Ramadhan - The Auspicious 9th Month

Ramadhan or Ramzan is a most auspicious and celebrated festival month by the Islamic community all over the world. Ramazan is a month of fasting, a month of prayer, and a month of devotion. Moreover, the word Ramadhan has derived from Arabic known as scorching heat. Muslims worldwide practice fasting during the month of Ramadhan from sunrise to sunset every day. The practice has known as Sawm or Siyam. It has been said to be Fard or Fardh, a mandatory practice commanded by God for Islams to follow. It is their religious duty. There are a few exceptions in following Sawm based on their condition. They break their fasting through the nightly feast. The feast has called iftar. The feast during the day has known as Suhur. In regions where a night with the sun, people follow the timings of Mecca or the closest country with day and night prominent.

Eid Mubarak !

Table of Contents

Muhammad’s First Revelation

In 610 AD, Gabriel (Angel Jibril) visited Prophet Muhammad in a cave Hira near Mecca on Jabal an-Nour mountain. He revealed the beginnings of the Quran to the prophet. This event has known as Muhammad’s first revelation. This occurred on the 21st Ramadhan of 610 CE.

Month of Ramadhan

Laylat al-Qadr or Qadr Night is the first night of revelation, which translates as the Night of Power or the Night of Destiny. This was the first time God’s word, delivered to the Prophet through Jibril. The revelation established Mohammed as Allah’s Messenger, as he was charged with relaying God’s message to the people. It is thought to have occurred on one of Ramadhan’s last 10 days. As a result, the last 10 days are regarded extremely good and sacred.

As Islam grew in popularity and power, those opposed to the young religion resorted to violence, forcing Muhammad and his followers to evacuate Mecca for the city of Medina in 622 AD. The practice of Ramadhan became a major component of the Muslim religion in the second year following the journey to Medina.

Battle of Badr

The pivotal Battle of Badr took place on the 17th day of Ramadhan in 624. This battle aided in the establishment of the new faith. Badr is located on the Saudi Arabian shore, some miles from Medina. Moreover, it was here that Muhammad’s Muslim warriors were outnumbered three to one by their foes, an Arab tribe, known as the Quraysh. According to the Qur’an, heavenly forces in the shape of thousands of angels came to their help. After his triumph, the Prophet showed mercy to his Qurayshi prisoners of battle, saving their lives.

During the month of Ramadhan, some other legendary military adventures would take place. Six years after the Prophet’s victory at Badr, Muhammad and hundreds of his supporters conquered Mecca and destroyed the pagan idols that they discovered. This was the climax of the struggle against the Quraysh, and it was a watershed point in Islam’s early history.

Battle of Hattin

Many decades after the Prophet’s death in 632, Muslim armies commanded by the famed ruler and military genius Saladin defeated Christian Crusaders at the Battle of Hattin in 1187, during Ramadhan. His resounding victory cleared the way for the demise of Crusader authority in the region. Further, it paved the way for the re-conquest of Jerusalem by Muslims. In 1260, another watershed milestone in Ramadhan history occurred with the Battle of Ain Jalut. This resulted in Mamluk armies headed by Sultan Saif Al-Din Qutuz eventually being able to halt the Mongol Empire’s expansion into the Middle East.

Eid Al-Fitr

Nowadays, Ramadhan is a season of peace, with the fasting month culminating in the unfettered joy of Eid Al-Fitr. This is a joyous period during which Muslims visit family and friends, exchange presents, and indulge in delectable sweet delights. The seeing of the new moon marks the start of Eid Al-Fitr, just as the appearance of the crescent moon marks the start of Ramadhan.

Celebration of Ramadhan

During Ramadhan, Muslims endeavour to improve their spiritual lives and strengthen their ties with Allah. They do this through praying and reciting the Quran, acting with intention and selflessness, and refraining from gossiping, lying, and fighting.

Fasting

Fasting between dawn and sunset is mandatory for all Muslims throughout the month, except for those who are unwell, pregnant, travelling, old, or menstruation. Skipped fasting days can be made up throughout the year, either all at once or one day at a time.

Meals provide a moment for Muslims to socialise with people in the community and break their fast together. Suhoor, or pre-dawn breakfast, served around 4:00 am, before the first prayer of the day, fajr. Once the sunset prayer, Maghreb, is completed, the evening meal, iftar, can begin around 7:30.

Muslims eat dates during suhoor and iftar because the Prophet Mohammad broke his fast with dates and a glass of water. Dates, a Middle Eastern staple, are high in nutrients, easy to digest, and offer sugar to the body after a long day of fasting.

Zakat

Zakat is an Islamic finance phrase that refers to an individual’s responsibility to contribute a set amount of their money to charitable charities each year. It is a religious obligation for Muslims and is one of the five pillars of Islam.

Prayers

Tarawih or Taraweeh prayer is one of the most notable features of Ramadhan nights; during the whole month, Muslims gather at night to follow some optional rak`at and listen to and reflect on the Qur’an’s recital.

Over the thirty days of Ramadhan, Muslims are motivated to read the complete Quran, which is divided into thirty juz’ (sections). Some Muslims add one juz’ recitation into each of the thirty tarawih sessions observed during the month.

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