Ramadan Greetings
March 23-April 21, 2023
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What is Ramadan?By S. Fatima Quadri
Nadia sits at her dinning table staring at the clock. The fragrance of fresh strawberries and warm pizza puffs fill the air. A pitcher of cold lemonade sits right next to the strawberries as the condensation drips on the table. Five minutes left, but it feels like an eternity. The moments right before the fast ends are always the hardest. Finally, the call to prayer echoes throughout Nadia’s house from the prayer alarm clock her parents bought at the local mosque. The time for the sunset prayer has come in. Eagerly, Nadia reaches for the dates and chugs her lemonade. After fifteen hours of fasting, Nadia’s hunger is satiated in just a few moments. Like the saying of Prophet Muhammad about fasting, “Gone is the thirst, quenched are the veins, and assured is the reward, if Allah wills.” Like 1.6 billion Muslims around the world, Nadia’s family is observing Ramadan, a blessed month filled with excitement and self-reflection. Ramadan is the 9th month of the Muslim calendar. Muslims follow a lunar calendar which means that after a 29-day cycle, the start of the next month is determined by the sighting of the moon. If the moon is sighted the next month begins, if it is not, then the month will end after 30 days instead of 29. As a result, the lunar calendar has about 355 days instead of 365 like the solar calendar we follow in the United States. Some Muslim communities determine the sighting of the moon through calculations which can result in some communities starting or ending Ramadan a day before of after others. The month of Ramadan is special to Muslims because it is the month in which Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, received the first revelation through the arch angel Gabriel (known as Jibreel in Arabic). Muslims believe all prophets of God received the revelation through Gabriel but Prophet Muhammad was the last messenger to receive a holy scripture from God. Muslims also believe in the holy scriptures of the Abrahamic faiths in their original form, the Psalms, the Torah, and the Bible. However, Muslims believe that only the Quran has remained in its original form while other texts were later edited by people. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims begin their fast by eating a meal before dawn and end it after sunset. During this time, a Muslim should not eat or drink. They should also be careful not to engage in any negative acts like arguing, backbiting, or lying. Instead, Muslims should try their best to increase their positive actions like engaging in prayer and remembrance, giving charity, and helping others. Muslims may demonstrate their excitement for Ramadan in different ways, some may make the effort to engage in more spiritual practices or give up certain things as self improvement resolutions. For example, Muslim students might dress more traditionally during this month or give up things like watching television or listening to music, some might even limit their social media. These are all efforts towards deepening one's connection to God. In the evenings, many Muslims pray an additional prayer called Tarawih where portions of the Quran are recited at home or at their local mosques. While Ramadan is a time of self-reflection and private worship, it is also a time when families and communities come together to break fast and worship together. Traditional foods and practices vary from region to region and home to home but they all have one thing in common - Ramadan is the most special time of year for a Muslim. |
Supporting Students
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The Day of Eid (April 21 or 22, 2023) |
By Saadia Shariff
Muslim Hilal Groups (organizations who sight the moon for the lunar calendar) will once again begin their search for the moon. It is not the new moon of Ramadan that is being sought this time, but the new moon that will commemorate the beginning of next month of Shawwal, and the end of the Blessed Month of Ramadan.
The first day of Shawwal marks an important festival for Muslims; it is called Eid al Fitr. Eid al Fitr is celebrated as a way of thanking God for giving the opportunity to fast and worship in the glorified month of Ramadan. There is one other Eid, called Eid ul Adha that will come in the last month of the lunar calendar at the end of the Hajj, commemorating the sacrifice of Abraham.
Some Muslims follow moon sightings and others follow scientific calculations to determine the first day of Shawwal. Local communities will determine which method to follow. It is also possible that families within one community may follow the moon sighting whereas others might follow calculations. Therefore, there might be students in the same school following Eid on different days, there might also be a small group of students who choose to attend school on Eid to avoid more homework or missing tests.
On Eid Day, Muslims can not fast, rather it is commanded upon them to celebrate. Eid Celebrations take place all over the world. Some Muslim countries will observe Eid al-Fitr as a national holiday. Muslims will wear their best clothes and get ready to attend the Eid prayers.
Eid prayers are held on the morning of that day. Many families will congregate in one area to hear a sermon and pray. After the prayer, celebrations begin. Families and friends will gather to feast on varieties of foods and desserts. Gifts will be exchanged as well. Eid Mubarak, which means Blessed Feast, is a traditional greeting heard from one individual to another. Teachers may greet their Muslim students with Eid Mubarak as well.
While all the festivities take place, one must not forget the poor. In order for everyone to celebrate in the holiday, families that can afford to will pay sadaqatul fitr. Sadaqat-al-Fitr is an obligatory charity for every Muslim who possess the Nisab (a minimum amount of wealth); it must be paid before Eid-al-Fitr (i.e. before the end of Ramadan).
The purpose of this act is two-fold:
After the long day of celebration, Muslims wait for the opportunity to embrace Ramadan next year with the same joy and anticipation.
The first day of Shawwal marks an important festival for Muslims; it is called Eid al Fitr. Eid al Fitr is celebrated as a way of thanking God for giving the opportunity to fast and worship in the glorified month of Ramadan. There is one other Eid, called Eid ul Adha that will come in the last month of the lunar calendar at the end of the Hajj, commemorating the sacrifice of Abraham.
Some Muslims follow moon sightings and others follow scientific calculations to determine the first day of Shawwal. Local communities will determine which method to follow. It is also possible that families within one community may follow the moon sighting whereas others might follow calculations. Therefore, there might be students in the same school following Eid on different days, there might also be a small group of students who choose to attend school on Eid to avoid more homework or missing tests.
On Eid Day, Muslims can not fast, rather it is commanded upon them to celebrate. Eid Celebrations take place all over the world. Some Muslim countries will observe Eid al-Fitr as a national holiday. Muslims will wear their best clothes and get ready to attend the Eid prayers.
Eid prayers are held on the morning of that day. Many families will congregate in one area to hear a sermon and pray. After the prayer, celebrations begin. Families and friends will gather to feast on varieties of foods and desserts. Gifts will be exchanged as well. Eid Mubarak, which means Blessed Feast, is a traditional greeting heard from one individual to another. Teachers may greet their Muslim students with Eid Mubarak as well.
While all the festivities take place, one must not forget the poor. In order for everyone to celebrate in the holiday, families that can afford to will pay sadaqatul fitr. Sadaqat-al-Fitr is an obligatory charity for every Muslim who possess the Nisab (a minimum amount of wealth); it must be paid before Eid-al-Fitr (i.e. before the end of Ramadan).
The purpose of this act is two-fold:
- To purify the month long fasting of Muslims
- To enable the poor and less fortunate to also enjoy the celebrations of Eid.
After the long day of celebration, Muslims wait for the opportunity to embrace Ramadan next year with the same joy and anticipation.
This website is sponsored by Darus Salah as a resource for parents and educators seeking to learn more about Muslim culture and practices. Darus Salah (The Abode of Betterment) is a faith based educational program aimed to provide enriching and relevant education to youth and children that cultivates love and responsibility to family, community, and God. For more information please visit: www.darussalah.org
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