What is Ramadhan?
Ramadhan is a month of fasting when Muslims abstain from food and drink during the hours of daylight. The fasting is intended to teach Muslims self-discipline, self-restraint and empathy for those less fortunate than themselves. As well as fasting they are expected to maintain purity of thought and action and to turn their minds from the worldly to the spiritual. Muslims try to recite as much of the Qu’ran as possible during Ramadhan - with mosques reciting one thirtieth of the Qu’ran each evening – and to give zakat (charity).
When does Ramadhan take place?
Ramadhan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It begins with the first sighting of the new moon meaning that the exact date of Ramadhan changes each year.
What is the significance of Ramadhan?
Ramadhan is the holiest of the four holy months honoured by Muslims as it is believed to be the time when the Qu’ran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh). The specific night that the Qu’ran was revealed is called Laylat ul Qadr (the night of power/destiny) and one night of prayer at this time is said to be better than a thousand months of prayer at any other time. Laylat ul Qadr falls in the last third of the month. The exact date is believed to be known only to God and the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh), but it is known to be one of the last ten odd nights of the month.
What is Eid-ul-Fitr?
Eid-ul-Fitr is the celebration that marks the end of Ramadhan and the breaking of the fast. It is a three-day celebration in which Muslims give gifts to children and spend time with their friends and family. It is obligatory that Muslims give a set amount of money to charity at this time so that the poor can also celebrate Eid. This charity is called Zakat-ul-Fitr.
What is Zakat-ul-Fitr?
Zakat-ul-Fitr is an amount of charity that is prescribed for everyone. It is calculated as the amount needed to feed one poor person in their specific region for one day. This is known as fitr and is meant to be given before the start of the Eid prayer.
How is Zakat-ul-Fitr different from Zakat?
Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam. Muslims are obliged to give 2.5 percent of their wealth for the full year every year to charity. This percentage applies only to money, gold and silver and commercial items. There are separate rates for farm and mining produce and animals. A person’s house and personal transportation are exempt from zakat.
What is Syawal?
Syawal is the month after Ramadhan. Muslims are encouraged to fast six days in this month; the days do not need to be consecutive. It is believed that a person who fasts these six days will be rewarded as though he had fasted for a year.
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