POLOKWANE – Ramadan will be celebrated by millions of Muslims around the world from tomorrow (March 23).

Ramadan is observed during the ninth month of the Muslim calendar and it will commence and end with the appearance of the crescent moon.

While fasting from dawn until sunset, Muslims refrain from consuming food, drinking liquids, smoking, and engaging in sexual relations.

Muslims are also instructed to refrain from sinful behavior that may negate the reward of fasting, such as false speech (insulting, backbiting, cursing, lying,) and fighting.

In Polokwane, Muslims will fast every day from just after 05:00 until around past 18:00 and males go to the mosque where a different chapter of the Holy Quran is recited by the Moulana (spititual leader) every evening. The Moulana recites the entire Quran in Arabic without any notes and translations into English and even an Afrikaans translation is available to allow all to follow.

The Night of Power is commemorated on one of the last 10 nights of Ramadan, usually the 27th night.

Muslim tradition dictates that God revealed Islam’s holy book, the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad during this night as a guidance for the people.

No weddings, engagements or other parties are held during Ramadan and it is advisable to be at home, to let your body rest and experience a physical and mental cleansing process.

The Polokwane Observer spoke to a couple of which one was born Muslim and the other a convert from Christianity, about Ramadan and fasting.

“Personally, Ramadan is a special time for our family as it gives you self-control and discipline, makes you appreciate basics like food and water and also puts you in the shoes of those that are disadvantaged.”

The couple‘s first Ramadan was difficult as it was in the middle of summer and the days were longer from sunrise to sunset.

“The most difficult part is to not be able to drink any water from sunrise to sunset. The best part, on the other hand is being able to break your fast with your family and enjoy special Ramadan meals.”

According to the couple, fasting is not just about preventing yourself from eating and drinking, but a time to devote yourself to God and go about your day with self-discipline.

A typical meal for the family during Ramadan includes dates, soups, protein and vegetables with desserts and fruit at the end.

“We break our fast with a date and milk, then we pray Maghrib (the sunset prayer). We’ll then start with warm, light soup with chickpeas, special bread and a salad. Our main dish will incorporate protein such as meat, fish or chicken with vegetables and something to drink. Then we have Menth green tea with fruit and after the last prayer, the long night prayer, we will have a sweet desert with coffee or tea.”

Converting was not hard for the wife, but adjustments had to be made to cut pork out her diet. The extended family and friends have respected the couple and their choices.

When celebrating Eid ul Fitr at the end of the fast, male Muslims will go to the local mosques or the cricket stadium in the city for early morning prayers and thereafter visit the cemetery to pay respects to the deceased and also visit elderly people.

You can wish someone well for the month ahead by saying “Ramadan Kareem”.

Review would like to wish all our Muslim readers a blessed Ramadan.