Ramadan - also known as Ramazan or
Ramzan - is considered to be a divine and holy month for the 1.6 plus Billion
Muslims of the world. The commencement of the holy month of Ramadan begins with
the sighting of the crescent moon in Saudi Arabia. Yesterday many people took to X (formerly Twitter), to announce the
sighting of the crescent moon in India. The Crescent of Ramadan 1445/2024 was sighted
in many cities in India yesterday. Since the crescent
moon was sighted on March 11, the Ramadan fasting will begin today, March 12 in
India. Accordingly, for Ramadan 1445/2024 the Sehri time in Mumbai starts at 5.38 AM, March 12, 2024, and the
Iftar time starts at 6.48 PM. The Prime
Ministers joined the nation in extending greetings to the people of India at
the start of the Ramzan.
Ramzan - the ninth month of the Islamic calendar - happens to be a
sacred month in the Islamic culture. Every year Muslims across the world
eagerly wait for the month of Ramadan to immerse themselves in praying for Allah
and to raise their spiritual level and surrender before Allah during this holy
month. Muslims believe that the holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace
be upon him) by Allah during the month of Ramadan, thus making it the holiest
month in the Islamic lunar calendar.
This year Ramzan began with the sighting of the crescent moon yesterday in
India and will last for one month. Ramadan happens to be the ninth month in the
Islamic calendar, which adheres to the lunar calendar that consists of 12
months with each month having nearly 30 days. Contrary to the Gregorian
calendar, which is used as the official calendar in most parts of the world,
particularly the Western countries, the Lunar Calendar, which the Muslims
follow, lasts for 29 or 30 days a month and 12 months constitute a year.
During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims are mandated to observe Roza -
meaning they do not consume food or water during the period from sunrise to
sunset. Partaking in Roza during the holy month of Ramadan is one of the Five
Pillars of Islam, along with the daily prayer, declaration of faith, charity,
and performing the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Although fasting
through the month of Ramadan is mandated as per the Islamic tenet, however,
there is no obligation for those who are ill, elderly, pregnant, breastfeeding,
menstruating, or traveling to partake in Roza. All other Muslims are exhorted
to engage in the Ramadan fast.
All through the month of Ramadan, Muslims will take their meal during the
early hours (pre-dawn) and this meal partaken by the Muslim community is
referred to as ‘Sehri’, and the meal taken after sunset is called ‘Iftaar’.
During the interim period, between Sehri and Iftar, Muslims are expected to participate
in fasting, which will end with the Magrib Azan - the evening prayer on 9th
/ 10 April 2024. All through this holy
month of Ramadan, Muslims are expected to recommit themselves to engaging with
their faith and in adhering to Roza, prayer, and sadaqat (voluntary charity in
monetary or other ways.) The month of Ramadan is expected to last until 9th
April and will end with grand celebrations that will be followed by a grand
feast, which is referred to as Eid-ul-Fitr.
Ramadan is also the time when Umrah- the pilgrimage to Mecca - is
undertaken by Muslims. During the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims are not
supposed to eat or drink anything after sunrise. People eat Sehri early in the
morning before the sun rises and go for the morning prayers - Fajr. After the
sun sets, they break their fast during the Iftar time. After Iftar, people go
for the evening prayers - Maghrib, which symbolizes dusk.
The holy month of Ramadan, in a way, acts as a spiritual and physical
detoxification. Besides partaking in Roza, the practitioners wake up very early
in the day and prepare their meals, and consume them before sunrise. They offer
five daily prayers and many will begin the day by reading the holy Quran. At
sunset, they break their fast with an elaborate dinner, known as iftar, which
coincides with maghrib prayer. Most Muslims break their prayers with dates and
water, a tradition established by their founder Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon
him). In many places, Mosques often provide free iftar community meals to the
needy. It is believed that giving or hosting an iftar meal fetches them thawab,
(Sawāb or Thawāb) an Arabic term, that refers to spiritual merit or reward that
accrues from the performance of good deeds and piety.
May the holy month of Ramadan, the prayers and Roza that Muslims partake
in and so also their Zakat - charity and humanitarian activities such as
feeding the underprivileged and introspection to enlighten their souls - please
their Allah and Prophet Mohammad and bring in peace, happiness and prosperity
to the world.
Wishing all the Muslim
friends a very happy Ramzan.
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