Ramadan: 10 things you need to know about the Islamic month of fasting

By Nic Wood 11/08/2010

1) Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking and sexual activities from dawn until sunset.

2) During Ramadan, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in resisting everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds.

3) Muslims must also pray as many times as they can during Ramadan, as well as read the whole of the Koran.

4) While fasting, Muslims may only eat two meals a day, one before sunrise and the other after sunset.

5) As compared to the solar calendar, the dates of Ramadan vary, moving backwards about ten days each year depending on the moon.

6) Muslims are expected to start observing the fasting ritual once they reach puberty, as long as they are healthy. The elderly, the chronically ill and the mentally ill are exempt from fasting.

7) Muslims believe Ramadan to be the month in which the first verses of the Koran were revealed to the Islamic Prophet Muhammad.

8) During the month following Ramadan, called Shawwal, Muslims are encouraged to fast for a further six days, known as "the white six."

9) The most important day of Ramadan is the "Laylat al-Qadr", or "The Night of Power", which takes place during the last ten days of Ramadan. Muslims believe this is when the first verses of the Koran were revealed to the Prophet Mohammed.

10) The holiday of Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan, and is celebrated after 30 days of fasting on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic Calendar.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/08/11/ramadan-10-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-islamic-month-of-fasting-115875-22480513/

Holy month of Ramadan begins across the world

PTI, Aug 11, 2010, 04.50pm IST

Article

Hotklix Digg

CAIRO/DUBAI: Sunni Muslims across much of the world today began the fasting month of holy Ramadan, with the Shias expected to follow tomorrow.

The holy month of Ramadan, which marks a 30-day period of fasting, commenced in most of the Arabian peninsula, much of the Gulf nations and many other parts of the world.

The first day of fasting was observed today in Saudi Arabia, the birth place of Islam; Egypt; Indonesia, the largest Muslim nation; and in Gulf states of Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.

Muslims also began observing Ramadan in war-wracked Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Palestinian territories and Malaysia and Singapore.

Pakistan, Iran as well as Shias world over will began their fasting tomorrow, depending upon the citing of the new crescent moon.

In UAE, the announcement was made following the sighting of the moon of Ramadan and contacts with neighbouring countries.

Saudi King Abdullah urged Muslims to seek God's mercy during the month of fasting and by alms giving, which is one of the five pillars of Islam.

"The holy month inspires Muslims with the noble meaning of compassion, mercy and kindness," the king said in a speech to herald in the holy month.

Egypt with an 80 million Muslim population has switched to winter time, moving the clock back by an hour to shorten the period of fasting.

Across the Middle East, offices were opening late and closing earlier to enable people to get home on time for iftar.

Muslims observe the ninth month of the lunar calender as the month of fasting, whereby they abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset.

Read more: Holy month of Ramadan begins across the world - Middle East - World - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Holy-month-of-Ramadan-begins-across-the-world/articleshow/6293493.cms#ixzz0wJYC12To

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Holy-month-of-Ramadan-begins-across-the-world/articleshow/6293493.cms

Ramadan 2010 begins

Ramadan 2010 begins today and will be strictly observed by millions of Muslims around the world.

Hundreds of thousands of Muslims pray around the Kaaba inside the Grand Mosque during Ramadan in Mecca Photo: REUTERS

By Heidi Blake

Published: 9:09AM BST 11 Aug 2010

Hundreds of thousands of Muslims pray around the Kaaba inside the Grand Mosque during Ramadan in Mecca Photo: REUTERS In the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, in which the first verses of the Qur'an are said to have been revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, participating Muslims refrain from drinking, eating and sexual activities from dawn until sunset.

Fasting is intended to teach Muslims the virtues of patience, humility and spirituality, and is carried out as an offering to God.

In the Qu'ran, Allah proclaims that "fasting has been written down upon you, as it was upon those before you".

Participants rise in the darkness to eat a pre-dawn meal called “sahur”. They must stop eating and drinking before the dawn call to prayer, and must not break their fast until the fourth call to prayer at dusk.

Muslims are expected to start observing the fasting ritual once they reach puberty, as long as they are healthy.

The elderly, the chronically ill and the mentally ill are exempt from fasting, although the first two groups are expected to try to feed the poor instead.

People who are travelling long distances do not have to fast – nor do pregnant or breastfeeding women and those who are menstruating.

During Ramadan, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance on new problems, and ask for help in refraining from everyday “evils”.

They are expected to perform their religious duties with greater diligence than usual and to reflect on the teachings of Islam.

Participating Muslims are encouraged to try to read the entire Qur’an during the month of Ramadan. They must strive to maintain pure thoughts and avoid obscene and irreligious sights and sounds.

The holiday of Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan and the first day of the following month, which is called called Shawwal.

When fasting is over, celebrations are held and Muslims go to their mosques in their best clothes to say the first Eid prayer.

Later, they give out presents to children and greet their friends and families. Food is donated to the poor and a feast is held in the evening.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7938314/Ramadan-2010-begins.html