Ramadan or Ramadhan (Arabic: رمضان ) is the ninth month of the Islamic year. Siyam or Saum ("fasting" in English) is the fourth of the Five Pillars of Islam. It involves fasting during the month of Ramadhan. Ramadan reaches its height in its last ten days. One of the last ten odd numbered days of the month is called the Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Power), marking the date of the revelations of the first verses of the Qur'an to the Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (S)(peace be upon him). The Islamic holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر) marks the end of Ramadan.
Timing
The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. Since the Islamic lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year, Ramadan migrates throughout the seasons. The start and end of this month as recorded in Mecca are:
- 2004 – First day: October 15, 2004; last day: November 13, 2004
- 2005 – First day: October 4 (Disputed*, see below), 2005; last day: November 2 (or November 3, if possible), 2005
- 2006 (anticipated) – First day: September 23, 2006; last day October 22 (or October 23, if possible), 2006
Most Muslims insist on the local physical sighting of the moon, but some Muslims around the world start Ramadan on the same date as Saudi Arabia regardless of whether the crescent moon can be seen from their locations. For example, in 2005, the Islamic Society of North America did not confirm any reliable sighting of the new moon on the continent on the night of October 3, and therefore ruled that Ramadan was to start on October 5 rather than October 4. However, this ruling was not followed in some American communities.
The date known as the Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr) falls on one of the last ten nights of Ramadan, most likely on one of the odd nights, especially the 27th night of the month. The Qur'an states that this night is better than a thousand months, and some Muslims spend the entire night in prayer.
At the termination of the great month of Ramadan, Eid ul-Fitr is celebrated. Muslims come out and rejoice with a sense of accomplishment for coming closer to Allah. It is a time for Muslim families and friends to worship and celebrate together.
What is prohibited while fasting?
Eating, smoking, drinking and intercourse during the day are prohibited. During Ramadan, Muslims are also expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam by refraining from violence, anger, envy, greed, lust, backbiting, and are meant to try and get along with each other better than normal. All obscene and irreligious sights and sounds are to be avoided. Purity of both thought and action is important. The fast is an exacting act of deeply personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised level of closeness to God. The act of fasting redirects the hearts away from worldly activities.
The prohibitions on food, drink, and intercourse only extend during daylight hours. Traditionally this begins at dawn from the moment a white line can be seen at the horizon and ends at sunset, when the sun's disk sinks below the local horizon. These times are known as Fajr and Maghrib, respectively.
Ramadan fasting is not obligatory on:
- Children before the onset of puberty. However, if puberty is delayed, fasting becomes obligatory for males and females after a certain age.
- People with a certain illness, which will make fasting a cause of danger in health, for example diabeties, nursing or pregnancy. These people will have to feed 10 hungry people food on every day of Ramadan that they have not fasted.
Ramadan fasting is relaxed for these groups based on the conditions prescribed, until they recover from their condition. Upon recovery, they must fast to compensate for the lost days of fasting in Ramadan, day for day. If they choose, they may fast during Ramadan, but it is suggested that they opt for the relaxation.
- Soldiers on the battlefield
- Travelers
- Weak, elderly, and sick people
- Pregnant women, if they feel it might endanger their child
- Women who are breastfeeding babies
- Chronically ill persons, who are exempt from fasting
Ramadan fasting, as well as all other forms of regular prayer, is not allowed for menstruating women. They need to compensate for the lost days of fasting by making up the days after Ramadan.
The Siyam is also intended to teach the believers patience and self-control, and to remind them of the less fortunate in the world. The fast is also seen as a great sign of obediance by the believer to God. Faithful observance of the Siyam is believed to atone for personal faults and misdeeds, at least in part, and to help earn a place in paradise. It is also believed to be beneficial for personal conduct, that is, to help control passions and temper. The fast is also meant to provide time for meditation and to strengthen one's faith.
Health Benefits
There has been a growing body of evidence in the scientific field about the health benefits of fasting. Given that fasting is an integral part of many of the major religions including Islam, Judaism and Christianity many studies were conducted about the physical effects of fasting. Some of the benefits mentioned: more regulated blood pressure and sugar levels. The body rids itself of the toxins that have built up in fat stores throughout the year. The body heals itself, due to higher efficiency in protein synthesis which results in healthier cells, tissues and organs. The digestive system gets a break allowing the body to conduct its repair & cleaning processes more effectively. The immune system is boosted. Hormone levels are regulated more efficiently. And finally the most widely observed benefit of fasting is that it makes it easy to overcome bad habits and addictions. Many people have overcome tobacco and alcohol addictions by fasting. Fasting rapidly dissipates the craving for nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, and other drugs.
Communal aspect
Integrated into the Ramadan season is also a sense of community. Many mosques will sponsor iftar (literally: break fast) meals after sundown for the community to come and end their day's fasting as a whole. It is also common for such meals to take place at Muslim soup kitchens. Extra optional prayers, called tarawih are prayed each night in the mosque during Ramadan as well. These are encouraged.
| Islamic Calendar for the month of Ramadan | ||||||
| 01. | 02. | 03. | 04. | 05. | 06. | 07. |
| 08. | 09. | 10. | 11. | 12. | 13. | 14. |
| 15. | 16. | 17. | 18. | 19. | 20. | 21. |
| 22. | 23. | 24. | 25. | 26. | 27. | 28. |
| 29. | 30. | Last Month | Next Month | |||
Fasting in other religions
The Christian Lent and the Jewish Yom Kippur and Passover are also times of fasting. These relate to that mentioned in Quran 2:183, ".. Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you..", fasting is prescribed to Muslims as it was prescribed to those before them, e.g. Christian and Jewish, although the fasting practices of each religion might be different from one another. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints generally fast for 24 hours on the first Sunday of each month. Like Muslims, they refrain from all drinking and eating unless they are children or are physically unable to fast. Money that would have been spent on meals during this period is donated as a fast offering.