Ramadan, Part 1
Today marks the beginning of Ramadan for 1.57 billion people on earth who know themselves as Muslims. After reading this post, please begin praying for them and continue through the month. We recommend this tool to guide you in prayer.
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is an Islamic annual celebration known of prayer-fasting. This 30 days of celebration and excitement occurs during the ninth month on the Muslim calendar and marks the month in which the Prophet Mohammad received the first of the revelations that are comprised in the Muslim holy book called the Qur’an. This month of prayer and fasting is set apart as a time for Muslims to concentrate on their faith and consecrate themselves back to God through seeking forgiveness and purification of sins.
As you can imagine, Muslims around the world view Ramadan very differently. When visiting with one of my Saudi friends the other day I asked him, “so…are you excited for Ramadan? Do you have to prepare at all, mentally, etc?” His reply was, “neh…it get’s easy after the first few days, you just have to adjust your schedule. You know, go from sleeping at night and eating during the day to eating at night and sleeping during the day.” It isn’t uncommon for men to try and shorten their work hours in order to sleep during the day, while the women prepare for the evening meals. A more pious friend of my wife’s commented the other day that she was going to be starting Ramadan two days early this year. My wife being curious asked “why”, and she replyed that she had missed two days last year. She was starting early to make them up.
During Ramadan, Muslims are prohibited from eating during daylight hours. In some parts of the Muslim world it’s even illegal to eat in public and of course restaurants won’t open until sunset. The most pious of Muslims will even spit to avoid swallowing their own saliva. They are also forbidden from smoking and sexual intercourse. In Islam fasting excemptions are only allowed for children, soldiers, pregnant woman, travelers, and the sick.
Though Ramadan is viewed as a time for storing up good works there are a number of sins that can negate the good that is done during Ramadan. These ultra-sins are lying, slandering, denouncing someone behind their back, giving a false oath, and greed or coveting.
Many Muslims will spend many hours of the day (sometimes all night) praying and studying the Qur’an at the Mosque. The normal five daily prayers are concluded at night with a special recited prayer called the Taraweeh or Night Prayer.
The two most important days throughout Ramadan are toward the end. The 27th day of the month is the Night of Power, which Muslims believe to be the night when Muhammad first began to receive revelation. The Feast of Fast Breaking is a three day feast where friends and families gather to exchange gifts, pray, and celebrate the end of Ramadan .
Perphaps this served as a refresher on Ramadan or answered some of your informative questions for the first time. If not, there are plenty of resources that would be better fitted for your further exploration on the subject of Islam and/or Ramadan. We are excited to see how the Lord might give you opportunities in the coming days to “love you neighbor”- Ahmad, Mohammad, or Ayeh, in Jesus name.
[Picture by Camera Eye]