Community Corner

5 Things You Should Know About Ramadan

Islam's holiest month starts today

Ramadan began today (or will begin tonight depending on where you live) and in the name of multiculturalism, tolerance and learning new things, we offer five facts that you might not know about Islam's holiest month.

1. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar; and, because the Islamic calendar is lunar, it begins at sunset.

In fact, many Muslims believe that Ramadan starts with the physical sighting of the moon.

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Additionally, a lunar calendar does not sync with the solar calendar. Consequently, Ramadan starts 11 days earlier each year.

It lasts 29 days.

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2. Muslims commemorate Ramadan because they believe that it was in this month the Qu'ran was revealed to Muhammad.

Furthermore, Shia Muslims also believe this was the month that the Torah was revealed to Moses and the gospel to Jesus.

3. Muslims abstain from food and drink during the days of Ramadan. After sunset, they may eat.

The meal after sunset is called Iftar and it begins with the eating of a date. Then the Maghrib prayer – the fourth of the five daily prayers – is said.

It's not uncommon for Iftar to be a banquet meal, shared with friends and family.

Fasting is not the only tradition during Ramadan. Muslims stress charity during this time of year and give food to the needy.

Also, some Muslims task themselves with reading the entire Qu'ran during Ramadan.

4. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Sunnis' Five Pillars of Islam, along with the creed, daily prayers, almsgiving and pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in one's life.

While Shia Muslims agree with each of these tenets, they call it something different. They have Seven Pillars of Islam, adding guardianship, oneness and struggle.

They subtract creed because they think belief is the underlying foundation beneath the pillars, instead of one of them.

5. Ramadan ends with the three-day festival of Eid ul-Fitr.

People celebrate with early morning prayers, giving food to the poor, wearing new clothes, feasting and visiting relatives.

A Christian analogue would be Easter.

In stark contrast to Ramadan, it is forbidden to fast during Eid ul-Fitr.


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