Ramadhan is a very important month in the Islamic calendar. It is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. Ramadhan comes from the Arabic word ‘ramadha’. Ramadha means ‘intense heat’. This is because when the Islamic months were enforced, the month of fasting came in the month of intense heat. Another reason is, much heat is created inside the person’s body because of fasting. The quran was also revealed in the month of ramadhan.

Fasting

In ramadhan, Muslims fast for the whole month from dawn to dusk. Fasting is the 3rd pillar of Islam. Fasting means to stop drinking & eating for the whole day. In Ramdhan, Muslims wake up in the very early hours of the morning before dawn & partake of food which is called ‘suhoor’. Sehri is a virtuous act which is much rewarded by Allah, & it’s the Sunnah of the prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). It’s mentioned in a hadith:

“Eat sehri, because in it lies blessings.” Muhammad (s.a.w) used to invite any of the companions to eat sehri with him, & would say:

“Come & partake of blessed food with me”.

After partaking of sehri, we make the dua:

‘I make intention to fast tomorrow’.

Throughout the day Muslims don’t eat & drink anything until sunset. At sunset, Muslims get together at their homes or at the masjid & break their fast. This is called ‘iftaar’. Muslims first read the dua:

‘O Allah, I have fasted for you, & I have brought imaan upon you, & I break my fast with the food that you have provided for me’.

After reading the dua, they normally eat khajoor (dates) & zamzam water, together with some desserts or fried food. The noble practice of our prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) was to eat khajoor with cucumber zamzam.

Taraweeh

At night, in the month of ramadhan, Muslims go to the masjid & read salah. This is called ’taraweeh salah’. Its wajib (obligatory) for us to pray this salah.

‘Laylatul Qadr’ (The Night of power)

In ramadhan, there is one special night. This night is called ‘Laylatul Qadr’ (The Night of power). Hadhrat anas (r.a) reports:

“Once when ramadhan commenced, the prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said, ‘a month has indeed dawned over you wherein lies a night better than 1000 months’. On this night, Allah sends the angel jibrail (a.s) with many other angels to the earth. These angels come down carrying down a green flag which is then planted on top of the kabah. Jibrail (a.s) has 100 wings. On this night, he spreads 2 of his wings form east to west. Jibrail (a.s) then sends out other angels on this night in all directions to recite salaam on each & every person they find in prayer or sitting & remembering Allah. They shake hands with them & say ameen to all their duas until dawn comes. Jibraeel (a.s) then calls out, ‘depart o angels of Allah, depart’ ”.

We don’t know exactly on which night of ramadhan this special night comes, but we have been informed that this special night comes in the last 10 days of ramadhan. From these last 10 days, we’ve been told it comes on the odd nights being 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th & 29th. And from these odd nights, we’ve been told it’s more than likely the 27th night of ramadhan.

On this special night, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) has taught us a special dua to make. Hadhrat Aisha (r.a) reports, “o prophet of Allah, when I find myself in laylatul qadr (the night of power), what shall I say?” Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) replied: “say,

‘O Allah, you are the one who pardons, you love to pardon, so grant me forgiveness’ “.

I’tikaaf

In the last 10 days of ramadhan, Muslims do I’tikaaf. I’tikaaf means to spend time in the masjid. Muslims begin their I’tikaaf from the 21st day of ramadhan at Maghrib time until the last day of ramadhan. I’tikaaf is also the beautiful Sunnah of our prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). We must also try to spend as much time in the masjid as possible in this blessed month.

Eid-ul-fitr

After Ramadhan, Muslims throughout the world celebrate Eid-ul-fitr. Eid-ul-fitr is a special day for all Muslims. Muslims are not allowed to fast on this day. On this day Muslims go to the masjid in the early hours of the morning to read Eid salah. After eid salah, Muslims go home to greet their families & meet relatives & friends. On this day, children are givn presents & money.

Allah is also very happy on this day.

Article by Zaid Hashware (A student at Majlis e Dawatul Haq Leicester)