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[Quran2:185]

It is believed that the Quranwas first

revealed to Muhammad during the monthof Ramadan which has been referred toas the "best of times". Thefirst revelationwas sent down on Laylatal-Qadr(The night of Power) which isone of the five odd nights of the last tendays of Ramadan.[18]According to hadith,all holy scriptures were sent down duringRamadan. The tablets of Ibrahim,the Torah, the Psalms, theGospelandthe Quran were sent down on 1st, 6th,

12th, 13th[note 2]

and 24th Ramadanrespectively.

[19]

According to the Quran, fasting was alsoobligatory for prior nations, and is a wayto attaintaqwa, fear of

God.

[20][Quran2:183]

Godproclaimed toMuhammad that fasting for His sake wasnot a new innovation in monotheism, butrather an obligation practiced by those

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truly devoted to the oneness ofGod.

[21]The pagans of Mecca also

fasted, but only on tenth dayofMuharramto expiate sins and avoiddroughts.

[22]

The ruling to observe fasting duringRamadan was sent down 18 monthsafter Hijra, during the month

of Sha'abanin the second year of Hijrain624 CE.

[19]

Abu Zanad, an Arabic writerfrom Iraqwho lived after the founding ofIslam,in around 747 CE, wrote that at

least one Mandaeancommunity locatedin al-Jazira(modern northern Iraq)observed Ramadan before converting toIslam.

[23][not in citation given]

According to Philip Jenkins, Ramadan

comes "from the strict Lenten disciplineof the Syrian churches".[24][dubious

discuss]However, this suggestion is based

on the orientalist idea that the Qur'an

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itself has Syrian origins, which wasrefuted by Muslim academics such as M.

Al-Azami.

[25]

Important dates[edit]

The beginning and end of Ramadan aredetermined by the lunar Islamic calendar.

Beginning[edit]

Click to view larger image

Hill(the crescent) is typically a day (ormore) after the astronomical new moon.Since the new moon marks the beginningof the new month, Muslims can usuallysafely estimate the beginning of

Ramadan.[26]

However, to many Muslims,this is not in accordance withauthenticated Hadiths stating that visualconfirmation per region is recommended.

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The consistent variations of a day haveexisted since the time of Muhammad.

[27]

Night of Power[edit]Main article: Laylat al-Qadr

Laylat al-Qadr, which in Arabic means"the night of power" or "the night ofdecree", is considered the holiest night ofthe year.

[28][29]This is the night in which

Muslims believe the first revelation of theQuran was sent down to Muhammadstating that this night was "better thanone thousand months [of properworship], as stated in Chapter 97:3 of the

Qu'ran.Also, generally, Laylat al-Qadr is believedto have occurred on an odd-numberednight during the last ten days ofRamadan, i.e., the night of the 21st, 23rd,

25th, 27th or 29th. The Dawoodi BohraCommunity believe that the 23rd night islaylat al Qadr.

[30][31]

End[edit]

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Main articles: Eid al-Fitrand Eid prayers

The holiday of Eid al-Fitr(Arabic:

dna nadamaR fo dne eht skram ( the beginning of the next lunar

month, Shawwal. This first day of thefollowing month is declared after anothercrescent new moonhas been sighted orthe completion of 30 days of fasting if no

visual sighting is possible due to weatherconditions. This first day of Shawwal iscalled Eid al-Fitr.Eid al-Fitrmay also be areference towards the festive nature ofhaving endured the month of fasting

successfully and returning to the morenatural disposition (fitra) of being able toeat, drink and resume intimacy withspouses during the day.

[citation needed]

Religious practices[edit]

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Azim Azimzade. Ramadan of the poorpeople. 1938

The predominant practice during

Ramadan is fasting from dawn to sunset.The pre-dawn meal before the fast iscalled the suhur, while the meal at sunsetthat breaks the fast is theiftar.Considering the high diversity of the

global Muslim population, it is impossibleto describe typical suhur or iftar meals.

Muslims also engage in increased prayerand charity during Ramadan. Ramadanis also a month where Muslims try topractice increased self-discipline.

[32]This

is motivated by the Hadith, especially inAl-Bukhari

[33]and Muslim,

[34]that "When

Ramadan arrives, the gates of Paradise

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are opened and the gates of hell arelocked up and devils are put in chains."

[35]

Fasting[edit]Main article: Sawm of Ramadan

Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection,improvement and increased devotion andworship. Muslims are expected to putmore effort into following the teachings ofIslam. The fast (sawm) begins at dawnand ends at sunset. In addition toabstaining from eating and drinking,Muslims also increase restraint, such asabstaining from sexual relations and

generally sinful speech and behavior.The act of fasting is said to redirect theheart away from worldly activities, itspurpose being to cleanse the soul byfreeing it from harmful impurities.Ramadan also teaches Muslims how tobetter practice self-discipline, self-control,

[36]sacrifice, and empathy for

those who are less fortunate; thus

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encouraging actions of generosity andcompulsory charity (zakat).

[37]

It becomes compulsory for Muslims tostart fasting when they reach puberty, solong as they are healthy and sane, andhave no disabilities or illnesses. Manychildren endeavour to complete as manyfasts as possible as practice for later life.

Exemptions to fasting are travel,menstruation, severe illness, pregnancy,and breast-feeding. However, manyMuslims with medical conditions insist onfasting to satisfy their spiritual needs,

although it is not recommended by thehadith. Professionals should closelymonitor individuals who decide to persistwith fasting.

[38]Those who were unable to

fast still must make up the days missedlater.

[39]

Suhur[edit]Main article: Suhur

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Iftarat Sultan AhmedMosquein Istanbul,Turkey

Each day, before dawn, Muslims observea pre-fast meal called thesuhur. Afterstopping a short time before dawn,Muslims begin the first prayer of theday, Fajr.

[40][41]At sunset, families hasten

for the fast-breaking meal known as iftar.Iftar[edit]Main article: Iftar

In the evening, datesare usually the firstfood to break the fast; according to

tradition, Muhammad broke fast withthree dates. Following that, Muslimsgenerally adjourn for the Maghrib prayer,

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the fourth of the five daily prayers, afterwhich the main meal is served.

[42]

Social gatherings, many times ina buffetstyle, are frequent at iftar.Traditional dishes are often highlighted,including traditional desserts, andparticularly those made only duringRamadan. Water is usually the beverage

of choice, but juice and milk are alsooften available, as are soft drinks andcaffeinated beverages.

[38]

In the Middle East, the iftar meal consistsof water, juices, dates, salads and

appetizers, one or more main dishes, andvarious kinds of desserts. Usually, thedessert is the most important part duringiftar. Typical main dishes are lambstewed with wheat berries, lamb kebabswith grilled vegetables, or roast chickenserved with chickpea-studded rice pilaf. Arich dessert, such asluqaimat, baklavaor kunafeh(a buttery,syrup-sweetened kadaifi noodle pastry

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filled with cheese), concludes themeal.

[43]

Over time, iftar has grown into banquetfestivals. This is a time of fellowship withfamilies, friends and surroundingcommunities, but may also occupy largerspaces at masjid or banquet halls for 100or more diners.

[44]

Charity[edit]Main articles: Zaktand Sadaqah

Men praying during Ramadan atthe Shrine of Hazrat Alior "Blue Mosque"inMazar-i-Sharif,Afghanistan

Charity is very important in Islam, and

even more so during Ramadan. Zakt,often translated as "the poor-rate", isobligatory as one of the pillars of Islam; afixed percentage of the person's savings

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is required to be given to thepoor.Sadaqahis voluntary charity in

giving above and beyond what isrequired from the obligation of zakt. InIslam, all good deeds are morehandsomely rewarded during Ramadanthan in any other month of the year.Consequently, many will choose this time

to give a larger portion, if not all, of thezakt that they are obligated to give. Inaddition, many will also use this time togive a larger portion of sadaqah in orderto maximize the reward that will awaitthem at the Last Judgment.

[citation needed]

Nightly prayers[edit]Main article: Tarawih

Tarawih (Arabic: ) refers to extraprayers performed by Muslims at night inthe Islamic month of Ramadan. Contraryto popular belief, they are notcompulsory.

[45]However, many Muslims

pray these prayers in the evening duringRamadan. Some scholars

[who?]maintain

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that Tarawih is neither fardor a Sunnah,but is the preponed Tahajjud(night

prayer) prayer shifted to post-Isha'for theease of believers. But a majority of Sunnischolars regard the Tarawih prayersas Sunnat al-Mu'akkadah, a salaat thatwas performed by the IslamicprophetMuhammad very consistently.

Recitation of the Quran[edit]

In addition to fasting, Muslims areencouraged to read the entire Quran.Some Muslims perform the recitation ofthe entire Quran by means of special

prayers, called Tarawih. These voluntaryprayers are held in the mosques everynight of the month, during which a wholesection of the Quran (juz', which is 1/30of the Quran) is recited. Therefore, theentire Quran would be completed at theend of the month. Although it is notrequired to read the whole Quran in theTarawih prayers, it is common.

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Cultural practices[edit]

Striking the bedugin Indonesia

Fanous Ramadandecorationsin Cairo,Egypt

Ramadan in the Old City of Jerusalem

In some Muslim countries today, lights

are strung up in public squares, andacross city streets, to add to thefestivities of the month.Lanternshavebecome symbolic decorations welcoming

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the month of Ramadan. In a growingnumber of countries, they are hung on

city streets.

[46][47][48]

The tradition oflanterns as a decoration becomingassociated with Ramadan is believed tohave originated during the FatimidCaliphateprimarily centered in Egypt,where Caliphal-Mu'izz li-Din Allahwas

greeted by people holding lanterns tocelebrate his ruling. From that time,lanterns were used to light mosques andhouses throughout the capital cityof Cairo. Shopping malls, places ofbusiness, and people's homes can beseen with stars and crescents andvarious lighting effects, as well.

As the nation with the world's largestMuslim population,Indonesiahas diverseRamadan traditions. On the island

of Java, many JavaneseIndonesiansbathe in holy springs toprepare for fasting, a ritual knownas Padusa. The city of Semarangmarks

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the beginning of Ramadan with theDugderan carnival, which involves

parading the Warak ngendog, a dragon-like creature allegedly inspired bythe Buraq. In the Chinese-influencedcapital city of Jakarta, fire crackers weretraditionally used to wake people up formorning prayer, until the 19th Century.

Towards the end of Ramadan, mostemployees receive a one-month bonusknown as Tunjangan Hari Raya. Certainkinds of food are especially popularduring Ramadan, such as beef inAceh,and snails in Central Java. Theiftarmealis announced every evening by strikingthe bedug, a giant drum, in the mosque.

Common greetings during Ramadan are"Ramadan Mubarak" or "RamadanKareem", which wish the recipient a

blessed or generous Ramadan.[49]

Penalties for infraction[edit]

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In some Muslim countries, failing to fastor the open flouting of such behavior

during Ramadan is considereda crimeand is prosecuted as such. Forinstance, inAlgeria, in October 2008 thecourt of Biskracondemned six people tofour years in prison and heavy fines.

[50]

In Kuwait, according to law number 44 of

1968, the penalty is a fine of no morethan 100Kuwaiti dinars, or jail for nomore than one month, or both penalties,for those seen eating, drinking orsmoking during Ramadan

daytime.

[51][52]

In the U.A.E., eating ordrinking in public during the daytime ofRamadan is considered a minor offenceand would be punished by up to 150hours of community service.

[53]

In Egypt, alcohol sales are banned duringRamadan.[54]

In 2014 in Kermanshah, Iran, a non-Muslim was sentenced to having his lips

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burnt with a cigarette and five Muslimswere publicly flogged with 70 stripes for

eating during Ramadan.

[55]

Despite thesepunishments, relatively few Iranians fastduring Ramadan.

[56]

Other legal issues[edit]

Some countries have laws that amendwork schedules during Ramadan. UnderU.A.E. labor law, the maximum workinghours are to be 6 hours per day and 36hours perweek. Qatar,Oman, Bahrainand Kuwaithave similar laws.

[57]

Health[edit]

Ramadan fasting is safe for healthypeople, but those with medical conditionsshould seek medical advice.

[58]The fa

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