Ramadan Diaries: The Month of Ramadan
The Blessed Month of Ramadan
شهر رمضان المبارك
The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan), he must fast that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number (of days which one did not fast must be made up) from other days. Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him” Quran 2: 185
It’s the most anticipated month of the year and there’s always a special hustle and bustle right before it begins. Mosques, streets, supermarkets and homes hang lanterns and put up the special khayamiah and tables for feeding iftar are laid in the streets. Its a month for community, for worship and for spiritual advances.
The month of Ramadan also hosts a very special night, that Allah has described as better than 1000 months: Leilat al Qadr, or the night of Al Qadr when the Angel Garbriel PBUH first revealed the Quran to the prophet Mohamed PBUH. The prophet PBUH also said it’s a time when the all gates of heaven are open and all gates of hell are shut.
The month of Ramadan is part of the Islamic calendar. It is a lunar one, in which months begin with the sighting of the crescent of the new moon and that’s why Ramadan comes a bit earlier every year. It is regarded as the holiest month of the year and fasting it is one of the five pillars of Islam.
For all Muslims fasting usually begins with sunrise and ends at sunset. During that time, Muslims are not allowed to eat or drink. But fasting really goes beyond food and drink. It is a time to abstain from all bad and worldly habits. Fasting includes controlling one’s temper, not gossiping and striving to worship Allah in as many ways as possible such as being kind, giving out money to the poor and most of all praying and reading Quran.
In Egypt, all working communities change their hours to accommodate the month. People get out of their jobs earlier and Ramadan traffic is observed. Although work goes much slower during the month, its history proves that it was a month of hard work and glorious events in Muslim history. It was the month when the Battle of Badr, in which Muslims won, took place and its events are related in the Quran.
Whether in Egypt or abroad any where in the world, Ramadan is a time when all Muslims are united in timing, worship and habit. It is also a time of forgiveness, of abolition of all sins, and of spiritual ascent. Most of all it’s a time to feel the kindness, love and generosity of Allah on all his subjects. Ramadan Kareem everyone and Allahu Akram.
Posted in Semitic Language - Arabic
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