evening till by the end of the month the whole Quran is recited. After this, the Muslims take rest for the night. They take their meal before the muezzin’s call for the Fazar prayer. The muezzin’s call at this time is the signal for the commencement of the fast and preparation for the Fazar prayer. The muezzin’s call for the Maghrib prayer is the signal announcing the end of the fast. The Isha and Taravih complete the rhythm and tempo of life during Ramzan. When the month begins to approach its end, the general mood is one of pensiveness which promotes eagerness to take full advantage of all remaining days to make up for any shortcomings during the earlier periods. Numerous people experience closer communion with Allah during this blessed month, the intensity and frequency of which continue to increase as the month progresses. The fast terminates with the appearance of the new moon. The new moon may be visible after sunset of the 29th day of the fast, but if not, the fast must be continued the next day, thus making a total of 30 days during the month. It may be that on the 30th evening, the visibility may be very poor due to atmospheric conditions. That would make no difference and Ramzan would terminate at sunset on that day, as it is recognized that a lunar month cannot extend beyond 30 days.

The day following the last day of Ramzan is observed as the festival of the termination of the fast. The festival is called Eid-ul-Fitre. In conformity with the spirit of Islam, the only celebration prescribed for the festival is an additional prayer during the forenoon comprising two rakas and an address by the Imam. The prayer may be held in one of the bigger mosques of a large city but in view of the large numbers involved, it is generally held in the open field which is called Idgah. The festive character of the occasion is proclaimed through exchange of visits, feeding the poor, visiting the sick and glorification of Allah and celebrating his praise in thankfulness to him for the guidance provided by him, particularly with regard to all that pertain to the observance of fast. Eid-ul-Fitre is observed as the festival of the termination of the fast.