Ramadan is a very important time in the Islamic calendar, and Muslims all over the world will be preparing to take part. As with last year, Ramadan will be a bit different this year, as the coronavirus pandemic means there are restrictions on what people can do. Although communal worship is allowed across the UK, social distancing must be enforced and different households cannot mix indoors. This is because of worldwide 'lockdowns' which are helping to stop the spread of the disease. Read on to find out more about what Muslims traditionally do during this month, and why it is so important to them.
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims won't eat or drink between dawn and sunset. This is called fasting. Fasting is important during Ramadan as it allows Muslims to devote themselves to their faith and come closer to Allah, or God.
Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which form the basis of how Muslims live their lives. The other pillars are faith, prayer, charity and making the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. Ramadan is also a time for spiritual reflection, prayer, doing good deeds and spending time with family and friends. Normally, people will make a special effort to connect with their communities and reach out to people who need help.
It is common to have a meal known as the suhoor just before dawn and another known as the iftar directly after sunset. At the end of the fast - when the sun has gone down - usually, families and friends will get together for iftar to break their fast.
During Ramadan, Muslims aim to grow spiritually and build stronger relationships with Allah. They do this by praying and reciting the Quran, making their actions intentional and selfless, and abstaining from gossiping, lying, and fighting.
See how American Muslims celebrate Ramadan. Throughout the month Muslims fast, also refraining from drinking and sexual intercourse between sunrise and sunset. Fasting is obligatory for all Muslims, except for the ill, pregnant, traveling, elderly, or menstruating.
Days missed fasting can be made up throughout the rest of the year, either all at once or one day here and there.
Read about Ramadan with your kids. Meals are opportunities for Muslims to gather with others in the community and break their fast together. Pre-dawn breakfast, or suhoor , usually occurs at a. The evening meal, iftar , can begin once the sunset prayer, Maghreb , is finished—normally around Since the Prophet Mohammad broke his fast with dates and a glass of water, Muslims eat dates at both suhoor and iftar.
A staple of the Middle East, dates are rich in nutrients , easy to digest, and provide the body with sugar after a long day of fasting. During these three days of festivities, participants gather to pray, eat, exchange gifts, and pay their respects to deceased relatives. Some cities host carnivals and large prayer gatherings, too. This year, the coronavirus pandemic is disrupting Ramadan observances across the world, closing mosques and upending plans for traditional suhoor and iftar gatherings.
But while celebrations might be subdued this year, the spirit of this centuries-old tradition will remain the same for many as a time for piety and self-reflection. Shahadah : believing there is no deity but God and prophet Mohammad peace be upon him as his messenger. All rights reserved. Sultan Ahmed Mosque Blue Mosque Constructed during the early 17th century, Istanbul's most photogenic building gets its nickname from the blue tiles adorning the interior.
The Five Pillars of Islam. These guidelines are fundamental to the lives of Muslims. One of the five pillars of Islam - along with faith, prayer, charity and the pilgrimage - Ramadan commemorates the Quran first being revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, a sacred moment honoured with abstinence between sunrise and sunset.
Here we look at what the ritual means for Muslims, why worshippers fast and why the date alters from one year to another. The tablets of Ibrahim, the Torah, the Psalms, the Gospel and the Quran were sent down on the 1st, 6th, 12th, 13th and 24th days of Ramadan, according to the faith.
Ramadan in the UK for will begin on the evening of Monday 12 April and end on evening of Wednesday 12 May, when Eid is celebrated. As lunar months are shorter than solar, the Islamic calendar does not correspond with the Gregorian calendar followed in the West and means Ramadan occurs around 11 days earlier every year.
The period takes place in the ninth month of the Islamic year. Its precise date also varies from country to country by about a day, depending on when the moon is sighted.
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