Thursday, 25 August 2011

LFTAR



Iftar in Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul,Turkey
Muslims all around the world will abstain from food and drink, through fasting, from dawn to sunset, the family will gather the fast-breaking meal known as Iftar. The meal starts with the eating of three dates — just as Muhammad used to do. Then it's time for the Maghrib prayer, which is the fourth of the five daily prayers, after which the main meal is served.[13]
Over time, Iftar has grown into banquet festivals. This is a time of fellowship with families, friends and surrounding communities, but may also occupy larger spaces at mosques or banquet halls, where a hundred or more may gather at a time.[14]

 Charity

Charity is very important in Islam, and even more so during Ramadan. According to tradition, Ramadan is a particularly blessed time to give in charity, as the reward is 70[15] times greater than any other time of the year. For that reason, Muslims will spend more in charity (sadaqa), and many will pay their zakat during Ramadan, to receive the blessings (reward). In many Muslim countries, it is not uncommon to see people giving food to the poor and the homeless, and to even see large public areas for the poor to come and break their fast. It is said that if a person helps a fasting person to break their fast, then they receive a reward for that fast, without diminishing the reward that the fasting person got for their fast.

 Laylat al-Qadr

Main article: Laylat al-Qadr
Sometimes referred to as "the night of decree or measures", Laylat al-Qadr is considered the most holy night of the year.[16] Muslims believe that Laylat al-Qadr is the night in which the Qur'an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Also, it is believed to have occurred on an odd-numbered night during the last 10 days of Ramadan, either the night of the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th. Shiites also commemorate the attack on Imam `Ali ibn Abi Talib and his subsequent martyrdom every year on the 19th and 21st of Ramadan.

 Eid ul-Fitr

Main article: Eid ul-Fitr
The holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر‎) marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan and the first day of the following month, after another new moon has been sighted. The Eid falls after 29 or 30 days of fasting, per the lunar sighting. Eid ul-Fitr means the back to the fitrah; usually a special celebration is made. Food is donated to the poor (Zakat al-fitr); everyone puts on their best, usually new, clothes; and communal prayers are held in the early morning, followed by feasting and visiting relatives and friends. The prayer is two Raka'ah only, and it is sunnah muakkad[17] as opposed to the compulsory (Fard) five daily prayers. Muslims are expected to do this as an act of worship, and to thank God. Presents are also given, mainly clothes and money.

 Cultural aspects


Ramadan lantern decorations

Ramadan in the Old City of Jerusalem

 Decorations

Ramadan is met with various decorations throughout the streets. In Egypt, lanterns are known to be a symbol of Ramadan. They are hung across the cities of Egypt, part of an 800 year old tradition, the origin of which is said to lie in the Fatimid era where the Caliph Al-Muizz Lideenillah was greeted by people holding lanterns to celebrate his ruling. From that time lanterns were used to light mosques and houses throughout the city.
In other Muslim countries, lights are strung up in public squares, and across city streets, to add to the festivities of the month. In the West, many Muslim households have taken to decorating the inside of their homes to make Ramadan a more special time for their children. Eid is a huge celebration when all the Muslims go to mosque early in the morning pray and enjoy themselves for the next 2 or 3 days. Usually parents buy new clothes and toys for their children. A well cooked dinner is provided.

 Ramadan in Turkey

In Turkey, Ramadan or Ramazan as Turkish people say, has a special place among other religious activities such as Qurban or Hajj. There are some special cultural activities performed during this month, such as Karagöz and Hacivat and mahya (a tradition unique to Turkey). Also during this month, most TV channels have special programmes at iftar and suhoor times. Most brands (mostly food and beverage brands, such as Pepsi, Coca Cola) have special Ramadan-themed advertisements during this month.[18]

 See also

 Notes

^/ramadˤaːn/ : In Arabic phonology, the first and second vowel can be backed to [ɑ] or fronted to [a], [æ][ɛ]; the last vowel can be centralized [ä] or backed [ɑ]. or

 References

  1. ^ An Idiot's Guide to Ramadan; BBC, 03 October 2005
  2. ^ Ramadan FAQ
  3. ^ [1]
  4. ^ Sunan al-Tirmidhi I.145.
  5. ^ Goyṭayn, Šelomo D. (1966). Studies in Islamic history and institutions. Leiden, NL: E. J. Brill. pp. 95–96. ISBN 9004030069. 
  6. ^ Hilal Sighting & Islamic Dates: Issues and Solution Insha'Allaah. Hilal Sighting Committee of North America (website). Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  7. ^ Muslims disagree on start of Ramadan
  8. ^ Qur'an 2:185
  9. ^ Why Ramadan brings us together; BBC, 01 September 2008
  10. ^ a b Help for the Heavy at Ramadan, Washington Post, 27 September 2008
  11. ^ See, for example, Should pregnant women fast during Ramadan[dead link], where both points of view are indicated by different scholars; see also The Old, The Pregnant, And The Breast Feeding Not Fasting (archived from the original on 2008-06-08), where different views on this subject are mentioned.
  12. ^ Qur'an 2:184
  13. ^ Muslims fast and feast as Ramadan begins 8-11-2010.
  14. ^ Ramadan: Muslims feast and fast during holy month access 8-11-2011.
  15. ^ "Multiply Your Rewards in Ramadan". http://www.islamicinformation.net/2008/06/multiply-your-rewards-in-ramadan.html. 
  16. ^ Robinson, Neal (1999). Islam: A Concise Introduction. Washington: Georgetown University Press. ISBN 0878402241. 
  17. ^ Islam.com - Types of Prayers
  18. ^ "Videos of Ramadan themed TV advertisements". http://www.tvreklam.org/ara/reklamlar/ramazan. Retrieved 3 August 2011. 

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ramadan


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