Ramadhan

Ramadan ( رمضان, Ramaḍān) is a Muslim religious observance that takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, believed to be the month in which the Qur'an began to reveal. It is the Islamic month of fasting in which Muslims don't eat or drink anything and abstain from intercource or ejaculation (not a wetdream)from sunrise 'till sunset. Fasting is meant to teach the person patience and humility.

Origin
The name "Ramadan" is taken from the name of this month; the word itself derived from an Arabic word for intense heat, scorched ground, and shortness of rations. It is considered the most venerated and blessed month of the Islamic year. Prayers, fasting(sawm), charity, and self-accountability are especially stressed at this time; religious observances associated with Ramadan are kept throughout the month.

Practices during Ramadan

Fasting
The most prominent event of this month is the fasting (sawm) practiced by all Muslims. Every day during the month of Ramadan, Muslims around the world get up before dawn to eat the Suhoor meal (the pre dawn meal) and perform their fajr prayer. They break their fast when the fourth prayer of the day, Maghrib (sunset), is due.

During Ramadan, Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam and to avoid obscene and irreligious sights and sounds. Purity of both thought and action is important. The fast is intended to be an exacting act of deep personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised level of closeness to Allah Almighty. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from forbidden(harm). Properly observing the fast is supposed to induce a comfortable feeling of peace and calm. It also allows Muslims to practice self-discipline, sacrifice, and sympathy for those who are less fortunate, intended to make Muslims more generous and charitable. Muslims can eat after the sun has set. Pregnant women(if it is harmful to them), the elderly, the ill and children less than 12 years of age(Minors) are all exempted as it is not obligatry on them.

Prayer and reading of the Qur'an

The Muslims tend to perform the recitation of the entire Qur'an by means of special prayers, called Taravih, which are held in the mosques every night of the month to complete the Whole Quran during the month, so that by the end of the month the entire Qur'an has been completed. Taravih is an Arabic word referring to those extra prayers. This prayer is performed after salah of Isha'a, but before the witr rakat.

Muslims also pay Zakat (only applicable if one can afford it) during the month. For those who qualify to pay Zakaat, as per the Islamic Nisab (that is those whose wealth exceeds their necessities), of the leftover of their wealth earned in that Islamic calendar year. Although Zakat can be paid any time of the year, it has to be calculated on a year to year basis, and many Muslims use Ramadan as the month for calculation and disbursement.

Ramadan is also a time when Muslims are to slow down from worldly affairs and focus on self reformation, spiritual cleansing and enlightenment, establishing a link between Allah Almighty and themselves by prayer, supplication, charity, good deeds, kindness and helping others.

Since it is a festival of giving and sharing, Muslims prepare special foods. There is also a social aspect involved – the preparing of special foods and inviting people for the Iftar meal (the meal to break the Fast).

In many Muslim and non Muslim countries with large Muslim populations, markets close down in the evening to enable people to perform prayers and consume the Iftar meal (the meal to end the fast) – these markets then re-open and stay open for a good part of the night. Muslims can be seen shopping, eating, spending time with their friends and family during the evening hours.

Events of Ramadan
Laylat al-Qadr (لیلة القدر) (known as Shab-e Qadr in Persian), literally the "Night of Power" or "Night of Measures", is the anniversary of two very important dates in Islam that occurred in the month of Ramadan.Muslims believe that it was the night of the Laylat al-Qadr that the Chapter 97(Al Qadr 'Power') of the Quran was revealed. The exact night of the Laylat al-Qadr is only known to Allah and Muhammed but He chooses to keep it to Himself so that Muslims won't pray only that night. That is why Muhammad indicated that it was one of the last ten odd nights of Ramadan.

The Islamic holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (عيد الفطر) marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan and the first day of the following month, after another new moon has been sighted. The Eid falls after 29 or 30 days of fasting, as per the lunar sighting.

Muslims are encouraged to fast six days in Shawwal, the month following Ramadan that begins after Eid ul-Fitr; these days need not be consecutive. According to hadith, one who fasts the month of Ramadan and six days during Shawwal will be rewarded as though he fasted the entire year.

how mubarak ramadan! all peace upon world;

good one hamid

Ramadhan Mubarak to All.

Thanks for timely article.

Ramadan Mubarik to everyone!

Obama and Clinton wish Muslims happy Ramadan Hillary Clinton US President Barack Obama on Wednesday wished all Muslims in the US and around the world a happy Ramadan, which Muslims spend in extra prayer and fasting.   function addthis_click(title){ var addthis_url = location.href; var aturl = ‘http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php’; aturl += ’?v=10’; aturl += ‘&pub=oezlems’; aturl += ‘&url=’+encodeURIComponent(addthis_url); aturl += ‘&title=’+encodeURIComponent(title); window.open(aturl,’addthis’,’scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100’); } Today's interactive toolbox <!- AddThis Button BEGIN -> var addthis_pub=”4a1144020f8eb5c4”; var addthis_options = ‘favorites, digg, google, live, facebook, stumbleupon, twitter, more’; var addthis_language=’en’; <!- AddThis Button END -> Video Photo Audio Send to print Send to my friend Post your comments Read comments <!- <a onclick=”addthis_click(‘Obama and Clinton wish Muslims happy Ramadan’);” href=”http://www.englishbaby.com/forum/LifeTalk/thread/409962-ramadhan#”> <img-> <!- width=”194” border=”0” src=”images/share.bmp” /> </a>->   “We all must remember that the world we want to build, and the changes that we want to make, must begin in our hearts, and our own communities,” Obama said in a statement issued by the White House. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also issued the traditional greeting used at the onset of the month, Ramadan Kareem. “Ramadan is a time for self reflection and sharing. American Muslims make a valuable contribution to our country every day and millions of people will respect this month, with the act of serving and doing for their community,” she said. Both Clinton and Obama hosted an iftar (fast-breaking dinner). Clinton hosted an iftar with dozens of guests from embassies in Washington, while Obama received a guest for dinner at the White House. Obama said: “Rituals of Ramadan remind us of the principles that we hold in common, and the role of Islam in improving justice, progress, tolerance and dignity of all human beings. Here, in the United States, Ramadan is a reminder that Islam has always been a part of America and that American Muslims have made extraordinary contributions to our country.” “And today, I would like to express my hopes for the 1.5 billion Muslims around the world - and to your family and friends - when you welcome the beginning of Ramadan,” he said. “Peace be with you.”

by the way ; hey mome why u closed ur forum topics; or forbidden by site?

nice topic tnx

ramadan moubarak to all

Ramadhan of this year is closed,Ramadan Mubarak to all of you