Holy month of Ramadan

Holy month of Ramadan began on June 18th, 2015. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Muslim calendar, and of utmost importance to the Muslim ummah - community. Fasting in Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, and it is mandatory for all the healthy Muslims to fast everyday from Dawn to Dusk during this holy month.


The holy month is celebrated worldwide by fasting. It consider as a time for soul cleansing and for strengthening spiritual bonds, it is a month of Quran recitation, and introspection. Muslims, gather to pray at the masjid - mosque every day.





The fast begin with eating Suhoor (morning meal) and fajr - morning prayer and the day long fast concluded with Iftar (evening meal) with family and friends and Isha - evening prayer.




Most common way to break the daily fast is with a few sips of water or something sweet, like an odd number of dates. Eating date while breaking the fast is a Sunnah (Deed of Prophet Mohammed (Peace and Blessings be Upon Him) which Muslims follow generally and especially during the Ramadan.




Ramadan is the holiest month of the year according to Islam because this is the month in which the Quran was revealed to the prophet Muhammad (PBUH). In this month, the gates to heaven are believed to be open and the gates to hell closed. Muslims are instructed to fast in the Surat Al-Baqarah, the second and longest chapter of the Quran.


Technically, all healthy Muslims are expected to fast, but there are a number of exceptions including children, elderly people and pregnant, post-natal, breastfeeding or menstruating women. Travelers or people who are physically or mentally ill  are also exempt. Non-fasters can compensate by fasting at a later date or can feed a person in need, as an alternative.


The date of Ramadan is determined by the lunar calendar, so it falls about 11 days earlier each year than it did the year prior. This month of fasting culminates in massive celebration with the holiday, Eid-al-Fitr, which again would be decided according to the moon sighting, after 29 or 30 days of the month.

On a much lighter note: The month comes with so many blessings, while children enjoying, mothers and sisters cooking for Iftar, relatives and friends visiting more frequently, family praying and fasting together.... 






I wrote with my limited knowledge, all goodness goes to the creator and all the mistakes are mine! Thanks for reading friends... Wish you all a Happy Ramadan ahead!! 

Mugdha 

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