Ramazan

Ramadan is on the ninth month of the Islamic year. It is believed that the month of Ramadan was that of which Muhammad received the first word’s of Allah, the Qur’an.

The Arabic word for fasting is sawm (plural is siyam), which means ‘to refrain’. The Islamic term is to refrain from food, drinks and sexual activity from dawn to sunset.

There are many reasons for Muslims to fast, mainly to stay true to their God and religion. Muslims are to obey Allah’s injunction. One of his injunctions is:

‘O you who believe, siyam is prescribed on you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you may become self-restrained.’

Fasting is also to practise the religion and learn to attain piety. To reach this, five daily salaat is compulsory, Zakat-ul fitr must be paid, prayers are to be said in both the evening and night of Ramadan, smoking must be stopped, pornographic videos and pictures are to be kept away and excessive intake of food is avoided. To get the full reward of the Night of Power and to show Muslims how to get their past sins forgiven are also reasons why Muslims do Ramadan fast.

Fasting begins at dawn, the start of the Salatul Fajr time, on everyday of the month, and ends at sunset, Salatul Mag