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Blog EntryGuide to Ramadhan 1428Sep 10, '07 4:58 PM
by ,Y for everyone
Message: Ramadhan, what the heck is that?

Ramadhan is the 9th month of the Islamic
calendar. It's when Muslims all over
the world spend 30 days observing fast
and bettering themselves in principles
of faith.

Observing fast? Is that something to do
with running, then?

No.

Oh, it must be driving, huh? You know,
I can drive really fast, I've got an
Escort...

Oh, what is it then?

Observing fast, or fasting, is when a
person abstains (or keeps away) from
eating and drinking.

What, you don't eat or drink anything?
Don't you get hungry? I know I would.

Yes, that's the idea. We fast for 30
consecutive days during the month of
Ramadhan.

30 days? Are you mad? No one can go 30
days without food and drink!
Adam: "What, no food? Not even an
apple?"
Adam: What, no food? Not even an apple?

No, that's right, which is why Muslims
only fast during daylight hours. Once
the fast for each day ends, they are
allowed to eat again.

Then, what's the point of fasting?

The reason Muslims fast is to discipline
their body and mind. The absence of
food and drink and other pleasures
provides a perfect opportunity to
concentrate on prayer and worship. Not
having the luxuries of life to hand
makes it easier to reflect on life and
be grateful for what we do have.
Muslims use this month to start afresh
and give their life a new direction?

What kind of direction?

Many Muslims use Ramadhan to make
resolutions, similar to New Year's
resolutions. It is a time when they
decide how they want to live their life
for the next year and try their very
best to adhere to their new commitments.

Commitments...?

Yes, like greater commitment to God and
faith. Ramadhan is a time when Muslims
can introduce practices into their life
to reflect their religious identity. A
lot of Muslims have a desire to pray
more and learn more about Islam. Others
wish to be better and nicer people while
some want to learn Qur'anic Arabic to
better their understanding of the Holy
Book. For these people, Ramadhan is the
best opportunity to begin this grand
affair with something so personal and
spiritually enlightening.

Can't they do it at any other time...
why Ramadhan?

Ramadhan is a blessed month ordained by
God. It is the month in which Satan
and his minions are said to be locked
away in Hell to prevent them from
misleading, deceiving and whispering in
the ears of believers.
"Sorry, no music and movies for a
month"
Adam: Sorry, no music and movies

This doesn't mean that sin and bad deeds
will completely disappear for a month but it
will mean that if bad deeds are done and
sins committed, they will be from the
hearts of people alone and the devil
cannot be blamed.

However, God has promised the people
that the reward for good deeds and
actions during the holy month will be
multiplied greater than usual and this
encourages many to increase their level
of worship and prayer. Although, this
also applies to sins and so any naughty
actions only invite greater punishment
than usual.

Ramadhan does make it easier for Muslims
to observe their faith though, largely
because all Muslims are following the
same pattern and so they are always
offering each other moral support and
encouraging each other to do better.
Ramamdhan brings people much closer than
normal as they forgive each other for
any misdemeanours of the past, forge new
and positive relationships and treat
each other with greater respect.

What else do Muslims do in Ramadhan?

Well, aside from fasting, they pray
more. Muslims should pray five times a
day anyway and go to the mosque but many
find this difficult so Ramadhan helps
them to fulfill these practices and in
many cases, stick to them long after
Ramadhan is over. Muslims also read the
Qur'an more and understand and share
their religious teachings. They also
learn to abstain from bad habits and
minor and major sins and hopefully
continue with the effort when Ramamdhan
is over too.

What kind of bad habits are we talking
about, like picking yer nose?

Well, that could be one. Many people
are always trying to give up things that
they know are bad for them or things
that make God angry. These are usually
things that are not good for people and
not good for those around them and so
people use Ramadhan as the time to drop
these ills. It is debatable as to what
is considered a bad habit or deed but
because Ramadhan is observed as a
religious obligation, most use religious
teachings to determine what is right and
what is wrong.

So, what's the really bad stuff then?
Adam: "It's the Kaa'ba!"
Adam: It's the Kaa'ba!

A number of things. Practices like
smoking, swearing, drinking alcohol and
abusing drugs, treating people with
disrespect and being mean, harming or
hurting living things, being cruel,
un-courteous and selfish. There's a
whole host of things, many of them
universally accepted as 'unhealthy'.

What else is banned during Ramadhan?

For Muslims, some things are prohibited
all the time, not just in Ramadhan but
if abstinence isn't being observed,
Ramadhan is a good time to start or try
and implement change in life. Other
things are allowed but should be reduced
in Ramadhan to make more time for prayer
and worship. This could be things like
watching
television, playing board games,
spending too much time dressing up,
listening to music, shopping and
messing around with mates and so on.

I heard you can't have sex in Ramadhan,
is this true?

Sex is allowed in Ramadhan but not
during the fast. Just like food and
drink, a person's natural needs must be
fulfilled. Muslims are normally allowed
to eat, drink and have sexual relations
so this would be the case in Ramadhan
but not during the fast when all must be
avoided or they could nulify the fast.
When the fast is over for the day, those
things that are halal (lawful) may
continue but more time should still be
spent on worship.

However, Islam doesn't allow
extra-marital relationships so any
sexual activity outside of marriage or
contrary to Islamic teaching is
prohibited and those who may indulge in
any such activity are expected to try
their very best in Ramadhan to abstain with
intent to give up - the same applies to
any haraam (prohibited) activities
as mentioned before.

What about all that bowing 'yo-yo' stuff?

You what?

When you kiss the ground and things?
Adam: How not to use a prayer mat!
Adam: How not to use a prayer mat!

I think you're referring to prayer.
Muslims don't kiss the ground, they
prostrate to the Lord in submission. As
I mentioned, Muslims must try to improve
and excel in their prayer during the
holy month, with extra effort on the
regular prayers during the day, not just
Friday services. Both Muslim men and
women should make more effort to go the
mosque and spend more time studying
Islamic knowledge and the Qur'an.

Attending lectures and being involved in
good work, whether it's helping out at
the old folk's home or even attending a
peace rally, all is encouraged. During
Ramadhan, there are special prayers
known as the 'Tarawih' service which are
performed every
evening at the mosque in congregation.

When does the fast begin and end?

The fast begins just before dawn when
Muslims eat a light meal (suhoor) and
confirm their intention to fast for the
day. The fast ends at sunset when the
call to prayer (Adhan) is announced.
Eating a date or some water are the
recommended and most popular methods of
concluding the fast. The time when the
fast ends is known as 'Iftar'.

When you break the fast, do you have to
eat Asian food?

Because Islam is not a culture, there is
no restriction on what is eaten by
Muslims provided it is prepared in the
halal manner. Quite obviously, pork and
alcohol are not allowed. Recommended
food items for Muslims include dates,
milk, water, honey, olives and figs -
all for their nutritional properties and
religious significance. With regards to
main meals, anything from fish and chips
and spag bol to curries and cous-cous is
allowed.

Why do some people stuff themselves when
the fast is over?
Enlightenment is a must during Ramadhan
Enlightenment is a must during Ramadhan

Those who are fasting should deprive
themselves of the meals they would
normally have during the times of fast
but they shouldn't really eat all they
missed once the fast is over as this
defeats the whole objective of the fast.
When breaking the fast (of having
breakfast, I guess), they should simply
have the meal they would on any other
day. It is permissible to have a more
elaborate feast if one if hosting a
'Iftar' meal for guests as this is
considered a good and noble act, in
which there is divine reward.

But don't you have to think about the poor?

Yes, Ramadhan is also about thinking
about the less fortunate and needy
although in a lesser degree to improving
one's own character over the blessed
month. Not eating and drinking does
encourage Muslims do recognise how the
poverty-stricken and starving people in
the world must bear the burden of daily
life and this is why, in Ramadhan, many
Muslims donate more to charities and why
mosques collect more so that people
right across the world can have better
life and those who donate can gain
greater regard for well intentioned actions.

So who has to fast, is it everyone?

Not everyone. Young children are
encouraged to learn about fasting but
fasting is only obligatory (a must) for
anyone beyond adolescence (or over the
age of 10 according to some scholars).
Muslims who have medical conditions that
prevent or make fasting difficult, those
who are not of sound mind or are going
through a pregnancy or menstruation
cycle as well as those who are too young
or too old do not have to fast. In some
circumstances, individuals who cannot
fast for any number of reasons may make
up the fast at a later date.

What if you need to train at the gym or
do sports or something and you know
you'll need water?
"Don't touch that remote for at
least 30 days..."
Don't touch that remote...

Ramadhan obviously should always be
placed first as it is no doubt of
greater benefit and only comes around
once a year. It would be a missed
opportunity if Muslims who wish to fast,
and have the ability to do so, miss out
while their brothers and sisters
participate around them. If Muslims
feel they can fast and still carry out
any high energy activities, then that's
fine but if they have to choose because
they can't do both, then fasting would
be the better option as they can always
get in any recreation
or exercise when the fast is over.

Some people call it 'Ramadam', what's
that all about?

The month is correctly known as
'Ramadhan' or 'Ramadan', the latter
being the more anglicised version.
'Ramadam' is incorrect and is mistakenly
used. 'Ramadam-dam-dam', as pronounced
by Ali G, is also wrong but you probably
guessed that already.

When does the month begin, is it the
whole of October?

Islamic months follow the lunar
calendar, in the same tradition as the
Jewish community. Therefore, in
relation to the solar, or Gregorian,
calendar, Islamic and Jewish months will
annually differ by around 11 to 12 days.
This means Islamic events will always
fall roughly around the same time in the
Islamic calendar but always on a
different date in the mainstream solar
calendar. This year, Ramadhan begins in
the first week of October, depending on
the sighting of the moon, and will end
approximately 30 days after, sometime in
the first week of November when Muslims
conclude the month with festivities and
celebrate Eid.

What's Eid?

Eid, or 'Id, means 'festival' or
'celebration' in Arabic and the festival
following Ramadhan is known as 'Eid
al-Fitr'.
Prev: Marhaban Ya Ramadhan
Next: SAHUR MEMBAWA BERKAH

reply
hurrieangga wrote on Sep 10, '07
wow...very inspiring...
reply
anakdapur wrote on Sep 11, '07
thanx.

met puasa ya :)
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