~ Reetu Bajaj ’12
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, in which every month begins with the sighting of the new moon. For over a billion Muslims around the world, Ramadan is a “month of blessing” marked by prayer, fasting, and charity. It’s primary focus is on self-sacrifice and devotion to Allah.
Muslims believe that throughout the month of Ramadan, Allah revealed the first verses of the Qur’an, the holy book of Islam. At many mosques during Ramadan, around 1/13 of the Qur’an is recited each night in prayers known as tarawih. Thus, by the end of the month, the complete scripture would have been read.
Fasting, known as sawm, occurs during the entire month of Ramadan. Thus, one must not eat nor drink while the sun is up. Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, or the five duties of Islam. Families wake up early to eat a meal before the sun rises (suhoor) and after the sun sets, the fast is broken with another meal (iftar). There are many reasons behind why Muslims fast, one of them being a reminder of the suffering of the poor. Fasting also teaches the body of self-control.
Ramadan ends with the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which occurred on September 21st. This event, literally meaning “Festival of Breaking the Fast,” is one of the two most important Islamic celebrations (the other being the Hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca). Eid al-Fitr is marked with the best of clothes, decorations, tasty treats, and visits from friends and family. It is also to be noted that as the month comes to an end, Muslims are obligated to share their blessings by feeding the poor and making contributions to the mosques.