Ramadan has come upon the Muslim community and because of that, I’ve decided to write a blog about it. Over a billion people around the world observe it and so you know more about it and why it is so important, here are 10 facts I’ve put together for you:
1. It's the 9th month of the Islamic calendar.
It comes after the month of Sha'ban, which, like Ramadan, is one of the holiest months in the Islamic calendar (after Ramadan that is).
2. Ramadan is the month of fasting in Islam.
In fact, fasting the month of Ramadan is one of the 5 pillars of Islam, so it is an important practice in the Islamic faith.
3. Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset
There are some people who are exempt from fasting. These people include children who haven’t reached the age of puberty, women on their periods, the sick, the elderly, pregnant or breastfeeding women who have to eat for the sake of their/their baby’s health. The people who are normally able to fast must make up the days they missed sometime during the year before the start of the next Ramadan.
4. The Quran was revealed during this month.
In fact, this event has been mentioned in the Quran and is why Ramadan is also called the month of the Quran.
5. The Taraweeh prayer is only prayed during this month
This is prayed after the Isha (night) prayer in the mosque every night during Ramadan, starting on the night before the first day of fasting. It is often made up of a series of prayers where portions of the Quran are read and only occurs during Ramadan: during the rest of the year, it is Qiyaam Al-Layl (‘standing in the night’) instead.
6. The Battle of Badr was fought in this month.
It is the only battle mentioned by name in the Quran and was a major event in Islamic History. 300 Muslims battled 1000 men from the Quraysh (a group of pagan Arab tribes living in Mecca at the time) and whilst Quraysh had the larger army with the stronger, more trained men, it was the Muslims who were victorious!
7. The dates of Ramadan change every year
This is because the Islamic Calendar is actually a lunar calendar. Because of this, Ramdan starts 10-12 days earlier each year and in the year 2030, Ramadan will occur twice: first in January and then again in late December.
8. People try to read the entire Quran in this one month
It’s not always easy, just like any other commitment: the Quran is in Arabic and is 600 pages long. However, it is the month of the Quran that we are talking about when good deeds are multiplied even more!
9. Amongst the last 10 nights is Laylatul Qadr (Night of decreed)
The exact night of Laylatul-Qadr is unknown, however, what is known is that it is an odd night amongst the last 10 nights; it was on this night that it was revealed upon the Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him) that he was a Prophet; the first verses of the Quran were revealed on the same night (the first word was literally ‘read’). Also, it has a chapter in the Quran named after it, which also tells us that a good deed in this night is better than that good deed being done in 1000 months!
10. It is concluded with Eid
This Eid is called Eid-ul-Fitr and lasts in the first 2 days of the next month, Shawwal. Families get together to celebrate using their own family traditions, and because it is a day of celebration, Allah has made it forbidden to fast on this day.
There you have it: 10 facts about Ramadan... though if we were counted all the facts that were mentioned, they'd equate to more than 10 facts. I hope you enjoyed it, just as much as I enjoyed writing it.
I’ll see you in my next post. Take care ;)
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