Ramzan: The Holy Month of Spiritual Reckoning, Begins today in India.

 

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 9^th / 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 9^th 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.