Thursday, May 19, 2011

Ramadan is a holy month for muslims

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims. According to the Islamic calendar Ramadan comes in the ninth month every year. It is a time of fasting from dawn to dusk daily. During this holy month Muslims give up food and drink during the daytime. It is a month where each one devotes themselves to praise, worship and honor God. This is normally done by saying your prayers five times a day or going to the mosque. During Ramadan we should be devoted to God by praying and visiting the mosque. In Ramadan we read the Quran more often as we know that the gates of heaven are opened and hell is closed. There are a lot of beliefs attached to this month that is a great festival for all Muslims. Ramadan is the holiest month of all as it was during this month that the Holy Quran was bestowed to our Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) from heaven. Ramadan according to Islam is also of great importance as it is one of the five pillars of Islam; the pillars are a set standard for all Muslims which are compulsory to follow. It is an obligation that all Muslims should fast during this entire month.

Following are the five pillars of Islam.
1)    Recitation of the Apostles' Creed (Shahada) twice – that ‘There is no God except Allah "and" the Prophet Mohammed is his prophet.

2)    Prayer (Salat) is said five times a day facing towards the Holy city of Mecca.

3)    Charity (Zakat) – is a donation which is compulsory and an obligation for every Muslim as it is the giving of arms to the poor and needy.

4)    Fasting (Saum) – Is obligatory in the Holy month of Ramadan.

5)    Pilgrimage (Hajj) – Has to be done once in your life time. It is the visit to the Holy city in Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Important during Hajj:
Muslims performing Hajj it is important that you should walk around the Kaaba seven times, kiss and touch the black stone as it is affiliated to a religious significance before Muhammad was born. In this one point Muhammad used this as a practice and it became one of the five pillars of Islam.

Those who are the followers of Islam are expected to refrain from eating and drinking during Ramadan. Under some circumstances Muslims are exempted from fasting they are as follows. Including:
  • Children below the age of 12
  • Children that are physically and mentally disabled
  • Muslims that are aged
  • Muslims that are traveling long distances
  • Nursing mothers
  • Pregnant women
  • Women getting their periods

1 comment:

Quran Reading said...

Nice post, i just want to add some hadith about the importance of the Holy month of Ramadan...Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said "Whosoever recites only one ‘Ayah’ in Holy Ramadan, He will be awarded as if he has recited the full Quran in other months" ......Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said "Whosoever established prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from ALLAH then all his previous sins will be forgiven."