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Benefit of
Ramadan, Chief for Islam
Month...... |
What Is Ramadan?
Ramadan
is the ninth
month of the
Islamic
lunar
calendar.
Every day
during this
month,
Muslims
around the
world spend
the daylight
hours in a
complete
fast.
Answer:
During the
blessed
month of
Ramadan,
Muslims all
over the
world
abstain from
food, drink,
and other
physical
needs during
the daylight
hours. As a
time to
purify the
soul,
refocus
attention on
God, and
practice
self-sacrifice,
Ramadan is
much more
than just
not eating
and
drinking.
Muslims are
called upon
to use this
month to
re-evaluate
their lives
in light of
Islamic
guidance. We
are to make
peace with
those who
have wronged
us,
strengthen
ties with
family and
friends, do
away with
bad habits
--
essentially
to clean up
our lives,
our
thoughts,
and our
feelings.
The Arabic
word for
"fasting" (sawm)
literally
means "to
refrain" -
and it means
not only
refraining
from food
and drink,
but from
evil
actions,
thoughts,
and words.
During
Ramadan,
every part
of the body
must be
restrained.
The tongue
must be
restrained
from
backbiting
and gossip.
The eyes
must
restrain
themselves
from looking
at unlawful
things. The
hand must
not touch or
take
anything
that does
not belong
to it. The
ears must
refrain from
listening to
idle talk or
obscene
words. The
feet must
refrain from
going to
sinful
places. In
such a way,
every part
of the body
observes the
fast.
Therefore,
fasting is
not merely
physical,
but is
rather the
total
commitment
of the
person's
body and
soul to the
spirit of
the fast.
Ramadan is a
time to
practice
self-restraint;
a time to
cleanse the
body and
soul from
impurities
and re-focus
one's self
on the
worship of
God.
Ramadan Spirit
Ramadan is a
period of
fasting,
reflection,
devotion,
generosity and
sacrifice
observed by
Muslims around
the world. While
major holidays
of other faiths
have largely
become
commercialized
events, Ramadan
retains its
intense
spiritual
meaning.
The word
"Ramadan" comes
from the Arabic
root word for
"parched thirst"
and "sun-baked
ground." It is
expressive of
the hunger and
thirst felt by
those who spend
the month in
fasting. As
opposed to other
holidays, when
people often
indulge, Ramadan
is by nature a
time of
sacrifice.
-
Through
fasting, a
Muslim
experiences
hunger and
thirst, and
sympathizes
with those
in the world
who have
little to
eat every
day.
-
Through
increased
devotion,
Muslims feel
closer to
their
Creator, and
recognize
that
everything
we have in
this life is
a blessing
from Him.
-
Through
increased
charity,
Muslims
develop
feelings of
generosity
and
good-will
toward
others. The
Prophet
Muhammad
(peace be
upon him)
once said,
"A man's
wealth is
never
diminished
by charity."
-
Through
self-control,
a Muslim
practices
good
manners,
good speech,
and good
habits.
-
Through
changing
routines,
Muslims have
a chance to
establish
more healthy
lifestyle
habits --
particularly
with regards
to diet and
smoking.
-
Through
family and
community
gatherings,
Muslims
strengthen
the bonds of
brotherhood
and
sisterhood,
in their own
communities
and
throughout
the world.
Ramadan is a
very special
time for
Muslims, but the
feelings and
lessons we
experience
should stay with
us throughout
the year. In the
Qur'an, Muslims
are commanded to
fast so that
they may "learn
self-restraint"
(Qur'an 2:183).
This restraint
and devotion is
especially felt
during Ramadan,
but we all must
strive to make
the feelings and
attitudes stay
with us during
our "normal"
lives. That is
the true goal
and test of
Ramadan.
May Allah accept
our fasting,
forgive our
sins, and guide
us all to the
Straight Path.
May Allah bless
us all during
Ramadan, and
throughout the
year, with His
forgiveness,
mercy, and
peace, and bring
us all closer to
Him and to each
other.
Taraweeh
When the month
of
Ramadan
begins, Muslims
enter into a
period of
discipline and
worship:
fasting during
the day, and
praying
throughout the
day and night.
During Ramadan,
special evening
prayers are
conducted during
which long
portions of the
Qur'an are
recited. These
special prayers
are known as
taraweeh.
The word
taraweeh
comes from an
Arabic word
which means to
rest and relax.
The prayer can
be very
long (well over
an hour), during
which one stands
upright to read
from the Qur'an
and
performs many
cycles of
movement
(standing,
bowing,
prostrating,
sitting). After
each four
cycles, one sits
for a brief
period of rest
before
continuing --
this is where
the name
taraweeh
("rest prayer")
comes from.
During the
standing
portions of the
prayer, long sections
of the Qur'an
are read. The
Qur'an is
divided into
equal parts
(called
juz) for
the purpose of
reading sections
of equal
length during
each of the
Ramadan nights.
Thus, 1/30 of
the Qur'an is
read on
successive
evenings, so
that by the end
of the month the
entire Qur'an
has been
completed.
It is
recommended that
Muslims attend
the taraweeh
prayers in the
mosque (after 'isha, the
last evening
prayer), to pray
in
congregation.
This is true for
both men and
women. However,
one may also
perform the
prayers
individually at
home. These
prayers are
voluntary, but
are strongly
recommended and
widely
practiced.
There has been
some dispute
about how long
the taraweeh
prayer is
supposed to be:
8 or 20 raka'at
(cycles of
prayer). It is
without dispute,
however, that
when praying the
taraweeh prayer
in congregation,
one should start
and end with the
imam, according
to the number
that he
performs. Night
prayers in
Ramadan are a
blessing, and
one should not
argue about this
fine point. |
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