Ramadan is the Islamic lunar calendar’s ninth month.. Muslims all over the world observe this month with great sanctity. They stay away from food, drink, and sexual activity from dawn till dusk. Ramadan is a most awaited month of the year. It is a great way to purify oneself and get closer to Allah. Here are some interesting facts about Ramadan.
Facts About Ramadan:
1. Ramadan – A Pillar Of Islam:
Five pillars make the foundation of Islam. If one does not believe or practice even one of these pillars, faith is incomplete. Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of these pillars. Fasting to attain the goodwill of Allah is obligatory upon every Muslim.
It is not just abstinence from food and drink, but it is to control one’s anger, and resist temptations and bad deeds such as backbiting, cursing, and others.
2. Ramadan – A Month Of Generosity:
Ramadan is the month of charity and giving. When people stay without food and drink the whole day, they feel the pain of hunger that underprivileged people experience. People engage in social welfare during Ramadan. They help those in need. Also, it is the month that brings people together as they break fast at the prescribed time.
3. People Who Are Exempted From Fasting In Ramadan:
Facts of Ramadan include people who can give up fast. Children who do not reach the age of puberty do not have obligation to fast. However, if they do, they gain immense rewards. Here are some categories who can skip fasts.
• Elderly people can skip fast. They can give fidya, a religious donation, to make up for their missed fasts.
• A sick person can skip fasts. If the sickness is temporary, he can keep the missed fasts later, but before the arrival of next year’s Ramadan. In case of terminal illness, there is no need to keep fasts later. The person can give fidya.
• Pregnant and lactating women who feel their or the baby’s health would suffer because of fast can miss the fasts. However, they must keep the fasts later on.
• People who are traveling can miss fast. They must keep them later on.
4. Fasting Time In Ramadan:
The Fast begins with the Fajr prayer and ends with the Maghrib prayer. This means that people in different parts of the world have different Ramadan timing according to their country. In polar regions, the fast can be as long as 22 hours.
5. Special Meals During Ramadan:
Muslims prepare special meals during Ramadan. Before Fajr, they adorn the table with healthy and energy-packed food for Suhoor. This includes oats, yogurt, paratha, omelet, juice, milk, fruits, and tea. People try to consume food that does not make them thirsty and provides sufficient energy for the whole day.
At Maghrib, they prepare Iftar to break the fast. The date is the most common food to break the fast. People prepare different juices and sorbets. Fruit chats, lentil dumplings, onion fritters, samosas, and chickpeas are some of the most common iftar items.
Including facts about ramadan there are many benefits of astaghfar in the Quran and in Hadees that are discussed .After Ramadan, Muslims thank Allah for his bounties by celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr. It is a reward for fasting where people exchange gifts, pray and eat together.
