Posts tagged ramadan fast

A Simple Guide to Ramadan

In this post, I summarized the answers to the most frequently asked questions about Ramadan; about the meaning and origin, what is obligatory and what is forbidden, who must fast and who does not need to … The article is intended for anyone wondering every year why Ramadan starts earlier than the year before, and all information can serve as a useful guide for easier understanding of Ramadan fasting and consequently contribute to the intercultural dialogue. There are 10 main headlines, but be sure that there are many more valuable answers to your questions about Ramadan.

This post evolved from stories on my social media channel, where I received numerous questions from my curious followers about the islamic holy month of Ramadan. The original text is in Slovene for the Slovene audience, as I believe that the lack of understanding of the Islamic religion and customs often stems from a kind of resistance to foreign unknown terms, which are otherwise in everyday use within Muslim communities in Slovenia (and around the world).

Is it Ramadan or Ramadhan or Ramazan?

What is the correct pronounciation? Is it Ramadan or Ramadhan? Some places they even write it as Ramazan. The naming of Ramadan in the original Arabic language means hot desert sand. Due to phonetics in different languages, “d” also performs as “dh” and “z”, which is why the name “Ramazan” is better known in Slovenia due to Muslim minorities from Bosnia and Turkey.

When does Ramadan start?

Ramadan is the 9th month according to the Muslim lunar calendar. It occurs with the first crescent of the new moon. Since the year according to the lunar calendar is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian one, this year’s Ramadan came “earlier” compared to last year’s. For example, we will observe 2 starts of Ramadan in the year of 2030.

Fasting during Ramadan – how and why?

Ramadan is known as the fasting month. During this time, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. So it does not start with sunrise, as is often mentioned in the media. Observing the fast means giving up food, any drink (including water) and sexual intercourse during the day.

Ramadan fast is one of the 5 pillars of Islam. These pillars are:

For whom is it obligatory to fast? Who is forbidden to fast?

Fasting must be observed by all healthy adult Muslims. Children, sick and elderly are excluded.

Women should not fast during menstruation, but they need to make up for fasting days until the next Ramadan.

Pregnant women and nursing mothers are mostly advised against fasting.

WHAT ABOUT EXCEPTIONS? WHAT ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE WORKERS? CAN THEY AT LEAST DRINK WATER?

Some time ago, I reported on a case from Saudi Arabia where authorities issued a proclamation due to intolerable high temperatures that physical workers exposed to the sun and heat do not need to fast that year. But this still meant that these individuals had to make up for fasting at a different time of year until the next Ramadan. Fasting is not supervised by anyone. Fasting is performed by the believer as an intimate act of worship of God.

ANYONE WHO DECIDES TO DRINK WATER DOES NOT OBSERVE THE RAMADAN FAST.

In Saudi Arabia, for example, working hours and school times are adjusted during Ramadan. Places of business open much later, stores are open late into the night. Yet in many places, even in Muslim-majority countries, there are no special adjustments. Fasting is not intended to be an easy task. It is not written in any tradition that fasting should completely change the daily rhythm and obligations. It is worth mentioning the top athletes who train and compete even during Ramadan fasting. Recently, there has been a lot of mention of basketball player Kyrie Irwing, who performs excellently in NBA matches in the last hours of his fast.

WHAT IF YOU HAVE FREQUENT MIGRAINES… WHAT IF YOU NEED TO TAKE MEDICATION? WHAT IF YOU GET SICK?

As mentioned, only healthy adults can fast, and everyone should judge for themselves whether Ramadan fasting is something they really shouldn’t do. Headache should not be equated with migraines. However, taking medications at specific times should be taken seriously as directed by your doctor. If someone gets sick during Ramadan – I can’t be the judge of that. Is it a common colds, a virus …? These are all matters that should be discussed with one’s doctor or clearly elaborated with oneself why one cannot fast. It is forbidden to harm your body (it is haram).

Menstruating during Ramadan

During menstruation, women should not fast. They are intended to rest. During menstruation, a woman is in a state of impurity*, so she should not pray (mandatory prayers). This does not mean that during this time she loses contact with God, she can still perform supplications (duas). She does not need to make up for the missed prayers after her period is over.

She must however make up for her missed fasting days later until the next Ramadan. Many women choose to do this during winter, when the days are shorter.

If menstruation occurs in the middle of a fasting day or even later, fasting should be interrupted and that day does not count.

*Impurity applies to anyone that may be bleeding (even in the event of an injury). Urine, feces, ejaculation also nullify purity, so before praying it is necessary to perform ritual washing or showering.

How does fasting in Ramadan work?

Fasting should not take place without preparations and planning of nutritional meals and fluid intake. Thus, the first and last meal are an important part of Ramadan everyday life.

Meal before dawn: sahur or sehur or sehri. The last meal before the start of fasting. In addition to food, it is important to consume enough fluids, some eat soup, others eat plenty of fruits.

Meal after sunset: iftar is the first meal with which we break our fast. It literally means break-fast. Sunnah or the tradition of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ requires us to interrupt fasting with water and dates. The number of dates should be odd (1, 3 …). This does not mean that fasting should not be interrupted by any other food that we have available. Iftar is often an opportunity to visit and socialize in large numbers during Ramadan times. Last year, we had the opportunity to finally host our very own iftar meal.

But fasting doesn’t just mean giving up water and food. This is a time that gives us the opportunity to grow spiritually, test our capabilities and discipline. Special parts of day and night are devoted to reading the Qur’an and additional prayers and intercessions to God. Charity during this time brings an even greater blessing.

There is no commandment that states that it is necessary to be awake all night and to sleep during the day. Quite the opposite. Ramadan is therefore also a busy and tiring period, because with fasting and all the daily commitments, extra time is devoted to night prayers.

In Ramadan times, many Muslims set new goals for spiritual growth, for positive changes in life. Many Muslims set themselves to read the Qur’an from start to finish until the end of Ramadan. When we speak about Muslims, we are speaking about people with mistakes and bad habits, about believers who realize that they can be and do better. Some Muslims, who do not have the habit of praying every day, set themselves the goal of changing this in Ramadan. Fasting is practically impossible for those who are addicted to smoking. Therefore, some give up cigarettes and quit smoking forever after this holy month.

Is smoking allowed in Ramadan?

Cigarette and e-cigarette smoking breaks the fast. In addition to food and liquids that should not get down the esophagus during fasting, cigarette smoke particles can potentially get into the stomach and thus nulify fasting.

Many Islamic scholars argue that smoking is also prohibited (haram) because it harms our health. Passive smoking (in the company of a smoker) does not break our fast.

Prayer, nail polish and fake nails

Muslim women who decide to adopt the habit of regular prayers during Ramadan approach this by removing artificial nails or nail polish. This is necessary for the state of purity for prayer, as it is believed that water must seep into all areas of the skin, hair and nails during ritual washing.

Although porous halal (allowed) polishes are already available on the market, it is still mostly believed that prayer (and washing) is better done without nail polish. The custom of some Muslim women is to use nail polish only during menstruation, when they are not allowed to pray.

Halal alternative to nail polish is henna, which is mainly used as a natural dye in Africa and the Middle East. In Sudan, for example, Muslim women like to decorate themselves with henna during the celebrations after the end of Ramadan. Henna is applied both to the nails and in various patterns to the skin.

Ramadan in different Time Zones

Ramadan fasting, as we know, lasts from dawn to sunset.

In different countries around the world, days are, of course, shorter in some places and longer in others.

Greenland, Iceland and, for example, the Scandinavian countries have extremely long days in the summer, and in the Arctic, the so-called Midnight Sun is known, when the sun does not set at all between April and August.

When Ramadan is scheduled in these places in summer, Muslim communities follow the time of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, and some follow the time of the nearest country where the day may still be very long (22 hours). On the other hand, Ramadan brings them long nights in winter and thus the shortest fasting days.

Follow this link where you can listen to the member of a Muslim community in Arctic Norway. He speaks about the length of fasting at 3 min 25 s.

When does Ramadan end?

Ramadan ends when we can spot a new crescent of the next moon. The lunar month can last 29 or 30 days. This year’s Ramadan is announced at the end of April 9, 2024. The end of Ramadan is followed by a three-day celebration, known in our place as bayram, and in Arab countries as Eid Al-Fitr.

Bayram and Eid mean holiday, in this case a holiday at the end of the fasting month.

Glossary

Ramadan Mubarak and Ramadan Kareem are traditional greetings during Ramadan. The translation may read as “Happy Ramadan” or “Blessed Ramadan”.

Halal is an Arabic word meaning allowed. We mostly hear it related to food, but it also refers to other objects and concepts.

Haram is the opposite of the word halal, it means forbidden.

Sahúr or sehúr or sehri is the last meal before the start of fasting. In addition to food, it is important to consume enough fluids.

Iftàr is the first meal to stop fasting. Sunnah or the tradition of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ requires us to break our fast with water and dates. Iftar is often an opportunity to visit and socialize in large numbers during Ramadan times.

Wudú or ablution is a ritual wash that must be performed before prayer to achieve the state of purity. When ritually washing, we wash the palms, rinse the mouth and nose, wash the face, then the forearms to the elbow, apply water with hands over the length of the hair and then wash ears with fingers, and finally wash the feet.

Ghusl is a ritual shower that must be performed before prayer if the believer is in a state of impurity after menstruation or sexual intercourse or wet dreams. In addition to daily wudu, it is necessary first to wash the genitals with water, and at the end to wash all parts of the body with water, starting with the scalp letting the water pour down.

Taraweeh are night prayers in Ramadan. They last longer than the usual obligatory prayers, so one can rest between the phases; Hence the name from the Arabic word for resting, relaxing. The name also refers to the search for blessings in a peaceful and safe environment after a day full of challenges.

Laylat al Qadr is the so-called night of power. It is known that on one of the odd nights in the last third of Ramadan the first chapters of the Qur’an were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. A night of power is described as one that is better than 1000 months. Prayers and good deeds are rewarded multiple times on this night. This special night is recognized by the appearance of the moon, the probability of rain is higher, and there is also a detailed description of the sunrise that comes after it.