Muslims observe Ramadaan Mubarak

ALMOST 2.1 billion Muslims around the world started the obligatory month-long fasting period of Ramadaan on Thursday where their time is devoted to increased prayer, charity and the avoidance of immoral activities. Ramadaan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and the month in which Muslims believe the Quran was revealed.

Fasting during the month of Ramadaan is one of the ‘Five Pillars’ of Islam. The month is spent by Muslims fasting during the daylight hours from dawn to sunset.

It is believed that the Quran was sent down to the lowest heaven during this month, thus being prepared for gradual revelation by Jibraeel (Gabriel) to the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

The ‘Pillars of Islam’ say that Muslims should fast during daylight hours during the holy month of Ramadaan. The daily fast is broken after the sunset prayer ‘al-maghreb’ with an ‘iftar’, the Arabic word for ‘breakfast’.

Muslims are also told to strive to read the entire Quran during the month of Ramadaan, subsequently, much of a Muslim’s free time during this month is spent in the mosque, reading and praying.

The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted.

Since the Islamic lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year and contains no intercalation, Ramadaan migrates throughout the seasons. The Islamic day starts after sunset.

Many Muslims rely on the local physical sighting of the moon to mark the beginning of Ramadaan. Since the new moon is not in the same state at the same time globally, the beginning and ending dates of Ramadaan depend on what lunar sightings are received in each respective location. As a result, Ramadaan dates vary in different countries, but usually only by a day.

The end of Ramadan is celebrated with a large community congregation on Eid al-Fitr.

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