NEW DELHI - With the holiest month in the Islamic Calendar for Muslims across the globe, marking its beginning in India on Friday June 19th, the date from which crores of believers here will dedicate themselves to a month of fasting, let me take you through a few interesting facts about Ramadan (or Ramzan as many would like to call it)
1) Ramadan or Ramzan is the ninth month of the Islamic or Hijri calendar which began in AD622 when Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) migrated from Mecca to Medina. Quran 2:185 states that 'The month of Ramadan is that in which was revealed the Quran.' It also mentions that all except those who are sick or on a journey must fast during the month. The first revelation to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was made on 'night of power' which we Muslims refer to as Laylat Al-Qadr. Not just the Holy Quran but all holy scriptures of the Abrahamic faiths- the Torah, the Psalms, the Gospel and the Tablet of Ibrahim were sent during the Holy month of Ramadan.
2) Fasting (or Sawm in Arabic) between dawn to dusk, in the month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. During the entire month Muslims are obligated to fast. Muslims eat a pre-dawn meal called Suhoor before early morning prayers and break the fast with dates and water, before Maghrib (dusk/evening) prayers followed by a wholesome meal called Al-Iftar. There are exceptions to this rule. Prior to puberty, children are not required to fast. Diabetics, nursing or pregnant women aren't either. Fasting is not peculiar only to Islam. The Nativity Fast(before Christmas), the Apostles Fast (after Easter) and Great Lent in Christianity, Yom Kippur, Fast of Esther, Tenth of Tevet in Judaism, the 19 day Fast amongst Bahais and some traditions amongst Hindus and Budhhists also involve fasting.
3) 'Niyyah' or 'Niyat' or the intention of the fast is most important. Mere starvation is not what is expected of Muslims. Sawm is supposed to be supplicated by a sense of benevolence and charity towards fellow human beings and creatures, religious devotion, prayers, abstinence from sex, alcohol and smoking, self-restrain over oneself when it comes to using abusive language, fighting, gossiping. It is meant to introspect, to fight against the ego and all the evils lurking within and engage in a 'Jihad' for self improvement. This is the war or Jihad- of becoming a better human being that Allah expects all Muslims to engage in and not the kind that Al Qaeda or ISIS preach about by manipulating the teachings of Islam.
Fasts are valid even if it is broken unintentionally or if there is a danger to one's health.In short, it is physical and spiritual detoxification and test of one's will power coupled with a sense of charity towards those who are forced to starve due to their poverty. Fasting has shown many health benefits including lowering cholesterol and fat, controlling weight, blood pressure and blood sugar. Some studies done in Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc have also shown lower crime rates during Ramadan.
4) Ramadan and Ramzan are both correct pronunciations depending on which part of the world one hails from and which language one communicates in. In the sub-continent there is a Persian-Urdu legacy and hence we in India pronounce it as Ramzan which is a Persian pronunciation whereas in Arabic the pronunciation is Ramadan. Whether one calls fasts Roza (Persian) or Sawm (Arabic), prayers as Namaz (Persian) or Salaat (Arabic) and the holy month as Ramadan or Ramazan, God or Allah would be more concerned with one's actions and deeds and not with these silly differences that some people tend to make a big deal about. The beginning and ending dates of Ramadan/Ramzan beginning differ by a day or two across different countries due to variations in sighting of the moon.
5) Eid Ul Fitr is celebrated on the completion of Ramadan and on the first day of the tenth month- Shaw'wal- of the Islamic calendar. Celebrations vary from place to place but it involves morning prayers for which one should go on foot, visiting friends and family members to share happiness, making of charitable donations, preparation of traditional sweet dishes, wearing new clothes, giving gifts or 'EIdi' to younger family members, saying Eid Mubarak to others, etc. Eid Ul Fitr, lasting three days, is referred to as 'Choti or smaller' Eid and Eid Ul Adha, which lasts for four days, is the 'badi or greater Eid'.
This author extends Ramadan greetings and wishes all the readers/ viewers of IBNLive, CNN IBN, IBNKhabar and all its sister publications and channels Ramzan Mubarak.
(Shehzad Poonawalla is a young lawyer and a social activist. He can be reached via Twitter @shehzad_Ind)
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