The holy month of Ramadan or Ramzan is the most important month in the
Muslim calendar. It unites all Muslims in fasting, feasting, worship and
prayer. It is a time for contemplation, spirituality and brotherhood.
According to the Muslim calendar Ramzan is the ninth month. As per
legend, the Holy Koran was revealed in this month. Ramzan is thus
regarded as highly auspicious and fasting and prayers mark this month.
Muslims keep a fast every day during Ramzan. The rituals associated with
Id and Ramzan have remained unchanged for centuries. Still today also
Muslims around the world celebrate the holy month of Ramzan with total
dedication and devotion. Often, after the afternoon prayer at the
mosque, religious lectures are held here. Prayer services are also held
here each night during the month of Ramzan. A small portion of the Koran
is read during each service, so that the entire book is complete by the
end of the month. Ramzan is similar to Lent, in the sense that it is a
period of abstinence and self-restraint. It also entails fasting from
dawn to dusk, and every Muslim, except those who are unwell, too old, or
unable to fast due to other health or circumstantial reasons such as
travel, pregnancy or nursing, keeps the fast. Small children are not
expected to fast, but many parents like to make older children around
the age of eight fast for a few hours a day during this period, just so
they get accustomed to the rituals of self-restraint and build up their
will power, so it is easier for them to fast later on.
The reason behind fasting during this time dates back to the time when
the Prophet Mohammed left Mecca and undertook the journey to Medina in
622 AD, to join the other Muslims who had migrated to Medina to escape
persecution in Mecca. During this period, he fasted for three days. Many
years later, He was to receive a revelation from God, which stated that
all followers of the Islam faith fasted for a certain number of days.
Fasting also purports to reduce the barriers between the rich and the
poor, by creating an understanding of the sufferings the poor undergo.
But we often don't understand the connection between Id and Ramzan the
answer to this is Id-ul-Fitr is a festival that marks the end of the
Ramzan period, and usually falls on a new moon night, in the month of
April or May. On this day, Muslims gather in large groups at mosques,
and offer their prayers or namaz. Id is one of the most important
festivals in the Muslim religion. On this day, Muslims from around the
world dress up in new clothes to celebrate Id with great enthusiasm and
joy. Id celebrates the breaking of the Ramzan fast, which is why the
word Fitr, which means 'to break' is use. People greet each other with
the words "Id Mubarak", and embrace three times. Women prepare
delicious sweetmeats at home, and vermicelli kheer (sweetened milk) is a
popular dish. Muslims also pay tribute to their ancestors during this
time. It is the celebration of brotherhood and love among each other.
The festival breaks the barrier between the poor and the rich as all
celebrates the festival with equal excitement and joy.
