12 Interesting Facts About Ramadan [Must Read For All Muslims]

 As Muslims all over the world are marking the start

of the holy month of Ramadan on Monday, 6th June,

Naijaloaded has put together 12 very interesting

facts non-Muslims probably didn’t know about

Ramadan.

1.Ramadan, the ninth month on the Muslim

calendar, is celebrated as the month when the first

verses of the Quran were said to be revealed to the

prophet Muhammad in 610 CE. Laylat al-Qadr, or

Night of Power, is thought to be the actual day when

the Quran was given to the prophet and usually

falls within the last 10 days of the holiday.

2.During Ramadan, observers are expected to

abstain from food, drink, and other pleasures from

dawn to dusk. Removing these comforts from daily

routine is intended to focus the mind on prayer,

spirituality, and charity and to purify the body and

mind. Muslims are also expected to abstain from

impurities such as gossip and cursing.

3.Several different groups are excused from

fasting during Ramadan: pregnant women,

people who are mentally or physically ill, and

sometimes women who are breastfeeding. Children

are not obligated to fast until they hit puberty,

although many choose to observe the fast at least

part of the month in preparation for later years.

4. The start of Ramadan is determined by

the moon.

5. The date changes every year. Islam functions

on a lunar calendar that doesn’t quite line up with

the solar Gregorian calendar that the secular world

uses. So while Muslim holidays are always the same

day on the Muslim calendar, they happen on

different days on the Gregorian calendar – typically

moving 11 or 12 days earlier each year. In 2012,

Ramadan began on July 19.

6.In countries where Muslims are the

majority, Ramadan has a drastic impact on daily

life. Egypt pushes the clocks back an hour during

the holy month so that the fast feels like it is

ending earlier and the evenings are lengthened.

Work days are made shorter during the month to

accommodate the additional time spent in prayer

and in enjoying festive meals to end the daily fast.

7.It is believed that Muhammad received the

first revelation during Ramadan.

8.In Muslim countries the economy is

impacted because of the fasting . It usually

results in a month of inflation; prices go up.

9.During Ramadan Muslims are obligated to

give to charity through Sadaqa ( voluntary

giving), or Zakat (mandatory giving).

10.The Five Pillars of Islam include Sawm:

Fasting during Ramadan, Hajj: a pilgrimage to

Mecca at least once in their life, Zakat: giving to the

poor, Salat: five-time daily prayer, facing Mecca,

including absolution prior to prayer, Shalada:

declaration of belief in one true God.

11.The meal before the beginning of the fast

is called suhoor, and the meal after sunset is

called iftar.

12.The first prayer of the day is called Fajr.

From Naijaloaded We wish you all a wonderful

month of Ramadan, May Allah Accept your prayers.

#AME