Celebrating RAMADAN

 

 

August 1 – August 3o, 2011

Ramadan is the holiest of months in the Islamic calendar.

 

 

Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

 

The month is spent by Muslims fasting during the daylight hours from dawn to sunset.

 

Ramadan in 2011 has begun this Monday, the 1st of August and will continue for 30 days until Tuesday, the 30th of August.Note that in the Muslim calander, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Muslims will celebrate Ramadan on the sunset of Sunday, the 31st of July.

Although Ramadan is always on the same day of the Islamic calendar, the date on the Gregorian calendar varies from year to year, since the Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar and the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar. This difference means Ramadan moves in the Gregorian calendar approximately 11 days every year. The date of Ramadan may also vary from country to country depending on whether the moon has been sighted or not.

The dates provided here are based on the dates adopted by the Fiqh Council of North America for the celebration of Ramadan. Note that these dates are based on astronomical calculations to affirm each date, and not on the actual sighting of the moon with the naked eyes. This approach is accepted by many, but is still being hotly debated.

Reuters Pictures Muslims attend prayers on the eve of the first day of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, at Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta August 21, 2009. Muslims around the world congregate for special evening prayers called “Tarawih” during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

 

 

The name came from the time before the Islamic calendar, when the month of Ramadan fell in the summer. Fasting during this month is often thought figuratively to burn away all sins.

 

 

Muslims believe that the Qur’anwas sent down to the lowest heaven during this month thus being prepared for gradual revelation by angel Gibril (Gabriel) to the ProphetMuhammad.

 

 

Furthermore, the ProphetMuhammad told his followers that the gates of Heaven would be open all the month and the gates of Hell would be closed.

 

 

The first day of the next month is spent in celebrations and

is observed as the ‘Festival of Breaking Fast’ or `Eid ul-Fitr.

 

 

Many Muslims insist on the local physical sighting of the moon to mark the beginning of Ramadan,

 

 

but others use the calculated time of the new moon or the Saudi Arabian declaration to determine the start of the month.

 

 

Unidentified Bahraini men search the sky over Hamad Town, Bahrain, on Friday, Aug. 21, 2009, for the new moon that signals the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Several predominately Muslim nations are beginning Ramadan, a month of prayer, fasting and charitable giving, on Saturday. AP Photo.

Since the new moon is not in the same state at the same time globally, the beginning and ending dates of Ramadan depend on what lunar sightings are received in each respective location. As a result, Ramadan dates vary in different countries, but usually only by a day. This is due to the cycle of the moon. When one country sees the moon, mainly Saudi Arabia, the moon travels the same path all year round and that same moon seen on the East is then seen traveling towards the West.

 

All the countries around the world

 

see the moon within a 24 hour period once spotted by one country in the East.

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Each year, Ramadan begins circa eleven days earlier than in the previous year.

Astronomical projections that approximate the start of Ramadan are available.

At the end of Ramadan, Eid ul-Fitr is celebrated by Muslims.

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EVENTS

• Ramadan is observed by Muslims during the entire lunar month by the same name. The month of religious observances consists of fasting and extra prayers.
• 02 Ramadan, the Torah was bestowed on Moses. (According to Shi’a Islam)
• 10 Ramadan, death of Khadija – first wife of Muhammad.
• 12 Ramadan, the Injeel was bestowed on Jesus. (According to Shi’a Islam)
• 15 Ramadan, birth of Hasan ibn Ali.
• 17 Ramadan, the Battle of Badr was won by the Muslims.
• 18 Ramadan, the Psalms were bestowed on David. (According to Shi’a Islam)
• 19 Ramadan, Ali ibn Abi Talib was struck on the head by a sword.
• 21 Ramadan, Ali ibn Abi Talib died due to injuries he sustained by a sword.
• Laylat al-Qadr is observed during one of the last five odd numbered days of the month.

Muslims believe that this night which is also known as The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. This is often interpreted as praying throughout this night is rewarded equally with praying for a thousand months (just over 83 years i.e. a lifetime). Many Muslims spend the entire night in prayer. According to Shi’a Islam this night has a higher probability of falling on the 19th or 21st, 23rd, 25th or 27th of this month, with the 23rd being most probable.

• According to Sunni belief this night is either the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th night, with the 27th night being most probable, though for both Shi’a and Sunni it is accepted that it could have been any of these nights and the actual specific night was intentionally withheld.

• In Iran, Al-Quds Day is held on the last Friday of Ramadan (since the Iranian Revolution).

• In the Ottoman Empire the sultan presented trays of baklava to the Janissaries in a ceremonial procession called the Baklava Alayı.

 

 

PRAYER NETWORK: http://www.30-days.net/islam/basics/ramadan/

 

 

 

A Celebration of Women

sends our Best Wishes

to all the Islamic Women of our World.

Blessings, this Ramadan 2011!

A Celebration of Women