Ramadan 101 - What is Ramadan? A Quick Ramadan Primer!

Happy Ramadan, Ramadan Kareem, Ramadan Mubarak!

You've seen or heard this past weekend that Muslims, people who are followers of Islam began to observe the holy month of Ramadan. South Brunswick has been the home to the Islamic Society of Central Jersey (ISCJ) for the past 39 years.

ISCJ members aspire to be the anchor of a model community of practicing Muslims of diverse backgrounds, democratically governed, efficiently served, relating to one another with inclusiveness and tolerance, and interacting with the neighbors and the community at large in an Islamic exemplary fashion.  ISCJ is a non-political, non-profit, religious organization that encourages its members to be model citizens of the United States and to actively participate in the running of the local, state and national governments through volunteering and voting.

So What is Ramadan?
It is the Ninth month of the Hijri calendar (Lunar calendar). Ramadan is an Arabic word; its root “Ar-Ramad” means “dryness/heat. The Lunar calendar is 11-12 days shorter than Gregorian calendar… therefore, Ramadan is 10-11 days earlier every year.

The Significance of Ramadan
Ramadan is the 4th of the 5 pillars of Islam
1. Shahadah - Declaration of faith
2. Salah - Daily (5) prayers 
3. Zakat - Purification of wealth (2.5% of annual savings go to the poor). Zakah is an Arabic word, root  “zaka” means to grow, to increase, or to be pure in heart.
4. Siyam - Fasting during Ramadan is obligatory to all adult Muslims except those who are exempt.
5. Hajj- Pilgrimage to Makkah - obligatory once in a lifetime for those who are physically and financially able. 

Primary objective:  
To attain taqwa “God consciousness“/ self-discipline Taqwa is an Arabic word that comes from the root “wiqaya” which means prevention/protection

Spiritual objectives/benefits:
1. Helps Muslims draw closer to God through increased recitation and reflection of the Qur’an and additional prayers/worship.
2. Aids in increase of iman (faith) and ihsan (sincerity and righteousness) and removal of riyya’ (showing off).
3. Aids in purification of the heart/soul and helps to improve one’s character.
4. Trains the person to do praiseworthy acts e.g. charity, kindness, generosity, patience and forgiveness.

Physical Objectives/benefits:

1. A fasting person experiences some of the hardships of the poor and hungry.
2. Physiological effects include lowering of blood sugar, cholesterol and systolic blood pressure.
3. Improves strength, endurance and self-discipline through physical abstentions.

• Physical Aspect: Refrain from food, drink and intimacy during fasting hours

• Spiritual Aspect: Refrain from blameworthy thoughts and acts e.g. foul language, vain talk, hurtful behaviour, during all hours

• All Muslims except: children, sick adults (mentally or physically), adults travelling long distances, and women who are menstruating, in post-childbirth care, pregnant or breast-feeding. 

• Sahoor: Meal before dawn and the first prayer of the day.
• Iftar: breaking of the fast at Sunset (coincides with the 4th daily prayer).
• Ziarat: Social gatherings e.g. visiting relatives, sharing food with neighbours, friends, and the poor.
• Tarawih: Optional Prayers at early night (20-21hrs*)
• Qiraat: Reading of the Qur’ãn during free time.
• Qiam: Optional late-night prayers in the last 10 days (02-04hrs*).   

• Eid-ul Fitr: The feast marking end of Ramadan.
• Zakat-ul Fitr: A prescribed amount of money obligatory on every Muslim, calculated to feed one poor person in his region for one day.
• Eid activities include:
  • Eid prayer in the early morning.
  • Visiting family, friends, neighbours, the sick, elderly etc. 
  • Enjoying festive meals.
  • Modest gift-giving especially to children.
  • The greeting on that day is:  Eid Mubarak

1. Practicing Muslim colleagues will not eat during lunch or breakfast time.
2. They probably try to avoid meetings extending after 5 p.m.
3. Won't be able to actively participate department parties (or social events) during Ramadan.
4. It is common to take vacation during the last week of Ramadan.
5. They will most likely take Eid Day off, especially for those with family.
6. Greeting colleagues saying: “Ramadan Mubarak” (Blessed Ramadan) is a very nice way to cross into a new culture.
7. If invited to share Iftar, try to make it… it will be fun! (Remember what Iftar is? If not, go back up to re-read, thanks!)

• Ramadan is a month of fasting.
• Physical abstentions and intensification of acts of worship are a means towards attaining the spiritual objectives of self purification and improvement.
• Essentially a month of training used to discipline/prepare oneself for the remainder of the year.