The ninth moon of the Lunar calendar, Ramadan, is the holiest month in the Islamic culture. The celebration of Ramazan symbolizes the memorial of the first chapters of the Quran. The festivity begins with the appearance of the crescent moon. This year Ramadan will begin on April 02, 2022, with people starting fast from April 03, 2022.
This 30 days long festivity is for the Muslims to practice self-constraint. During this time, Muslims all over the world go fasting. They refrain from dawn to dusk to have food, drink, sinful conduct & thoughts. They also pray to Allah, reflect on their wrongs, and do charity as well as other activities.
Religious practices during Ramadan
The prime objective of Ramadan is to get closer to God. For Muslims, this time holds a great significance. There are several religious practice Muslims follow during Ramazan:
Fasting
Fasting during Ramadan is a way to display spiritual contemplation, self-improvement, and devotion to Allah. The fast, also known as Swam, begins at dawn and concludes at nightfall. Besides, Muslims also maintain chastity. In our world filled with people unable to feed their mouths, this practice helps people connect through their hearts.
Ramadan helps them to learn discipline, control, sacrifice, and compassion for the weak. Even though this practice is a must for everyone, it is not mandatory for traveling, having an illness, pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Suhoor
Suhoor is an Islamic term for the feast Muslims consume before starting their fast. They have to eat early in the morning, or they can not swallow anything, not even a single drop of water the whole day. Regardless, it is necessary to have all the essential nutrients for a healthy body. Here are a few foods for Suhoor Eggs, Fish, Chicken, Fruits, Nuts, and Vegetables.
Iftar
After the entire day of Fasting, the Muslim families break their fast with the Iftar at sunset. According to the Islamic tradition, eating persimmon to open the meal is a commemoration of Hazrat Muhammad. Then they go for Maghrib prayer. After that, they have a main course. In many households, families gather and dine together. Over the years, the practice of iftar has evolved. Several mosques hold large banquets and feed thousands of people every night.
The main dishes during Iftar are mostly traditional ones. Some of the food items are lamb stewed with wheat berries, lamb kebabs with grilled vegetables, and roasted chicken served with chickpea-studded rice pilaf.
Apart from water, there are also several drinks, including juice, milk, and other beverages. Luqaimat, baklava, and Kunafeh are some of the popular desserts.
Zakāt
As one of the five pillars of Islam, Zakāt holds a crucial role in Ramadan. It is an amount of revenue Muslims should donate to the weak. Although the almsgiving goes all year round, during the Ramazan, people donate more.
Praying
During the month of Ramazan, Muslims follow a strict and restrained lifestyle. They visit mosques and spend hours praying. Besides the five daily prayers, many Muslims also recite a night prayer.
In addition to that, they also read the entire Quran over the thirty days of Ramadan.
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Celebration of Eid
The celebration of Eid al-Fitr is the end of Ramadan month. Muslims all over the world celebrate the day we
After a month of sacrifice and praying, Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid al-Fitr. The festivity marks the end of Ramadan. Muslims worldwide spend the day wearing new clothes, cooking, baking, and exchanging gifts. They visit mosques and pray. Families and friends also get toghether and share meals.
On the joyous occasion of Eid, no one should be sad or unfed. That is why providing meals to the poor is also one of the significant parts of Eid.
Ramadan helps people to be one step closer to god. The restraint from all the lust and greed helps you to achieve greater things in life. Hope these days are not harsh on your body. Ramadan Mubarak. Hope Allash grants all of your wishes this Eid!