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Winter 2015

Celebration

Traditional islamic fasting items on prayer rug

This month is one of the holiest months in Islam, Muslims around the world wake up before dawn to take Suhour (predawn meal) and they abstain from food, drink, sexual activity and speaking or acting in a bad manner all day. After sunset, the fast broken immediately with dates and water pursued by evening prayer and then Iftar meal.

Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam which Muslims are abided by. (confession of faith, five daily prayers, charitable giving, pilgrimage).

The Qur’an makes exceptions for whom are not mandatory. Pregnant or breastfeeding, elders, individuals who are chronically ill, incredibly young children are excused from fasting

Muslims fast during Ramadan for many spiritual and physical reasons.

First one is to get closer to God by worship acts such as prayer, contemplation, reading whole the Qur’an, charity and prevent from drinking, eating, bad acts and anger. Second one is to break bad habits and it is a chance to practice self-restraint and self-reflection. In addition, Fasting is a way to clean the soul and break from immoral habits. Third one is to empathize with people in need and to know what it is like to go hangry.

Laylat -ul-Qadr, it is known as the night of decree or the night of power, it is the holiest and the most sacred of nights within Islam. Laylat-ul-Qadr was the night when the first verses of Qur’an were revealed to Muhamad (PBUH). It is falls within the last 10 days of Ramadan however, no exact date is known therefore Muslims implement Eitikaf during the last 10 days of Ramadan. Spending the nights in praying, reflecting, and reciting the Qur’an.