The holy month of Ramadan enjoys a special importance in the Islamic calendar. As the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said: "It is Allah's Own month." It is the chief of all months and the most glorious one. As we already know, 'Fasting' is one of the important pillars of Islam and it is the very month of Ramadan during which fasting has been made obligatory for all adults and sane Muslims. By fasting during Ramadan, a Muslim besides discharging an obligation imposed upon him by Allah, becomes entitled to great reward in the Hereafter. On the other hand, any lapse in the matter amounts to a great sin. Fasting is an article of worship, the knowledge about the performance or otherwise whereof rests only with Allah and the person concerned. Hence, it is Allah alone who will reward that person for it, on the Day of Judgment.
The blessings of Ramadan are not limited to fasting alone, because the performance of all sorts of worship and good deeds during this month is also a source of great Divine favor. The revelation of the Holy Qur'an commenced during this very month and it is therefore the duty of every Muslim to read and try to understand the meaning of the Holy Qur'an and thereby gain an insight into the Divine secrets enshrined therein. It brings peace and illumination to the mind and imparts purity to the soul.
Ramadan is the month of fasting, intensive prayer, sacrifice and Divine worship. Throughout this month a devout Muslim fasts during the day in the true sense of the word, that is, he had merely denies himself food and water, but as explained by the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.), exercises strict control over his tongue, eyes, ears, thoughts and deeds and does everything possible to seek the pleasure of Allah.
Devout supplications to Allah and repentance of one's sins during Ramadan are the sources of Divine blessings and mercy. Some nights, among the last ten nights of Ramadan, are called the 'Nights of Glory' (Laylatul Qadr). These are the 19th, 21st, and 23rd nights. Muslims keep awake during these nights and offer special prayers. Even among these nights, the 23rd enjoys excellence over all the others. It is accompanied by great blessings, and he usually grants the supplications made to Allah during this night.
The holy month of Ramadan, besides being the month of worship and Divine blessings, carries a historical importance as well. As already mentioned above, the revelations of the Holy Qur'an commenced in this month. The epoch-making 'Battle of Badr' and the 'Conquest of Mecca' also took place during the holy month of Ramadan.
"Ramadan", according to some traditions is one of Allah's names. This is why we can not say Ramadan without making it clear that we are talking about the month, and therefore we should always say the month of Ramadan. The Commander of the faithful Ali ibn Abi Taleb (A.S.) said: Do not say Ramadan, but say the month of Ramadan. For you do not know what Ramadan is. This same meaning was referred to by the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) in his speech during Shaaban: The month of Allah coming ....
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Importance Of Ramadan
Muslims follow Islam (submission to God) and Muslim Ramadan is the ninth month of Islamic calendar, the month of fasting during the daylight. During Ramadan Muslims boycott themselves from Drinks, food, smoke and sexual contact during the daytime.Muslims believe that during
Ramadan they must devote themselves to Allah by praying and visiting mosque. Ramadan is the month to read the entire holy book (Quran) by Muslims. It is also believed by Muslims that during Ramadan the gates of Heaven (jannah) are open and the gates of hell (Jahanam) are closed. Therefore so many believe are associated with Ramadan among the Muslims that makes Ramadan one of the important festivals for Muslims. Apart from the above, the importance of Ramadan lies in the fact, which all the Muslims believe that, it is believed to be the month during which The Holy Quran was revealed by god to prophet Muhammad (570-632 C.E.). Muslim Ramadan is also important because according to the five pillars of the Islam, pillars refer to the duties which any Muslim should follow, it is the duty of all the Muslims to fast for the entire month of Ramadan. The five pillars of Islam are as follows:
1.Reciting the two-fold Creed (Shahada) (profession of faith) - 'There is no God but Allah' and 'Muhammad is his prophet' (or 'Muhammad is the Messenger of God')
2. Prayer (salat) - At five set-times a day while facing towards the city of Mecca.
3. Alms-giving (sakat) (zakat - means 'purification', an act of worship) -obligatory and voluntary giving to the poor.
4. Fasting (saum) - Especially during the 'holy' month of Ramadan.
5. Pilgrimage (hajj) - At least once in a lifetime - to Mecca, Saudi Arabia if at all possible, known as The Hajj.
And one most important:
The pilgrims who came to Mecca should walk around Ka'aba seven times kissing and touching the Black Stone The Black Stone was a meteorite to which great religious significance was attached even before Muhammad was born. Muhammad simply adopted this pagan practice and it became the "Islamic" pilgrimage of "Hajj" - one of the pillars of Islam.
Hence as a follower of Islam all the Muslims are suppose to fast for the month of Ramadan. Some Muslims can be exempted from the Ramadan fasting like:
Children below twelve years.
Muslims who are physically and mentally challenged.
Senior Muslim citizen.
Muslims who travel for long distances.
Pregnant women and nursing mothers.
Women who are menstruating.
Eid-Ul-Fitr
After the last day of the holy month of Ramadan comes the auspicious day of Shawwal, which is known as Eid-Ul-fitr . Lets share or talk About Eid . The day Muslims across the world wait eagerly for all through the year. This day they wish each other Eid Mubarak. Eid-Mubarak literally means 'may it become good for you' . It's is the time for them to thank Allah for the successful completion of the fasting period during Ramadan .
The ritual of observing fasts cleanses Muslims right from their soul. The fasts are kept under a strict regime, where one can have no food and water from dawn till dusk. They recite Namaz five times a day. The entire process is physically very exhausting, but the devotion they have in their hearts for the Almighty makes it easy and enduring. As the month ends, people belonging to Islamic religion are in a celebratory mood. They hug each other and greet Eid Mubarak and thank Allah for his bounty and mercy . They break their fast with sweet vermicelli (Sewaiyyaan).
On Eid -Ul-fitr they decorate their houses with traditional and religious symbols like crescent moon and stars. There are lots of Eid ul fitr recipes and womenfolk after offering prayers prepare special Eid dishes. Sheer Khurma made by cooking dates with milk is a must to be served with Sewaiyyaan. Friends and family members gather and enjoy the day amidst grand feasts and cheerful moments. In many countries special Eid fests are organized to make the day more exciting for all. Usually, it is a holiday season, so people can freely go there and indulge in merry making wishing each other Eid Mubarak.
Despite the fact that Muslims reside in almost every part of the world, but the manner of celebrating Eid-Ul-Fitr remain same more or less. All follow the rules enshrined in the holy Quran with equal sincerity. The religion of Islam preaches respect for humanity, encourages brotherhood and peace and inspires rest of the world to be whole-heartedly devoted to the God. Eid-Ul-Fitr is a festival that put forward the same teachings and celebrates them. Celebrate this Eid-Ul-Fitr and greet Eid Mubarak to your kith and kin with us and leave the worries of preparations of the festival completely onto us. With our valuable tips coming handy to you, you won't be missing out on any aspect of jollifications of Eid-Ul-Fitr.
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