The Holy Month of Ramadan

Greetings to all our dear Muslim friends on the auspicious commencement of the holy month of Ramadan, from today the 21st July 2012, May you all be blessed by Allah!!!

Ramadan which started from 21st July 2012 is a month long period for offering prayers to God (Allah). During this month Muslims keep a day long fast every day from morning till sunset. Ramadan fasting is a complete abstention from eating, drinking, and sexual relations from dawn to dusk.

In order to understand the true purpose and importance of fasting during Ramadan we need to briefly peep into the Islamic faith:

Five pillars of Islam …

There are five pillars on which rest the Islamic faith; these are as briefly described below:

1. Faith: Muslims believe in the declaration called ‘Shahada’ which says that there is only one supreme God called Allah and prophet Muhammad is His messenger

2. Prayer: It is called‘Salat’, which is their prayer to be performed five times a day and has the divine power to connect the worshipper in direct contact with God (Allah).

3. Caringthe needy: Islamsays that everything belongs to God so a part of one’s income is to be kept for the needy persons. This practice is called ‘Zakat’ and as a result helps in self-purification and evolution.

4. Purification of Self: Fasting is believed to be a good way of self-purification.

5. Pilgrimage: Mecca in Saudi Arabia is the holiest place for all Muslims and all believers should go there every year for pilgrimage. This keeps their faith strong and blesses them.

Ramadan a month of Self Purification …

So you may now appreciate why month long daily fasting is observed during the month of Ramadan. As per one of the Islamic faith pillars fasting help in self-purification and thereby strengthening of the religious faith. I appreciate the way Muslims celebrate each day after completing their fast. Even after a daylong fast they look cheerful and enjoy.

I wish to quote here from the Holy Quran about fasting:

“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint” -- Surah Al Baqarah 2:183

Let us look forward to the joyous festival of Id-ul-Fitrwhich will be celebrated on 19th August 2012 to mark the end of a month long fasts of Ramadan.

Article by: Jyotirvid Pawan Kumar

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