Ramadan is an important month of holy days for Muslims. It is a time of spiritual renewal marked by fasting to nurture spiritual growth. Fasting means not eating or drinking anything from sunrise to sunset for the entire month as well as refraining from sexual relations and smoking. According to the Koran, fasting begins each morning when 'the white thread can be distinguished from the black thread of dawn.'
People who have reached puberty, and who are mentally and physically able, are instructed to fast. Pregnant women, children and the elderly are exempt from fasting. Muslims who are unable to fast because of temporary circumstances, such as those who are sick or traveling, are expected to make up missed days. The elderly and those who are chronically ill are expected to feed one poor person for every day of fasting that they miss. Children sometimes fast for the first half of the day, breaking their fast at noon.
It is believed that the good done by fasting during Ramadan can be destroyed by engaging in activities that are offensive such as: telling a lie, slander, talking about someone in a negative way behind their back, or greed. What is most important is the practice of living a life congruent with oneÕs religious beliefs instead of following all of the food rules while continuing to engage in corrupt behavior.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Since the calendar is based on the phases of the moon, the season in which Ramadan is observed changes from year to year. Fasting during the month of Ramadan is the fourth of the Five Pillars of Worship in Islam and is one of the important religious duties of all Muslims who have come of age.
Muslims have a meal before dawn that is called sahur. This meal ensures that they have the energy to make it through the day. After sahur there are prayers before sunrise. Prayer five times a day is the second of the Five Pillars of Islam and the prayer before sunrise is the first of those five daily prayers.
At sunset Muslims break their fast by eating a light meal. This meal traditionally consists of a few dates and some water. This is the way that Muhammad, the founding prophet of Islam, broke the fast long ago during the first observances of Ramadan. The light meal is followed by evening prayer at their place of worship, which is called a mosque or a masjid. This the fourth prayer of the day.
It is common for Muslims to spend several hours praying and reading the Koran each day during Ramadan. Ramadan services at the mosque are characterized by special prayers and the reading aloud of the entire Koran during the month of Ramadan. After the sunset prayer, Muslims have the main meal of the day, which is called iftar. Iftar consists of holiday favorites and is often shared with family and friends.
On the 27th day of Ramadan many people spend the night at the mosque to observe Laylat-al-Qadr or the 'The Night of Power.' They remember on this night how the Koran first came to Muhammed during the month of Ramadan. According to the Koran, this is also the day that Allah (one of the Islamic words for God) determines the course of the world for the following year.
After 29 or 30 days of fasting, when the new moon appears, Ramadan is over. The next day will be a celebration called Eid-alFitr, which literally means 'The Feast of Breaking the Fast.' This is a time of great celebration
1.
Books to read:
á
Ramadan by Suhaib Hamid Ghazi, ages 4-8
á
Ramadan by David F. Marx, ages 4-8
á
Ramadan and Id-al-Fitr by Dianne Mac Millan, ages 4-8
á
Ramadan (a 25 minute video recording in the Holidays for Children Video series)
á
Ramadan by Susan L. Douglass, ages 9-12
2.
Go to www.playandlearn.org
for coloring pages, games and information about Islam for younger children.
3.
Choose a Friday night to talk with your child about fasting and the reasons that a person might fast. ( Some of these reasons might include being in solidarity with the poor or to be more aware of the role of food in our lives.) Encourage them to refrain from eating when they wake up on Saturday. (You might want to do this with them) Decide with your child how long they will fast (until noon or 2pm may be a good length of time) and then have a special meal to break the fast.
4. A Ramadan Prayer:
O Allah, on this day,
let me have mercy on those in need,
feed the hungry, spread peace,
and keep company with the noble-minded,
O the shelter of the hopeful.
5.
Muslims pray five times a day and involve their whole body in the prayer. Try the following prayer as a way of experiencing prayer with your body.
Find a quiet place where you will not be interrupted. Relax and prepare yourself by breathing in and out deeply several times. When you are ready, gently place your hands together in a universal prayer position, palm touching palm, finger-tips pointing towards the sky. Slowly raise your arms up towards the sky. Hold them there for as long as you wishÉThen slowly lower your arms with hands upturned so that your arms are perpendicular to your body and linger in that position for as long as you wish. When you are ready to move on, bring your arms forward and wrap them around yourself, hugging yourself in a spirit of tenderness and loving-kindness. Repeat these simple body movements for wordless prayer several times. OR Play soft slow music and coordinate body movements with the music.
6.
'Ramadan Mubarak' means 'A Blessed Ramadan.' Greet a Muslim friend or neighbor with this greeting during Ramadan or make a greeting card with the sentiment written on it to send to a Muslim friend.
7.
A popular light meal to break the fast at sunset during Ramadan is dates and water. Try the following recipe as part of a meal or as a snack this week.
Stuffed Dates: 6 oz Cream cheese ~ ½ cup of ground hazelnuts ~ 20 large dates, pitted and halved. Mix the cream cheese and hazelnuts together and then stuff each date half with the mixture.
