Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr

A major celebration in Islam occurs after the completion of Ramadan, the month during
which Muslims (believers in Islam) fast daily from dawn to sunset as part of an effort
towards self-purification and betterment. This holiday is known as Eid al-Fitr (Festival of
Breaking the Fast).


The Lunar Calendar


Among the most important duties for a Muslim is fasting during the Islamic month of
Ramadan, which is the ninth of the twelve months in the Islamic lunar calendar. Muslims
use a lunar calendar for many of their religious observances. A new month in the lunar
calendar is determined by the appearance of a new crescent moon. Since this occurs every
29 or 30 days, the lunar month is generally 1 or 2 days shorter than a typical month in the
Gregorian calendar (the calendar used in the United States). Similarly, a lunar year is about
11 days shorter than a typical Gregorian year. As a result, dates of events in the Islamic
lunar year "move forward" about 11 days every year. For example, in 1997 Ramadan begins
on December 31, and in 1998 it begins on December 20.


The Importance of Ramadan


Ramadan is important for Muslims because it is believed to be the month in which the first
verses of the Holy Qur’an (the divine scripture) were revealed by Allah (God) to the
Prophet Muhammad (570-632 C.E.). From time to time, Muhammad used to go out from
Makkah, where he was born and where he worked as a caravan trader, to reflect and
meditate in solitude. Like Abraham before him, he had never accepted his people’s worship
of many gods, and felt a need to withdraw to a quiet place to reflect on the One God. One
night, while contemplating in a cave near Makkah, he heard a voice call out, telling him to
"Read!" Muhammad protested that he was unable to read. The voice insisted again, and
then a third time, and Muhammad found himself reciting the first verses of the Qur’an:


"Read, in the name of thy Lord, Who created—
Created man, out of a clot (embryo).
Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful,
He Who taught the use of the pen—
Taught man that which he knew not.
Nay, but man doth transgress all bounds,
In that he looketh upon himself as self-sufficient.
Verily, to thy Lord is the return (of all)." (ch. 96: 1-8)


The voice was that of the angel Gabriel, and he confirmed that Muhammad was selected
for an important and challenging mission—he was to call people to monotheism and
righteousness.

Muslims consider the Qur’an to be God’s speech recorded in the Arabic language, and
transmitted to humanity through Muhammad, who is considered the last of the prophets.
According to Islamic beliefs, this tradition of God-chosen prophets or messengers includes
such figures as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus. Muslims believe that over
a period of twenty-three years, various verses and chapters of the Qur’an were revealed to
Muhammad through Gabriel. The Qur’an is comprised of 114 chapters of varying length,
with titles such as "Abraham," "The Pilgrimage," "Mary," and "Repentance."

During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset every day. This means not
consuming food or drink (including water) during the daylight hours. For married adults, it
also includes refraining from marital relations during the hours of fasting (i.e. the daylight
hours). In the Arabic language, fasting is known as sawm. Muslims arise early in the
morning during Ramadan to have a predawn breakfast meal, known as suhoor. At the end
of the day, the fast is completed by taking the iftar meal, which usually includes dates,
fresh fruits, appetizers, beverages and dinner. Later in the evening, Muslims often attend
special nightly tarawih prayers at their local masjid. Each night during Ramadan,
approximately 1/30th of the Qur’an is recited in the tarawih prayers, so that the entire
scripture is recited in the course of the 29 or 30 days of the month.

Why Muslims Fast

For Muslims, fasting has a number of benefits:

1. It helps one to feel compassion for those who are less fortunate and underprivileged,
since each day Muslims feel greater appreciation for what they have as a result of
feeling hunger and thirst.
2. It allows one to build a sense of self-control and willpower, which can be beneficial
throughout life in dealing with temptations and peer-pressure. Through fasting,
Muslims learn to control their natural urges such as hunger and thirst, and thus are able
to better resist temptations for things which are not necessary, such as drugs or other
unhealthy or harmful substances and behaviors.
3. It offers a time for Muslims to "purify" their bodies as well as their souls, by developing
a greater sense of humility, spirituality and community. Ramadan is a very spiritual
time for Muslims, and often they invite each other to one another’s homes to break the
fast and pray together. A greater sense of generosity and forgiveness is also
characteristic of this time.

As with other duties in Islam, fasting becomes obligatory (i.e. one becomes accountable)
after the age of puberty.

The "Night of Power"

Laylat al-Qadr, [lay-lat-al-KADR] or the "Night of Power," is one of the last ten nights of
the month of Ramadan. It is significant as the night on which in 610 C.E. the Prophet
Muhammad received the first revelations of the Qur’an. Muslims commemorate this night,
believed to fall on the 23rd, 25th, or 27th of Ramadan, by offering additional prayers and
supplications late into the night. It is said that the blessings for praying on this night are
greater than those received for praying for a thousand months.

Eid al-Fitr

After the end of Ramadan, a very festive and joyous holiday is celebrated by Muslims,
known as Eid al-Fitr [EED al-FITR], the Festival of Breaking the Fast. On the day of the Eid,
Muslims attend special congregational prayers in the morning, wearing their nicest clothes
and perfumes. After the completion of prayers and a special sermon, Muslims rise to greet
and hug one another, saying "Eid Mubarak," which means "Holiday Blessings." Later on,
Muslim families visit each other’s homes, and have special meals together. Children are
often rewarded with gifts, money, and sweets. Lights and other decorations mark the happy
occasion.

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