NOTE: Data collected for those who knows less about HOLY RAMADAN
Like Christian celebrations and holidays RAMADAN has
become largely commercialized , becoming popular festival around the world with
waste and excess to show for it. When the time of celebration and feasting of
holy month starts , each country has their own way of celebration.
Specialties of the month: offers in every shop and markets, special banquet
menu in restaurants, refraining from alcohol changing it with fruit juice and
other drinks, illuminated crowded mosques with worshippers, month of largest amount of charity- “ Sadaqa”, free
gift and presents ,buffet meals in every family where people will swap with each other,
temporary markets in the streets, vacation and holidays particularly in Eid al-Fitr special food and
treats, cultural clothes, traditional rituals, short working hours, fasting
from sunrise to sunset, applying of Henna during Eid, lighting bamboo cannon
firecrackers (meriam buluh) and many
many others…
Some well known facts:
v Fasting the entire month of
Ramadan is mandatory regardless of Muslims nationality, ethnicity, race and
color
P.S. due
to several reasons (like hot weather , changed perceptions, laziness) majority
are not following it.
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| IFTAR in Ramadan |
v First versus of Qur’an revealed to the
Prophet Muhammad in 610 CE in Ramadan.
v New crescent moon- start of the holy month.
v In China, celebrating Ramadan has been banned by
government in Xinjian province, where ethnic Uiygurs practice Islam. Extensive
tensions between Uigurs and police forces even led to widespread riots
resulting in the deaths of some 35 people.
v Ramadan fasting –one of the 5 farth of Islam, “five Pillars”.
v In some countries, as polar regions: Iceland , Norway,
Denmark fasting usually last up to 22 hours.
v However, Muslims in Argentina
and Australia have shortest fasting hours lasting only between 9 .5-10 hours.
v Some people are excluded
from fasting: pregnant women, mentally and physically ill people, breastfeeding
women, children….
v Muslims believe that during this month ,
the gates of heaven are open-while those to hell are shut down. Means- this
month- is the month of forgiveness and goodness. They say, all the wishes in Ramadan
are accepted and sins are forgiven by God.
v
Areas with high percentage
of fastings- Southern
Asia, South Asia, MENA and Sub-Saharan Africa.
v The word Ramadan derived from the
root “Ramida” meaning “scorched”.
v In UAE each year more than 200
Ramadan tents are set up every year to distribute meals to the needy.
v The first prayer of the day is called Fair.
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| Economy in this month |
v Charity-is an important part of
Ramadan. Most of Muslims decide to
donate their charity for the year during this holy month.
v There are more than 1500 varieties of
dates available for people during “Ramadan”, the most expensive one – “AIWA
dates” produced mainly in Saudi Arabia.
v Even death doesn’t exclude you from fasting. (if
a person dies during the month of Ramadan, having fasting days left, whoever is
in charge of their affairs must continue their fast on their behalf, typically
after they have completed their own fast.
v In Egypt the clocks are pushed back to
shorten the days and increase the night, when fasting is not required.
v A total of more than 100 million dollars was given
as charity in Ramadan alone in 2016.
v The crime rate drops during the month of
Ramadan.
v According to bankers and economists of
Muslim countries, Ramadan almost always ushers in a month long period of
inflation as people drastically increase the amount of money spent on clothing
and food. The price of certain staples go up dramatically; ex: during Ramadan a
cup of tea in Cairo can cost six times it’s normal price.
v Failing to fast during Ramadan –is a crime. In
Algeria, in 2008 the court of Biskra condemned six people to 4 years in prison
and heavy fines. In UAE , eating, drinking or smoking in public places is
considered offence and punished by up to 150 hours of community service. In S.
Arabia- there are harsher punishments ( logging, imprisonment, for foreigners-
deportation).
v Festival of breaking the fast- Eid al-Fitr.
v Night of Power- Laylat ul-Qadr (that night
Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad as assumed; that night when everyone
stay awake till morning with praying and
niyah(intention) cos praying throughout this night is equal with praying for
thousand months).
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