Tarim Yilpizi
22-09-05, 07:57
Ramadan 1426 / 2005: The Muslim Month of Fasting
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. It is during this month that Muslims observe the Fast of Ramadan. Dates for Ramadan 2005 are 05 October thru 03 November.
The first evening of Ramadan
In many places around the world Muslims will be looking to the heavens this evening. They will be interested in knowing if they will be able to see the crescent moon. If it is visible this will be the signal for the beginning of the month of Ramadan. (In most countries religious authorities will make a proclamation concerning the beginning of Ramadan). No fasting will take place till tomorrow morning. Muslims will rise early to eat their breakfast before the day begins. Afterwards they will not have anything else to eat or drink till nightfall. This will be their daily experience during the next 30 days.
Fasting - Ramazan
Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of the religion of Islam and one of the highest forms of Islamic worship. Abstinence from earthly pleasures and curbing evil intentions and desires is regarded as an act of obedience and submission to God as well as an atonement for sins, errors, and mistakes. Called Ramadan (or Ramazan), Muslims fast during this holy month from the moment when it first starts to get light until sunset. Muslims fast as an act of faith and worship towards Allah, seeking to suppress their desires and increase their spiritual piety. Fasting together as a worldwide community - Ummah - affirms the brotherhood and equality of man before Allah.
Islamic Calendar
The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle. The month of Ramadan is the ninth month and begins with a combination of the sighting of the new moon and astronomical calculations. The exact time of Ramadan sometimes varies from place to place as some rely heavily on the moon sightings while others depend on science. An Imam (Muslim holy man) will declare the exact time of Ramadan just prior to its commencement. The fasting period ends upon the sighting of the next new moon, which occurs after 29 or 30 days.
The Meaning of Ramadan
The name Ramadan is derived from the Arabic word ramida or ar-ramad, denoting intense scorching heat and dryness, especially the ground. From the same word there is ramdaa, meaning 'sunbaked sand' and the famous proverb Kal Mustajeer minar ramadaa binnar - to jump out of the frying pan into the fire. Some say it is so called because Ramadan scorches out the sins with good deeds, as the sun burns the ground.
The Special Feeling of Ramadan
Ramadan brings out a special feeling of emotional excitement and religious zeal among Muslims of all ages. Though fasting is mandatory only for adults, children as young as eight willingly observe fasting with their elders. Children look forward to the excitement of sighting the moon and eating special meals with their families. Adults appreciate the opportunity to double their rewards from God and seek forgiveness for past sins. As Ramadan emphasizes Muslim brotherhood and community all feel a particular closeness.
Muslims have to change their whole physical and emotional selves during this 30 long days of fasting. A typical day of fasting begins with getting up early, around 4:30a.m. and sharing a meal called Sahur together before the fast begins at dawn, about 5:10a.m. As dawn breaks, the first of five daily prayers, Fajr, is offered.
As the day proceeds, fasting Muslims are constantly bombarded with messages from their stomachs that it is time for breakfast, snack, lunch, and so on. And each time, Muslims remind themselves that they are fasting for the sole purpose of pleasing Allah and seeking his mercy. They offer the second and third prayers during early and late afternoon, respectively.
Fasting helps one to experience how a hungry person feels and what it is like to have an empty stomach. It teaches one to share the sufferings of the less fortunate. Muslims believe that fasting leads one to appreciate the bounties of Allah, which are usually taken for granted - until they are missed!
Throughout the day Muslims are encouraged to go out of their way to help the needy, both financially and emotionally. Some believe that a reward earned during this month is multiplied 70 times and more. For this reason, Ramadan is also known as the month of charity and generosity.
To a Muslim, fasting not only means abstaining from food, but also refraining from all vice and evils committed consciously or unconsciously. It is believed that if one volunteers to refrain from lawful foods and sex, they will be in a better position to avoid unlawful things and acts during the rest of the year.
Breaking The Daily Fast During Ramadan
The fast is broken at sunset. The Prophet Muhammad recommended breaking the fast with dates. Muslims are urged to invite others to break the fast with them. These gatherings are called Iftar parties.
Just after breaking the fast, and before dinner, Muslims offer the fourth of the five daily prayers, which is called the Maghrib prayer. After dinner, Muslims go to their houses of worship, called Mosques, to offer the Isha prayer, which is the last of the five daily prayers. The day ends with a special voluntary prayer, the Taraweeh, offered by the congregation reciting the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam.
The Last 10 Days of Ramadan
The last ten days of Ramadan are considered highly blessed, especially the 27th night which is also called the 'Night of Power', or the 'Night of Destiny'. It is believed that on this night the prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Qur'an. For many Muslims, this period is marked by a heightened spiritual intensity and they may spend these nights praying and reciting the Qur'an.
After 30 days of fasting, the end of the month of Ramadan is observed with a day of celebration, called Eid-ul-Fitr. On this day, Muslims gather in one place to offer a prayer of thanks. It is traditional to wear new clothes, visit friends and relatives, exchange gifts, eat delicious dishes prepared for this occasion, and wait patiently for the next year.
What Muslims Believe - The Five Pillars of Islam
Muslims believe in Allah and that he is unique, all powerful, gracious and merciful to all Muslims.
The Islamic faith is lived out according to five ‘pillars’ that must be adhered to if one is to hope for salvation.
The Five Pillars of Islam are:
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) - Both 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.
The pilgrims who came to Mecca should walk around Ka'aba ("Cube") 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 today.
The Hajj Pilgrimage - Journey of a Lifetime
One fifth of humankind shares a single aspiration to complete, at least once, the spiritual journey called the Hajj. In Arabic, Hajj literally means “a resolve” ie; to resolve to some magnificent duty.
Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Countless millions of Muslims, men and women from the four corners of the earth, have made the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam. In carrying out this journey they fulfill one of the five “pillars” of Islam (or central religious duties of a believer). The Prophet Muhammed said, “He who performs the Hajj with no obscenity or evil practices will come out as a newly born baby free from all sins”. For the Muslims, the pilgrimage is therefore much more than something to be done. It is a sacred and revered journey. Yet without it they have less chance of getting into paradise.
Spiritual Climax
Whether a pilgrim spends years walking from his nomadic home in Africa, or several hours on a plane from Asia, there is little doubt that the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, will be the spiritual climax of his life. The pilgrimage takes place every year to commemorate Abraham’s attempted sacrifice of his son (who Muslims believe was Ishmael, rather than Isaac). The Hajj month, lasting for 30 days, begins two months and ten days after Ramadan.
Preparation
Before setting out a pilgrim should redress all wrongs, pay all debts and plan to have enough funds for his own journey and for the maintenance of his family while he is away. Certain Governments even allocate funds to assist pilgrims. Many religious rites are performed according to the Qur'an and tradition. The pictures we usually see are of a great throng of humanity circling the Ka’bah (a cubical structure made of stone). Their circling of the Ka’bah, the symbol of God’s oneness, implies that all human activity must have God at its centre. It also symbolizes the unity of God and man. It is circled seven times and a prayer is recited each time round. According to some traditions, the Ka’bah is the sole remnant of the original structure built by Abraham and Ishmael. While making their circuits pilgrims may kiss or touch the black stone. Perhaps the single most important reason for kissing the stone is that Muhammed did so.
Stoning of Satan
Another rite is The Stoning of Satan. According to the Qur'an, Satan tempted Abraham and Ishmael three times to stop the sacrifice. Each time they responded by throwing stones at Satan. As pilgrims throw seven pebbles at the three pillars, they remember the story of Satan’s attempt to persuade Abraham to disregard God’s command to sacrifice Ishmael. Throwing the pebbles is symbolic of a humans’ attempt to cast away evil and vice, the number seven symbolising infinity.
Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power) holiest of all
Muslim scholars believe that while the Qur'an was revealed over a period of 23 years the Night of Power is considered the night in which the first revelations of Islam and the prophethood of Muhammed began. This night is in celebration of the arrival of the Qur'an.
In Arabic, Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power) is described in the Qur'an as, “better than a thousand months” (Sura 97:3). Al-Qadr means power and implies having power over something, particularly to Allah. The character of Allah is excellence in power, capable, all powerful, almighty. It also implies ‘high esteem’ and thus the Night of Power is to be highly esteemed.
When does it occur?
It is often a point of debate among Muslim scholars as to when exactly the Night of Power occurs. Some scholars say that this night is hidden. Some say it occurs on either the 1st, 7th or 19th night of Ramadan. However, there is strong evidence that the night occurs during the last 10 days of Ramadan, specifically on odd numbered nights. In a report by Bukhari, Muhammed said, “Seek it on the odd nights of the last 10 days of Ramadan.” In Hadith by Ubayy bin Ka’ab, Muhammed also said, “By Allah, I know which night it is. It is the night the Messenger commanded us to observe, the night of the 27th.”
Muslims believe angels perform special deeds on this night
The whole Night of Power, from sunset to dawn, is the holiest night of the year. It is believed that there are groups of special angels who are only seen on the Night of Power. These angels perform special purposes. Some come down for worship, others for granting the request of the believing Muslim. Other angels come down bringing with them proclamations of the coming year.
Today, many Muslims think this is a special night when God gives heed to their requests. Often they are open to dreams and visions as they seek for guidance and revelation. Many Muslims pray all night seeking a response to specific requests. One common belief is that angels will shower down the peace and blessings of God on all who remain awake during this ‘night of power’. According to the Qur’an, God either listens directly or via the angel Gabriel, to the requests of Muslims concerning their fate.
As Muhammed had his destiny fulfilled by receiving the revelation of the Qur’an on this night, Muslims also call this the “Night of Destiny”. This night seems equally important among orthodox Muslims and in Folk Islam. It is on this night, and during the following weeks, that many Muslims have had supernatural encounters with God.
Muslims are encouraged to stay awake the entire night, and pray for blessings and forgiveness. According to Abu Huraira translation of the Hadith, the Prophet Muhamed declared that “whoever prays during the Night of Power with faith and hoping for its reward will have all his previous sins forgiven.” There are many things that a Muslim will endeavour to do on the Night of Power including recite and study the Quran, make special requests from Allah, evaluate their own lives and make plans for the next year.
Some Muslims will take the day off work so they can stay up all night and will often spend this night in the mosque.
Glossary of Islamic Terms
PLEASE NOTE :: This Islamic Glossary was compiled from both Shiite and Sunni Muslim branches. It is an interesting reference and gives ideas into culture and thinking, not just the learning of new words. Where two words are repeated, one is from the Shiite glossary, the other the Sunni glossary. And yes, we are working on this and want to make it more pertainent - please bare with us. 30-Days Editors
A B C D E F H I J K M N P Q R S T W Z
An Islamic Glossary: An Explanation of Names, Terms and Symbols
• Aaron: see Harun
• Adam: The first man and the first prophet of Allah
• Adhan: The call for daily ritual prayers (Salat)
• Akhirah: Belief in life after death
• Ali: Son-in-law and cousin of the prophet Muhammad; the one whom the Shiites follow
• Allah: "Allah" is the Arabic word for "God"; it's not God's name - the God of Islam
• Allahu Akbar: "God is the greatest"
• Ayatollah: Means "Sign of God". The highest rank of Shiite clerics
• Ayisha: Muhammad's second wife; daughter of Abu Bakr (1st caliph)
• Azan: The Muslim call to prayer
B | Top
• Basiji: The mobilized - a group of people who are voluntarily mobilized to go to the frontline of battle
• Behesht: Paradise - a place holding pleasure and joy
• Bismillah: "In the name of God" - it's used by Muslims to ask for God's blessing on any action and is found at the start of almost every surah (chapter) of the Holy Qur'an
C | Top
• Caliph: The title of Islamic leaders (sucessors) after Muhammad's death
D | Top
• David: see Dawood
• Dawood: a Prophet of Allah mentioned in the Qur'an and the Old Testament.
• Deen (or Din): Religion or the religion and way of life of Islam
• Du'a: Supplication / A personal prayer to Allah, in contrast to the 5 ritual daily prayer rituals. It's not the same as a wholly spontaneous personal prayer, since particular texts are laid down for various du'as
E | Top
• Eid: Islamic holidays. The four Eids are listed below.
o Eid ul-Adha falls on the tenth day of Dhul Hijjah
o Eid ul-Fitr falls on the 1st day of Shawwal
o Eid-e Ghadeer
o Eid-e Mubahala
F | Top
• Fard: An obligation, something which must be done
• Fatiha: The opening chapter of the Holy Qur'an
• Fatwa: A verdict, especially of a Mujtahid
• Fatwas: "Religious Decrees" Fatwas are given by the highest rank of Muslim clerics and are an interpretation of Islamic law
• Fitrah: The charity due on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, on the night after Ramadhan.
• Five Pillars of Islam: The duties carried out by a Muslim as part of their faith
• Foroo-e-Din: Branches of Islam
H | Top
• Hadith: A saying, action or story of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
• Hajarul Aswad: The Black Stone (see Ka'bah)
• Hajj: The pilgrimage to Mecca that is one of the 5 pillars of Islam. Compulsory for a Muslim once in a lifetime. This happens in the month of Dhu-Ul-Hijja
• Haram: That which is unlawful in Islam. It is necessary to abstain from the acts which are haram.
• Harun: The brother of Musa (Moses) and Prophet of Allah mentioned in the Qur'an
• Hezbollah: Means "the party of Allah". It is one of the leading political parties in Iran
• Hijab: Islamic clothing worn by women to protect their modesty. How much hijab covers is often a matter for local customs
• Hijra: or Hegira or Hijrah: The migration of Muhammad (pbuh) and his followers from Mecca to Yathrib (now Medina)
• Hira: The cave wherein Prophet Muhammad (S) sat for worshipping Allah
I | Top
• Iftar: The breaking of the fast / Breakfast
• Ihram: The state of ritual purity required for undertaking the Hajj or Umra. The special garments worn in this state are also called Ihram
• Imam: A teacher, or leader of the Muslim worship. Leader in Arabic (the term has another meaning in the Shi'a community - Pontiff)
• Imam: A charismatic leader among Shiite Muslims, who believe that in every generation there is an iman who is an infallible source of spiritual and secular guidance. The line of imans ended in the 9th century, and since then the ayatollahs serve as the collective caretakers of the office until the retun of the expected iman
• Injil: The New Testament
• Iqamah: The announcement of the beginning of prayer
• Isa: The son of Mariam (Mary). He is a prophet of Allah. (Isa means Jesus)
• Ishmael: see Ismaeel
• Islam: The faith of Muslims - it actually means "surrender or submission to Allah"
• Ismaeel: The son of Abraham, Prophet of Allah and the father of the Arabs.
J | Top
• Jesus: see Isa
• Jihad: Muslims use the word Jihad to describe three different kinds of struggle: a believer's internal struggle to live out the Muslim faith as well as possible; the struggle to build a good Muslim society and the struggle to defend Islam, with force if necessary (Holy War)
• Jihad: A holy war (striving or fighting in the way of Allah) by the order of the Imam
• Jinn: A type of creature having, like humans, free will / The belief of angels and evil spirits
• Jum'ah: Friday
K | Top
• Ka'bah: The cubic house built more than 3000 years ago in Mecca, towards which all Muslims face for their Salat (prayer). It contains the Hajarul Aswad or the Black Stone
• Kaffarah: Alms to be given as penance on different occasions
• Khums: "a fifth", obligatory tax-like charity
• Kifie: An obligatory Islamic rule. If one person performs the act, then it is not required for others to perform. For example, the burial of a deceased Muslim is obligatory on any one person to perform
• Koran: The Islamic holy book (Qur'n or Qur'an)
M | Top
• Madina (Medina): means city, and Medinatu'l Nabi (the city of the Prophet) was the name taken by the citizens of Yathrib, the town to which Muhammed migrated during Hijrah
• Mahdi (Arabic, 'divinely guided one') The name given by Sunni Muslims to those who periodically revitalize the Muslim community. Sunnis look forward to a time before the Last Day when a Mahdi will appear and establish a reign of justice on earth. Shiites identify the Mahdi with the expected reappearance of the hidden Iman.
• Mecca (Makkah): Islamic holy city in Mecca province, Saudi Arabia, 64km / 40 miles east of its Red Sea port Jedda. Birthplace of Muhammad and site of the Kaba. Between 1.5 and 2 million pilgrims visit Mecca annually. The city is closed to non-Muslims.
• Minaret: The tower of a Mosque from which the call to prayer is made
• Minbar: The pulpit in a Mosque
• Mihrab: A niche in a Mosque showing the direction of Mecca
• Moses: see Musa
• Mosque (Masjid) : A building (or place) where Muslims worship together
• Muhammad (S.A.W.) is the Last of the Messengers of Allah to mankind
• Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar
• Mullah (Arabic, 'master') In Islam, a scholar, teacher or man of religious piety and learning. It is also a title of respect given to those performing duties related to Islamic Lay.
• Muezzin: The official who calls people to prayer
• Musa: a Prophet of Allah mentioned in the Qur'an and the Old Testament
• Muslim: A follower of the Islamic faith
N | Top
• Nafilah: Recommended prayers after or before the daily obligatory Salat
• Naar: The fire of Hell
• Niyya: The declaration of one's sincere intention to worship (this is usually made silently in one's mind)
• Noah: see Nuh
• Nuh was a prophet of Allah mentioned in the Qur'and and the Old Testament
P | Top
• pbuh: "Peace be upon him" - used after the name of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to indicate one's respect (also used after the names of other prophets)
• pbut: "Peace be upon them" - plural of pbuh
Q | Top
• Qiyam: The standing during the Salat for recitation of Suratul Hamd and the second Surah, and the standing after the Ruku'
• Qiyamat: The day of Resurrection
• Quiblah: The direction of Mecca
• Qur'an: The Holy Book of Islam
R | Top
• Rajab: The seventh month of the Islamic calendar
• Ramadan: The month of fasting / the ninth and holiest month of the islamic calendar
• Ruku: The bow made in salat
S | Top
• S.A.W. stands for Sallal-lahu 'alayhi wa-alihi wa-sallam in Arabic, and means Blessings and peace of God be with him and his household. It is a prayer which is said after the name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.)
• Sadaquah: Voluntary giving to charity, as opposed to the Zakat charity required in Islam
• Salam: A salutation. It is also the last recitation at the end of Salat
• Salat (Salah): The obligatory ritual prayer carried out five times a day
• Salat-ul-Jum'a: Friday prayer at a mosque
• Sawm: Fasting during daylight
• Shaabaan: The eighth month of the Islamic calendar
• Shahadah: The Muslim declaration of faith - "There is no God but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God."
• Shaitan: Satan, the enemy of mankind
• Sharia (Shari'a): the sacred law of Islam, applies to all aspects of life, not just religious practices
• Shawwal: The 10th month of the Islamic calendar
• Shi'a (Shiites or Shi'at Ali): Prominent in Iran and Iraq. After the murder of Ali, the son-in-law and nephew of the Prophet Mohammed, his followers continued to support his claim to the Muslim caliphate and became known as Shi'at or Shi'a Ali ('partisans of Ali'). They believe that Ali and his followers were both temporal rulers and Imans. The most important group is the 'Twelver' Shiites, who believe that there were twelve imans - Ali and his descendents - after Muhammed, and that the twelfth did not die, but disappeared, and one day will return to bring justice to the world. The dispute over leadership of the new Islamic world after the prophet's death in the seventh century led to the biggest schism ever within Islam. Compare to Sunni
• Shi'a: A follower of the twelve Imams (A.S.) (20%)
• Sujud (Sajdah): The prostration position in prayer, with forehead, nose, hands, knees, and toes all touching the ground
• Sufism: The mystical movement in Islam ( follower of it is called a Sufi)
• Sunni (Sunnis): Islamic movement representing 'orthodoxy' in Islam. They comprise about 80 per cent of all Muslims. They recognize the first four caliphs as following the right course (rashidun) and base their sunnah ('path' of the Prophet Mohammed) upon the Koran and the Hadith or 'traditions' of the prophet. They are organized into four legal schools. The other major Islamic group is made up of Shiites
• Sura(h): Any chapter of the 114 in the Holy Qur'an (Koran). It literally means a sign or revelation
T | Top
• Tafseer: A term used for a commentary of any book, specifically the Holy Qur'an
• Tahur: The cave wherein Prophet Muhammad (S) stayed before finally migrating to Madinah
• Takbir: The process of concentrating on prayer to the exclusion of everything else
• Takbirah: Saying "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the Greatest)
• Tawaf: Going round the Ka'ba seven times on Hajj or Umra
W | Top
• Wahhabis (Muwahhidun or unitarians): An Islamic movement which derives from Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, a religoius reformer from Uyaina near Riyadh, and Muhammad ibn Saud, the ancestor of the present rulers of Saudi Arabia. The alliance led to the unification in the 18th-c of most of the peninsula under the Saudi banner. The modern reunification of the Kingdom was carried out in 1902-32 by King Abd al-Aziz, known as Ibn Saud. The movement maintains that legal decisions must be based exclusively on the Qur'an and the Sunna
• Wudhu (Wudu): Ritual / spiritual wash of the face and hands before Salat
Z | Top
• Zakat (Zakah): Compulsory donation of a set proportion of one's savings
Tarim Yilpizi
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. It is during this month that Muslims observe the Fast of Ramadan. Dates for Ramadan 2005 are 05 October thru 03 November.
The first evening of Ramadan
In many places around the world Muslims will be looking to the heavens this evening. They will be interested in knowing if they will be able to see the crescent moon. If it is visible this will be the signal for the beginning of the month of Ramadan. (In most countries religious authorities will make a proclamation concerning the beginning of Ramadan). No fasting will take place till tomorrow morning. Muslims will rise early to eat their breakfast before the day begins. Afterwards they will not have anything else to eat or drink till nightfall. This will be their daily experience during the next 30 days.
Fasting - Ramazan
Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of the religion of Islam and one of the highest forms of Islamic worship. Abstinence from earthly pleasures and curbing evil intentions and desires is regarded as an act of obedience and submission to God as well as an atonement for sins, errors, and mistakes. Called Ramadan (or Ramazan), Muslims fast during this holy month from the moment when it first starts to get light until sunset. Muslims fast as an act of faith and worship towards Allah, seeking to suppress their desires and increase their spiritual piety. Fasting together as a worldwide community - Ummah - affirms the brotherhood and equality of man before Allah.
Islamic Calendar
The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle. The month of Ramadan is the ninth month and begins with a combination of the sighting of the new moon and astronomical calculations. The exact time of Ramadan sometimes varies from place to place as some rely heavily on the moon sightings while others depend on science. An Imam (Muslim holy man) will declare the exact time of Ramadan just prior to its commencement. The fasting period ends upon the sighting of the next new moon, which occurs after 29 or 30 days.
The Meaning of Ramadan
The name Ramadan is derived from the Arabic word ramida or ar-ramad, denoting intense scorching heat and dryness, especially the ground. From the same word there is ramdaa, meaning 'sunbaked sand' and the famous proverb Kal Mustajeer minar ramadaa binnar - to jump out of the frying pan into the fire. Some say it is so called because Ramadan scorches out the sins with good deeds, as the sun burns the ground.
The Special Feeling of Ramadan
Ramadan brings out a special feeling of emotional excitement and religious zeal among Muslims of all ages. Though fasting is mandatory only for adults, children as young as eight willingly observe fasting with their elders. Children look forward to the excitement of sighting the moon and eating special meals with their families. Adults appreciate the opportunity to double their rewards from God and seek forgiveness for past sins. As Ramadan emphasizes Muslim brotherhood and community all feel a particular closeness.
Muslims have to change their whole physical and emotional selves during this 30 long days of fasting. A typical day of fasting begins with getting up early, around 4:30a.m. and sharing a meal called Sahur together before the fast begins at dawn, about 5:10a.m. As dawn breaks, the first of five daily prayers, Fajr, is offered.
As the day proceeds, fasting Muslims are constantly bombarded with messages from their stomachs that it is time for breakfast, snack, lunch, and so on. And each time, Muslims remind themselves that they are fasting for the sole purpose of pleasing Allah and seeking his mercy. They offer the second and third prayers during early and late afternoon, respectively.
Fasting helps one to experience how a hungry person feels and what it is like to have an empty stomach. It teaches one to share the sufferings of the less fortunate. Muslims believe that fasting leads one to appreciate the bounties of Allah, which are usually taken for granted - until they are missed!
Throughout the day Muslims are encouraged to go out of their way to help the needy, both financially and emotionally. Some believe that a reward earned during this month is multiplied 70 times and more. For this reason, Ramadan is also known as the month of charity and generosity.
To a Muslim, fasting not only means abstaining from food, but also refraining from all vice and evils committed consciously or unconsciously. It is believed that if one volunteers to refrain from lawful foods and sex, they will be in a better position to avoid unlawful things and acts during the rest of the year.
Breaking The Daily Fast During Ramadan
The fast is broken at sunset. The Prophet Muhammad recommended breaking the fast with dates. Muslims are urged to invite others to break the fast with them. These gatherings are called Iftar parties.
Just after breaking the fast, and before dinner, Muslims offer the fourth of the five daily prayers, which is called the Maghrib prayer. After dinner, Muslims go to their houses of worship, called Mosques, to offer the Isha prayer, which is the last of the five daily prayers. The day ends with a special voluntary prayer, the Taraweeh, offered by the congregation reciting the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam.
The Last 10 Days of Ramadan
The last ten days of Ramadan are considered highly blessed, especially the 27th night which is also called the 'Night of Power', or the 'Night of Destiny'. It is believed that on this night the prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Qur'an. For many Muslims, this period is marked by a heightened spiritual intensity and they may spend these nights praying and reciting the Qur'an.
After 30 days of fasting, the end of the month of Ramadan is observed with a day of celebration, called Eid-ul-Fitr. On this day, Muslims gather in one place to offer a prayer of thanks. It is traditional to wear new clothes, visit friends and relatives, exchange gifts, eat delicious dishes prepared for this occasion, and wait patiently for the next year.
What Muslims Believe - The Five Pillars of Islam
Muslims believe in Allah and that he is unique, all powerful, gracious and merciful to all Muslims.
The Islamic faith is lived out according to five ‘pillars’ that must be adhered to if one is to hope for salvation.
The Five Pillars of Islam are:
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) - Both 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.
The pilgrims who came to Mecca should walk around Ka'aba ("Cube") 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 today.
The Hajj Pilgrimage - Journey of a Lifetime
One fifth of humankind shares a single aspiration to complete, at least once, the spiritual journey called the Hajj. In Arabic, Hajj literally means “a resolve” ie; to resolve to some magnificent duty.
Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Countless millions of Muslims, men and women from the four corners of the earth, have made the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam. In carrying out this journey they fulfill one of the five “pillars” of Islam (or central religious duties of a believer). The Prophet Muhammed said, “He who performs the Hajj with no obscenity or evil practices will come out as a newly born baby free from all sins”. For the Muslims, the pilgrimage is therefore much more than something to be done. It is a sacred and revered journey. Yet without it they have less chance of getting into paradise.
Spiritual Climax
Whether a pilgrim spends years walking from his nomadic home in Africa, or several hours on a plane from Asia, there is little doubt that the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, will be the spiritual climax of his life. The pilgrimage takes place every year to commemorate Abraham’s attempted sacrifice of his son (who Muslims believe was Ishmael, rather than Isaac). The Hajj month, lasting for 30 days, begins two months and ten days after Ramadan.
Preparation
Before setting out a pilgrim should redress all wrongs, pay all debts and plan to have enough funds for his own journey and for the maintenance of his family while he is away. Certain Governments even allocate funds to assist pilgrims. Many religious rites are performed according to the Qur'an and tradition. The pictures we usually see are of a great throng of humanity circling the Ka’bah (a cubical structure made of stone). Their circling of the Ka’bah, the symbol of God’s oneness, implies that all human activity must have God at its centre. It also symbolizes the unity of God and man. It is circled seven times and a prayer is recited each time round. According to some traditions, the Ka’bah is the sole remnant of the original structure built by Abraham and Ishmael. While making their circuits pilgrims may kiss or touch the black stone. Perhaps the single most important reason for kissing the stone is that Muhammed did so.
Stoning of Satan
Another rite is The Stoning of Satan. According to the Qur'an, Satan tempted Abraham and Ishmael three times to stop the sacrifice. Each time they responded by throwing stones at Satan. As pilgrims throw seven pebbles at the three pillars, they remember the story of Satan’s attempt to persuade Abraham to disregard God’s command to sacrifice Ishmael. Throwing the pebbles is symbolic of a humans’ attempt to cast away evil and vice, the number seven symbolising infinity.
Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power) holiest of all
Muslim scholars believe that while the Qur'an was revealed over a period of 23 years the Night of Power is considered the night in which the first revelations of Islam and the prophethood of Muhammed began. This night is in celebration of the arrival of the Qur'an.
In Arabic, Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power) is described in the Qur'an as, “better than a thousand months” (Sura 97:3). Al-Qadr means power and implies having power over something, particularly to Allah. The character of Allah is excellence in power, capable, all powerful, almighty. It also implies ‘high esteem’ and thus the Night of Power is to be highly esteemed.
When does it occur?
It is often a point of debate among Muslim scholars as to when exactly the Night of Power occurs. Some scholars say that this night is hidden. Some say it occurs on either the 1st, 7th or 19th night of Ramadan. However, there is strong evidence that the night occurs during the last 10 days of Ramadan, specifically on odd numbered nights. In a report by Bukhari, Muhammed said, “Seek it on the odd nights of the last 10 days of Ramadan.” In Hadith by Ubayy bin Ka’ab, Muhammed also said, “By Allah, I know which night it is. It is the night the Messenger commanded us to observe, the night of the 27th.”
Muslims believe angels perform special deeds on this night
The whole Night of Power, from sunset to dawn, is the holiest night of the year. It is believed that there are groups of special angels who are only seen on the Night of Power. These angels perform special purposes. Some come down for worship, others for granting the request of the believing Muslim. Other angels come down bringing with them proclamations of the coming year.
Today, many Muslims think this is a special night when God gives heed to their requests. Often they are open to dreams and visions as they seek for guidance and revelation. Many Muslims pray all night seeking a response to specific requests. One common belief is that angels will shower down the peace and blessings of God on all who remain awake during this ‘night of power’. According to the Qur’an, God either listens directly or via the angel Gabriel, to the requests of Muslims concerning their fate.
As Muhammed had his destiny fulfilled by receiving the revelation of the Qur’an on this night, Muslims also call this the “Night of Destiny”. This night seems equally important among orthodox Muslims and in Folk Islam. It is on this night, and during the following weeks, that many Muslims have had supernatural encounters with God.
Muslims are encouraged to stay awake the entire night, and pray for blessings and forgiveness. According to Abu Huraira translation of the Hadith, the Prophet Muhamed declared that “whoever prays during the Night of Power with faith and hoping for its reward will have all his previous sins forgiven.” There are many things that a Muslim will endeavour to do on the Night of Power including recite and study the Quran, make special requests from Allah, evaluate their own lives and make plans for the next year.
Some Muslims will take the day off work so they can stay up all night and will often spend this night in the mosque.
Glossary of Islamic Terms
PLEASE NOTE :: This Islamic Glossary was compiled from both Shiite and Sunni Muslim branches. It is an interesting reference and gives ideas into culture and thinking, not just the learning of new words. Where two words are repeated, one is from the Shiite glossary, the other the Sunni glossary. And yes, we are working on this and want to make it more pertainent - please bare with us. 30-Days Editors
A B C D E F H I J K M N P Q R S T W Z
An Islamic Glossary: An Explanation of Names, Terms and Symbols
• Aaron: see Harun
• Adam: The first man and the first prophet of Allah
• Adhan: The call for daily ritual prayers (Salat)
• Akhirah: Belief in life after death
• Ali: Son-in-law and cousin of the prophet Muhammad; the one whom the Shiites follow
• Allah: "Allah" is the Arabic word for "God"; it's not God's name - the God of Islam
• Allahu Akbar: "God is the greatest"
• Ayatollah: Means "Sign of God". The highest rank of Shiite clerics
• Ayisha: Muhammad's second wife; daughter of Abu Bakr (1st caliph)
• Azan: The Muslim call to prayer
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• Basiji: The mobilized - a group of people who are voluntarily mobilized to go to the frontline of battle
• Behesht: Paradise - a place holding pleasure and joy
• Bismillah: "In the name of God" - it's used by Muslims to ask for God's blessing on any action and is found at the start of almost every surah (chapter) of the Holy Qur'an
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• Caliph: The title of Islamic leaders (sucessors) after Muhammad's death
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• David: see Dawood
• Dawood: a Prophet of Allah mentioned in the Qur'an and the Old Testament.
• Deen (or Din): Religion or the religion and way of life of Islam
• Du'a: Supplication / A personal prayer to Allah, in contrast to the 5 ritual daily prayer rituals. It's not the same as a wholly spontaneous personal prayer, since particular texts are laid down for various du'as
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• Eid: Islamic holidays. The four Eids are listed below.
o Eid ul-Adha falls on the tenth day of Dhul Hijjah
o Eid ul-Fitr falls on the 1st day of Shawwal
o Eid-e Ghadeer
o Eid-e Mubahala
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• Fard: An obligation, something which must be done
• Fatiha: The opening chapter of the Holy Qur'an
• Fatwa: A verdict, especially of a Mujtahid
• Fatwas: "Religious Decrees" Fatwas are given by the highest rank of Muslim clerics and are an interpretation of Islamic law
• Fitrah: The charity due on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, on the night after Ramadhan.
• Five Pillars of Islam: The duties carried out by a Muslim as part of their faith
• Foroo-e-Din: Branches of Islam
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• Hadith: A saying, action or story of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
• Hajarul Aswad: The Black Stone (see Ka'bah)
• Hajj: The pilgrimage to Mecca that is one of the 5 pillars of Islam. Compulsory for a Muslim once in a lifetime. This happens in the month of Dhu-Ul-Hijja
• Haram: That which is unlawful in Islam. It is necessary to abstain from the acts which are haram.
• Harun: The brother of Musa (Moses) and Prophet of Allah mentioned in the Qur'an
• Hezbollah: Means "the party of Allah". It is one of the leading political parties in Iran
• Hijab: Islamic clothing worn by women to protect their modesty. How much hijab covers is often a matter for local customs
• Hijra: or Hegira or Hijrah: The migration of Muhammad (pbuh) and his followers from Mecca to Yathrib (now Medina)
• Hira: The cave wherein Prophet Muhammad (S) sat for worshipping Allah
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• Iftar: The breaking of the fast / Breakfast
• Ihram: The state of ritual purity required for undertaking the Hajj or Umra. The special garments worn in this state are also called Ihram
• Imam: A teacher, or leader of the Muslim worship. Leader in Arabic (the term has another meaning in the Shi'a community - Pontiff)
• Imam: A charismatic leader among Shiite Muslims, who believe that in every generation there is an iman who is an infallible source of spiritual and secular guidance. The line of imans ended in the 9th century, and since then the ayatollahs serve as the collective caretakers of the office until the retun of the expected iman
• Injil: The New Testament
• Iqamah: The announcement of the beginning of prayer
• Isa: The son of Mariam (Mary). He is a prophet of Allah. (Isa means Jesus)
• Ishmael: see Ismaeel
• Islam: The faith of Muslims - it actually means "surrender or submission to Allah"
• Ismaeel: The son of Abraham, Prophet of Allah and the father of the Arabs.
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• Jesus: see Isa
• Jihad: Muslims use the word Jihad to describe three different kinds of struggle: a believer's internal struggle to live out the Muslim faith as well as possible; the struggle to build a good Muslim society and the struggle to defend Islam, with force if necessary (Holy War)
• Jihad: A holy war (striving or fighting in the way of Allah) by the order of the Imam
• Jinn: A type of creature having, like humans, free will / The belief of angels and evil spirits
• Jum'ah: Friday
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• Ka'bah: The cubic house built more than 3000 years ago in Mecca, towards which all Muslims face for their Salat (prayer). It contains the Hajarul Aswad or the Black Stone
• Kaffarah: Alms to be given as penance on different occasions
• Khums: "a fifth", obligatory tax-like charity
• Kifie: An obligatory Islamic rule. If one person performs the act, then it is not required for others to perform. For example, the burial of a deceased Muslim is obligatory on any one person to perform
• Koran: The Islamic holy book (Qur'n or Qur'an)
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• Madina (Medina): means city, and Medinatu'l Nabi (the city of the Prophet) was the name taken by the citizens of Yathrib, the town to which Muhammed migrated during Hijrah
• Mahdi (Arabic, 'divinely guided one') The name given by Sunni Muslims to those who periodically revitalize the Muslim community. Sunnis look forward to a time before the Last Day when a Mahdi will appear and establish a reign of justice on earth. Shiites identify the Mahdi with the expected reappearance of the hidden Iman.
• Mecca (Makkah): Islamic holy city in Mecca province, Saudi Arabia, 64km / 40 miles east of its Red Sea port Jedda. Birthplace of Muhammad and site of the Kaba. Between 1.5 and 2 million pilgrims visit Mecca annually. The city is closed to non-Muslims.
• Minaret: The tower of a Mosque from which the call to prayer is made
• Minbar: The pulpit in a Mosque
• Mihrab: A niche in a Mosque showing the direction of Mecca
• Moses: see Musa
• Mosque (Masjid) : A building (or place) where Muslims worship together
• Muhammad (S.A.W.) is the Last of the Messengers of Allah to mankind
• Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar
• Mullah (Arabic, 'master') In Islam, a scholar, teacher or man of religious piety and learning. It is also a title of respect given to those performing duties related to Islamic Lay.
• Muezzin: The official who calls people to prayer
• Musa: a Prophet of Allah mentioned in the Qur'an and the Old Testament
• Muslim: A follower of the Islamic faith
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• Nafilah: Recommended prayers after or before the daily obligatory Salat
• Naar: The fire of Hell
• Niyya: The declaration of one's sincere intention to worship (this is usually made silently in one's mind)
• Noah: see Nuh
• Nuh was a prophet of Allah mentioned in the Qur'and and the Old Testament
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• pbuh: "Peace be upon him" - used after the name of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to indicate one's respect (also used after the names of other prophets)
• pbut: "Peace be upon them" - plural of pbuh
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• Qiyam: The standing during the Salat for recitation of Suratul Hamd and the second Surah, and the standing after the Ruku'
• Qiyamat: The day of Resurrection
• Quiblah: The direction of Mecca
• Qur'an: The Holy Book of Islam
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• Rajab: The seventh month of the Islamic calendar
• Ramadan: The month of fasting / the ninth and holiest month of the islamic calendar
• Ruku: The bow made in salat
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• S.A.W. stands for Sallal-lahu 'alayhi wa-alihi wa-sallam in Arabic, and means Blessings and peace of God be with him and his household. It is a prayer which is said after the name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.)
• Sadaquah: Voluntary giving to charity, as opposed to the Zakat charity required in Islam
• Salam: A salutation. It is also the last recitation at the end of Salat
• Salat (Salah): The obligatory ritual prayer carried out five times a day
• Salat-ul-Jum'a: Friday prayer at a mosque
• Sawm: Fasting during daylight
• Shaabaan: The eighth month of the Islamic calendar
• Shahadah: The Muslim declaration of faith - "There is no God but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God."
• Shaitan: Satan, the enemy of mankind
• Sharia (Shari'a): the sacred law of Islam, applies to all aspects of life, not just religious practices
• Shawwal: The 10th month of the Islamic calendar
• Shi'a (Shiites or Shi'at Ali): Prominent in Iran and Iraq. After the murder of Ali, the son-in-law and nephew of the Prophet Mohammed, his followers continued to support his claim to the Muslim caliphate and became known as Shi'at or Shi'a Ali ('partisans of Ali'). They believe that Ali and his followers were both temporal rulers and Imans. The most important group is the 'Twelver' Shiites, who believe that there were twelve imans - Ali and his descendents - after Muhammed, and that the twelfth did not die, but disappeared, and one day will return to bring justice to the world. The dispute over leadership of the new Islamic world after the prophet's death in the seventh century led to the biggest schism ever within Islam. Compare to Sunni
• Shi'a: A follower of the twelve Imams (A.S.) (20%)
• Sujud (Sajdah): The prostration position in prayer, with forehead, nose, hands, knees, and toes all touching the ground
• Sufism: The mystical movement in Islam ( follower of it is called a Sufi)
• Sunni (Sunnis): Islamic movement representing 'orthodoxy' in Islam. They comprise about 80 per cent of all Muslims. They recognize the first four caliphs as following the right course (rashidun) and base their sunnah ('path' of the Prophet Mohammed) upon the Koran and the Hadith or 'traditions' of the prophet. They are organized into four legal schools. The other major Islamic group is made up of Shiites
• Sura(h): Any chapter of the 114 in the Holy Qur'an (Koran). It literally means a sign or revelation
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• Tafseer: A term used for a commentary of any book, specifically the Holy Qur'an
• Tahur: The cave wherein Prophet Muhammad (S) stayed before finally migrating to Madinah
• Takbir: The process of concentrating on prayer to the exclusion of everything else
• Takbirah: Saying "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the Greatest)
• Tawaf: Going round the Ka'ba seven times on Hajj or Umra
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• Wahhabis (Muwahhidun or unitarians): An Islamic movement which derives from Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, a religoius reformer from Uyaina near Riyadh, and Muhammad ibn Saud, the ancestor of the present rulers of Saudi Arabia. The alliance led to the unification in the 18th-c of most of the peninsula under the Saudi banner. The modern reunification of the Kingdom was carried out in 1902-32 by King Abd al-Aziz, known as Ibn Saud. The movement maintains that legal decisions must be based exclusively on the Qur'an and the Sunna
• Wudhu (Wudu): Ritual / spiritual wash of the face and hands before Salat
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• Zakat (Zakah): Compulsory donation of a set proportion of one's savings
Tarim Yilpizi