Five things to know about Ramadan
The world's 1.9 billion Muslims, including 7 million Americans, are in the midst of observing Ramadan, which falls in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims are called to not only increase their faith, but also their sense of community and acts of charity toward others.
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Here are five elements of Ramadan:
∎ Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of the Islamic faith, which are the requirements of all Muslims. The Pillars include public declaration of the faith, prayer, fasting, charitable acts and a pilgrimage to Mecca, birthplace of Islam.
∎ During Ramadan, from sunrise (fajr) to sundown (maghrib) all able-bodied Muslims are required to abstain from food and drink, wearing perfume and engaging in sexual relations. The goal of fasting is to increase one's awareness of dependence on Allah, as well enhanced compassion for the poor and suffering.
Children, the elderly, pregnant women, menstruating women, and people with a chronic illness can receive dispensation from fasting. Each day, the fast is broken with a meal known as “iftar.”
Many people eat a fig or date to break the fast.
∎ Muslims believe Ramadan includes Laylat al-Qadr, the holiest night in Islam during which the Angel Gabriel revealed the Holy Quaran to the Prophet Mohammed.
It also is known as the "Night of Powers" and "The Night of Destiny." According to Encyclopedia Britannica: "It is believed to have taken place on one of the final 10 nights of Ramadan in 610 CE, though the exact night is unclear. The date of the annual commemoration thus varies throughout the Islamic world but is most commonly observed on the 23rd night of Ramadan for Shiʿi Muslims and on the 27th for Sunni Muslims."
∎ This year, Ramadan began March 22. It ends April 20. The end of the holiday will be marked with the breaking of the fast, or Eid al-Fitr, a joyous, three-day festival celebrated at the first sighting of the new moon which marks the 10th Islamic month of Shawwal. During Eid al-Fitr, celebrants wear new clothing and host large gatherings to share meals.
On Sept. 1, 2001, after five years of lobbying including letters from 5,000 Muslim children, the U.S. Postal Service issued the first Eid al-Fitr holiday stamp. However the stamp ignited some backlash and calls for a boycott shortly after the Sept 11, 2001 terror attacks.
The first stamp, purple with gold Arabic lettering which read "Eid Mubarak (greetings)," was designed by calligrapher Mohamed Zakariya of Arlington, Virginia. It is part of the Postal Service's “Holiday Celebration Series.”
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∎ Depending on the country in which it is observed, traditional foods made and shared during Eid al-Fitr includes a number of sweets including "maamul," a shortbread cake covered in powered sugar and stuffed with dates or nuts; eid cookies baklava, stuffed dates, kanafeh, butter cookies and Turkish Delight; also beef rendang, bean pies, porridge, and spicy spinach and potatoes.
Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @cgoshayREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: What do I need to know about Ramadan?
