Ramadan

Fasting during the month of Ramadan is the fourth pillar of Islam and (Higrah), Ramadan is the ninth month. Every day during this month, Muslims spend the daylight hours in a complete fast. For the hours of daylight, they must give up food, drink, and other physical needs. It is a time in which to purify the soul, refocus one’s attention on Allah, and practice self-sacrifice; it is much more than just dispensing with eating and drinking.

In the process of sell- improvement and re-evaluation during this time, Muslims will look to make peace with those who they have wronged to strengthen ties with family and friends, and to do away with bad habits of whatever nature.

Therefore, there is a renewed intensity behind the control of every part of the body when fasting. The hand is not to touch or take anything that does not belong to it. The eyes cease from looking at illegal things. The tongue has to refrain from gossip and backbiting. One could say that fasting is the total commitment of the person's body and soul to the spirit of the fast, a time of self-restraint and cleansing [17].

Why is this Month so Important in Islam?

Muslims the world over believe that during the month of Ramadan, Allah revealed the first verses of the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam. As he neared his 40H year, Muhammad took to retraction to a cave in month Hira on the outskirts of Makkah. Toowarah the end of the month of Ramadan when he had reached the age of forty, he was alone in the cave when a voice called to him from the night sky.  It was the angel Gabriel (peace be upon him), who told Muhammad he had been chosen as the recipient of the word of Allah. And so the first revelation began. Even today, the intensity of these events is recognized in mosques around the world. Congregations stand to pray about one thirteenth of the Quran each night, such that by the end of the month the complete scripture will have been recited [13].

Combined with the practice of fasting during the daylight hours, there is a remarkable level of peace that Muslims feed, coming from these spiritual devotion.

At the end of Ramadan, every Muslim must donate a stipend to the poor. Traditionally, this was dry food such as rice or wheat weighing about 3.5 kg, but in the west nowadays the convention is generally to place approximately $5 per adult household member in a collection box. At this their, begins a festival known as ‘Eid al-Fitr’. This Eid starts the first day of Shawwal, immediately following Ramadan. Muslims dress in their finest clothes, give gifts to children, eat nice food, and make outing to visit family and friends [13].

The importince of fasting in the month of  cannot be overenuphasised. It is mentioned in three consecutive verses of The Holy Qur'an as follows [16]:

O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint. (Translated of Yusuf Ali, 2:183)

(Fas) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number (should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (with hardship), is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will,- it is better for him. And it is better for you that ye fast, if ye only knew. (Yusuf Ali, 2:184)

Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (signs) for guidance and judgment between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put you to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful. (Yusuf Ali, 2:185)

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