The holy month of Ramadan

A month of self purification and contemplation for Muslims worldwide, Ramadan will return from March 22 to April 21 this year.

The ninth month, it is the most significant date on the Islamic lunar calendar.

“Ramadan is when Muslims believe the Quran was sent down from heaven, a guidance unto men, a declaration of direction and a means of salvation,” said Vally.

Most people will recognise Ramadan as the period in which Muslims fast between dawn and sunset, but it is not just food and drink that must be stopped.

“During the fast, strict restraints are placed on the daily lives of Muslims. Aside from eating and drinking, Muslims must not smoke or engage in sexual relations,” said Vally.

The fast is broken nightly with a meal called the iftar, after which fasting resumes the next day.

“The good that is acquired through a fast, which is the belief in spiritual cleansing through physical action, can be destroyed by immorality. Telling a lie, slander, denouncing someone behind their back, a false oath or covetousness are all considered particularly offensive during the fast of Ramadan,” he said.

Aside from limiting activities, it is also common for Muslims to spend additional time on daily prayer during the month.

There are typically five daily prayers undertaken, but during Ramadan, Muslims also recite a special prayer called the Taraweeh Prayer (night prayer).

“The length of the Taraweeh is usually two or three times longer than normal and sees Muslims recite the entire Quran aloud from memory. Some spend the entire night in prayer.”

Once the month of Ramadan has finished, Muslims celebrate the day of Eid which marks the end of the fast.

Ramadan Mubarak to all our Muslim readers.

Facts on Ramadan
• Islam has an estimated 1.8-billion adherents, which makes up over 24% of the world’s population.
• Most Muslims are part of two denominations, Sunni (80-85%) and Shia (15-20%).
• The name Ramadan derives from the Arabic root word Ramida, which means ‘scorching heat’.
• The country with the largest Muslim population might surprise you: it’s actually Indonesia which has over 200 million adherents.

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