Samuel Oladipupo Essoodee
In the month of may, Muslims all over the world will be marking the noble month of Ramadan, however, Nigerian Muslims are not exempted.
Ramadan is integral to the Islamic faith and sees Muslims all over the world celebrate the occasion through reflection and celebration.
Ramadan is observed by Muslims as a month of fasting and this year’s Ramadan will take place from early May to June, although the exact dates depend on the sighting of the moon.
Here is all you need to know about Ramadan 2019, how it is celebrated, and what happens after.
When did Ramadan start?
Although Ramadan is always on the same day of the Islamic calendar, its 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.
As a result, Ramadan moves in the Gregorian calendar approximately 11 days every year, and may also vary from country to country depending on whether the moon has been sighted or not – an issue that often causes controversy between observers in different nations.
In the UK, Ramadan this year begins on Sunday 5 May and finishes on Tuesday 4 June.
How is Ramadan observed?
Fasting is the most well known and important part of Ramadan, although drinking, smoking, sex or any “sinful behaviour” is also forbidden between dawn and sunset over the entire 30 day period of fasting.
Practicing Muslims abstain from food and drink during the day to help teach “self-discipline, self-restraint and generosity”
According to ‘’BBC’’, It’s common to have one meal, suhoor, just before sunrise and another known as iftar directly after sunset.
Physically or mentally ill people, young children, travallers, the elderly and women who are menstruating, pregnant, breast-feeding or have recently given birth do not have to fast, says Arab News.
The government’s Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has a page for helping employers support Muslim employees during Ramadan, and warns that “fasting may affect people in different ways (for example some people may understandably become a little irritable or slightly tired at times) and some understanding from managers and colleagues can be helpful”.
Last year a Danish government minister was roundly criticised for asserting that that Muslims should not work during Ramadan because the month-long daylight fasting period poses safety hazards in some professions, such as bus drivers, and makes the practice “dangerous for us all”.
Why is the month so significant?
Ramadan marks the month when Allah revealed the Koran to the Prophet Muhammad.
Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam a verse in the Koran prescribes it for all mature and healthy Muslims, Al Jazeera writes. Muslims fast as an act of worship, a chance to get closer to Allah and a way to become more compassionate to those in need.
The term “Ramadan” comes from the Arabic word ramiḍa or ar-ramaḍ which means scorching heat or dryness, as “it normally falls in a hot time of year” says the Manchester Evening news.
Are there any tips for fasting?
According to ‘’The Birmingham Mail’’ “rather than trying to adjust suddenly to a month of fasting, some people prepare for the event so it’s not such a shock to the system”.
It suggests voluntary fasting and cutting down on junk food in the run-up to Ramadan as sticking to nutritious meals at regular times will make it easier to adapt to the two daily meals that are allowed during the month.
‘’NHS’’ gives a variety of tips for staying healthy during Ramadan. It suggests eating at least two meals a day and packing them with complex carbohydrates such as wheat, oats, lentils and basmati rice that release energy slowly.
High-fat and high-sugar foods are not recommended and fasters should instead eat baked samosas, boiled dumplings, grilled meat and milk-based puddings.
The Birmingham Mail also suggests changing your sleep patterns to better accommodate meal times at the beginning and end of the day. Smokers should also try to cut down in the run-up to Ramadan so going cold turkey during the day will prove less of a challenge.
When is sunrise and sunset?
Knowing the exact times of sunrise and sunset is important during Ramadan, but this can be complicated as this differs around the world and sometimes even in a country. Apps such as Muslim Pro tell when to begin fasting and what time followers can eat again.
East London Mosque has a prayer timetable to help Muslims keep up with the different times throughout the month of Ramadan.
Time and Date also gives the exact sunrise and sunset times for any location around the world.
What is the Night of Power?
On the 27th day of Ramadan, Muslims mark Lailat al Qadr – the “Night of Power”. This is Islam’s holiest night and commemorates the day the Koran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. It involves spending the night praying, studying and reciting the holy text.
However, the exact day of Lailat al Qadr falls was never actually specified by the Prophet Muhammad and some Muslims choose to commemorate all the last ten days of Ramadan as if they were Lailat al Qadr.
What happens when Ramadan ends?
To mark the end of fasting, Muslims celebrate the Eid ul-Fitr festival, beginning with early morning prayers and then a day of feasting with friends and family.
Many Muslims don their best clothes to celebrate eating their first daylight meal in a month and give thanks to Allah for giving them strength and self-control. They also exchange gifts and decorate their homes for the celebrations.
Why do the dates of Ramadan change each year?
Ramadan is based on a lunar calendar, which is determined by the position of the moon in the sky. This means each year the fasting begins around 11 days earlier than the previous year.
This year, it begins in early May, then it moves to April in 2020, having started on 16 May in 2018. By 2023, it will have hit March and by 2026, Ramadan will be in February.
The change means keeping Ramadan is slightly easier when the days are short, but summer months, when the days are long, make the fast more difficult – especially for those living in countries in the far north, where the sun can remain in the sky almost all day.
To counter this, some scholars suggest only using Mecca time to measure the fast, but the idea is controversial, leaving many believers fasting for up to 19 hours at a time.
When does Ramadan 2019 commence?
As the Islamic calendar is based around the lunar cycle, Ramadan rotates by approximately ten days each year.
This year Ramadan will most likely begin on the evening of Sunday 5 May and most probably end on Tuesday 4 June.
About Ramadan?
Ramadan is held during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is a time for spiritual reflection, acts of charity and spending time with loved ones.
It is also a month when Muslims fast. This means they don’t eat or drink between sunrise and sunset, which is important during Ramadan as it allows them to devote themselves further to their faith, ultimately becoming closer to Allah.
The reason why Muslims fast is because it is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, the other pillars being faith, prayer, charity and making the pilgrimage to Mecca – the Holy City.
Before sunrise, they will have a meal (suhoor) and another meal (iftar) after sunset. The only people that do not have to fast during Ramadan are children, the elderly, pregnant women and those who are travelling or who are ill.
What happens when Ramadan ends?
Eid al-Fitr is a festival and celebration that marks the end of Ramadan. This year, it will begin at the first sight of the new moon in early June.
When does Eid al-Fitr happen?
The Islamic calendar is determined by moon phases making each month last either 29 or 30 days.
Islamic years span on average between 354 and 355 days depending on the lunar calendar.
When a crescent moon is spotted during Ramadan, it marks the beginning of Shawwal and signals the first day of Eid al-Fitr, the feast that follows Ramadan.
Source{s}-
BBC
NHS
The Birmingham Mail
www.theweek.co.uk
Arab News
