The Holy Month of Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic Lunar calendar, which was when the Holy Quran was first revealed to Prophet Muhammed. The sighting of the crescent moon (Hilal) marks the start of 29 to 30 days of fasting observed by Muslims all over the world.
Fasting during Ramadan is considered one of the five Pillars of Islam, so Muslims do not eat or drink after sunrise and break their fast at sunset. During Ramadan, Iftar is the evening meal where Muslims invite friends and family over as a custom since this is a time of getting together with the community. Sunni Muslims can break their fast when the call to prayer is heard, and Shia Muslims can do so after evening prayers.
Fasting is considered compulsory for all physically and mentally healthy Muslims. Exceptions are made for those who are elderly, sick or mentally ill and women who are pregnant, menstruating, breastfeeding, or who have given birth recently. However, they can make up for this by giving food to the poor as an act of charity. The month of Ramadan is about spirituality, prayer, and reflection where impure thoughts, negative behavior, and other desires are refrained from as well so that one can spiritually reconnect and get closer to God through the Quran.
When Does Ramadan Start?
The Islamic calendar or Hijri follows the lunar cycle where a new month is marked by a new moon, so Ramadan begins 11 days earlier every year. The Islamic Calendar is shorter than the Gregorian Calendar. This is why Ramadan dates and timings will differ depending on which country you live in, since the moon sighting is decided by astronomical calculations by the moon sighting committee.
However, there are still ongoing debates as to whether the calculations or physically seeing the moon is more accurate. In some mosques and Muslim communities this can result in Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr being observed on different dates.
This year Ramadan dates will begin on 6th or 7th June 2016 and will end on 5th or 6th July 2016. Do get information from your closest mosque if there is any confusion. You can also check out accurate online calendars or even download Ramadan apps to get correct Iftar timings to help you, especially if you will be observing Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr in a different country.
Few Tips to Keep Healthy
During Ramadan, food consumed should be high in complex carbohydrates and proteins rather than the rich oily food that has become too common these days. Keeping yourself hydrated is very important too, try to avoid drinking too much tea or coffee after you break fast since water is a much better option.
While The Holy Month of Ramadan is a time of spiritual recharging, fasting if done properly can actually be beneficial to your physical and mental health too.
The free HalalTrip Mobile App also offers a number of features that Muslims may find useful during Ramadan. Click on the below links to download the App:
