About Ramadan
Every year, around the month of March, the religious holiday of Ramadan begins. As funny as it is, most people only know it as the month where Muslims go hungry. While that assumption is not entirely wrong, it's only one part of a whole slew of culture. Like every other religious holiday, Ramdan has its own notability. It’s a holiday celebrated for a month long, and it's practiced by all Muslims globally. But what is Ramadan, and why is it so important?
When is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. It starts and ends with the sighting of the crescent moon. The Muslim calendar is shorter than the Greogorian one, so it starts 10-12 days earlier each year. The religion states that on the 27th night of Ramadan, God revealed the holy book, the Quran, to Prophet Muhammad so he could use it to help guide the people.
Why is it called Ramadan?
The word Ramadan (رمضان) is derived from the Arabic word Ar-Ramad (الرَمَضُ). It means the scorching heat, which refers to the sun-baked desert sand. The holiday was named because it burns away the sins of believers. Ramadan is meant to be a spiritual month, where every Muslim gets the chance to improve themself spiritually. This ‘heat’ shapes us to be better. In the ancient Arabic character, months were named after seasons; however, because this month of intense heat fell on the month of the holiday, it was named Ramadan.
What is Ramadan about?
In the Quran, it is said to be a period of atonement, where God forgives you for your past sins. However, the majority of Muslims think of it as a period of restraint. The ultimate goal is to gain a greater understanding of God. This concept is referred to as Taqqa, and to achieve this, a person should cultivate discipline and good deeds.
Ramadan Rituals
Muslims typically rise before dawn and eat a meal called suhoor, or sehri, with plenty of water. After morning prayer, they can choose to either go back to sleep or begin the day. They go about their day as normal, and especially during the long summer days, take a nap in the afternoon. Fast is broken with dates and water, as Prophet Muhammad did, and other light foods. This is called iftar, which means “breaking fast”. After sunset prayer, the family eats dinner. Having parties and guests for iftar is common during Ramadan. A lot of restaurants will cater during this month by having dates and water.
Giving to the community
Most mosques have a special Ramadan prayer called Taraweeh every night. One chapter is recited everyday, so by the end of the month, the whole quran would be read. It's not mandatory, but the people who attend are said to be blessed. Mosques also have community dinners so Muslims can break their fast together. Everyone is welcome. Because Ramadan is also a month for compassion and charity, Many mosques will have food drives and fundraisers for the less fortunate. Many mosques open their doors for multicultural nights, where believers of other faiths can join their friends for iftar.
Eid-ul-Fitr
At the end of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate a major holiday called Eid-ul-Fitr, or the “Festival of Breaking the Fast''. In the mornings, some people eat Seviyan, a sweet vermicelli noodle dish with lots of milk. Children and younger relatives often receive an Eidi, a gift from the older relatives, parents, and friends to the younger ones. It can be compared to Red Envelopes given on Chinese New year. Typically, the Eidi is money, but it can also be clothes and toys. A special prayer is held in the morning before a large community celebration. There is plenty of food, games, and socializing. People greet each other with “Eid Mubarak”, which means ‘blessed Eid.
Chaand Raat
Chaand Raat, or “Moon Night”, is a South Asian festival on Eid-al-Fitr. Family and friends gather together on the last day of Ramadan to spot the new moon. Festivals open up around this time, and everyone dresses up for it together. The women wear henna and buy all sorts of dresses and jewelry. Gifts and sweets are bought and eaten with friends. Chaand Raat is celebrated by Muslims all over the world. It can be compared to the Christian holiday or Christmas Eve.
Even though Ramadan is a religious holiday, it doesn't make it any less fun. Since I was a little girl, this holiday was very important to me not only because it was one of the few ones I could celebrate, but because of all the memories I made through the celebration. I can still remember how excited I would be when I got new bangles. Even to this day, I look forward to Eid and Chaand Raat. Learning about Ramadan and the significance of it does not only open your eyes to a new experience, but it also helps you understand your muslim friends.
Cites:
Aleem, Abdul. “Ramadan - a Linguistic Perspective.” Fluent Arabic, 12 Oct. 2019, www.fluentarabic.net/ramadan-linguistic-perspective/.
“Chaand Raat.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Mar. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaand_Raat.
“Ramadan.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 25 Mar. 2024, www.britannica.com/topic/Ramadan.