Ramadan

Ramadan

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 to 30 days. In this month Muslims fast during the daylight hours, refraining from eating, drinking and sexual intercourse. It is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and submissiveness to God. Muslims fast for the sake of God (Allah) and to offer more prayer than usual.

Date

Compared to the solar calendar, the dates of Ramadan vary, moving backwards by about eleven days each year depending on the moon; thus, a person will have fasted every day of the calendar year in 34 years' time.

Hilāl (the crescent) is typically a day (or more) after the astronomical new moon. Since the new moon indicates the beginning of the new month, Muslims can usually safely estimate the beginning of Ramadan.

There are many disagreements each year however, on when Ramadan starts. This stems from the tradition to see the moon (Hilāl = the crescent) with the naked eye and as such there are differences for countries on opposite sides of the globe. More recently however, some Muslims try to use astronomical calculations to avoid this confusion.

Revelation of the Qur'an

Muslims believe Ramadan to be an auspicious month for the revelations of God to humankind, being the month in which the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. That was in Laylat al-Qadr (also called the Night of Power, the Night of Destiny, Night of Value, the Night of Decree or Night of Measures)

In surah Al-Qadr Allah clearly states:

"Surely We revealed it (the Holy Quran) on the grand night. And what will make you comprehend what the grand night. The grand night is better than a thousand months. The angels and Gabriel descend in it by the permission of their Lord for every affair, Peace! It is till the break of the morning." Holy Quran (97:1-5)

Fasting in other religions

Before Islam, fasting was part and parcel of other religions such as Judaism and Christianity.

"O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint," Al-Baqara (The Cow) 2:183

Who is permitted not to fast?

Those who are sick, elderly, or on a journey, and women who are pregnant or nursing are permitted to break the fast and make up an equal number of days later in the year. If they are physically unable to do this, they must feed a needy person for every day missed. Children begin to fast (and to observe the prayer) from puberty, although many start earlier.
In the Qur'an:

(Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number (Should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (With hardship), is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will,- it is better for him. And it is better for you that ye fast, if ye only knew.
Al-Baqara (The Cow) 2:184