Islam uses the lunar calendar – this means that every month begins to observe the new moon, because the lunar calendar is about eleven days shorter than the solar calendar, the Islamic months „move“ every year . This year (2008) the Islamic month of Ramadhan falls almost exactly in September. For Muslims, the arrival of Ramadhan is a source of joy and celebration; however, we celebrate in a way that may seem strange to people who are not so familiar with the customs of Islam. Ramadhan is not a month of parties and socializing, it is a month of worship. Fasting the month of Ramadhan is one of the pillars of Islam.
Muslims express their gratitude and love for the One True God by obeying and worshiping Him. We worship Him according to His guidance, which He revealed in the Quran and in the authentic traditions of the Prophet Muhammad. Ramadhan is something special. It is a month of fasting, reading and understanding the Quran as well as special prayers. The mosques come to life in the evening when the Muslims gather to break the fast and pray. The pleasant sound of Quran recitations can be heard at night when the prayers stand shoulder to shoulder and praise and praise God.
Muslims around the world love Ramadhan and are looking forward to it with growing excitement. In the weeks leading up to Ramadhan, life is scrutinized and plans are made for a month of sincere worship and worship. The countdown begins and conversations begin with how many weeks it takes for the blessed month to begin. Perhaps non-Muslims are wondering why we are looking forward to fasting days and sleepless nights. Ramadhan offers the possibility of atonement and great reward. It’s not a month like any other. It is a month of spiritual reflection and prayer. The hearts are turned away from worldly activities and are aligned with God.
In the month of Ramadhan, all mature and healthy Muslims are obliged to fast: to refrain from eating, drinking, chewing chewing gum, tobacco consumption of any kind and any esxual contact from sunrise to sunset. But this is only the physical aspect, there are also spiritual qualities that include refraining from talking, lying, slander and all bad traits. All obscene and godless looks and noises are avoided to purify thoughts and deeds. Fasting is also a means to experience hunger and sympathy for the less fortunate, and to learn gratitude and appreciation for all of God’s gifts.
God said:
„Oh you, who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those who were before you. Maybe you will fear (Allah). ” (Quran 2: 183)
The Prophet Muhamad also reminded us that fasting is not simply a matter of prohibiting eating and drinking, but there is another dimension. He said, „If anyone does not stay away from lying and misbehaving, God has no need for them to refrain from eating and drinking.“ [1]
Ramadhan is also a month in which Muslims try to relate to the Quran or to re-establish it. It makes you sound strange when you say the words of God are a light of guidance and a grace. Nobody reads the Quran without changing his or her life in any way. The Quran was sent down in the month of Ramadhan. The two, the Ramadhan and the Quran, are inseparable. Being busy with the Quran, reading, memorizing or thinking about its meaning is spiritually uplifting, comforting and a source of strength. The recitation at night is particularly beneficial, the distractions of the day have disappeared and the closeness to God can be felt in the silence of the night. Special night prayers are prayed in which parts of the Quran are recited. These prayers are known as tara beings. One thirtieth of the Quran is read on consecutive evenings, so that at the end of the month the whole Quran is completed.
One of the last odd nights of the month is Laylat ul-Qadr, the „night of power“ or „night of destiny.“ It is the holiest night in the holiest month; it is believed that this was the night God first began to reveal the Quran to Prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel. This is a time for especially fervent and humble prayers, and the wages and blessings associated with it are huge. Muslims are told in the Quran that prayer on this one night is better than a thousand months of prayer. Nobody knows exactly what night it is; this is one of God’s secrets.
Ramadhan is also the month of good deeds and alms. Muslims try to give generously and to increase their good deeds. Charity can be as simple as a smile; there is no need for wasteful display. Alms given in silence are better for the recipient and the giver. The Prophet Muhammad was always a generous man, he never had more than what covered his immediate needs. He generously gave everything beyond that to those around him, but he was most generous in Ramadhan.
You might be wondering if these aren’t actually the values and qualities of a Muslim who is truly devoted to God that he should have every month anyway, and that’s correct. They certainly are. However, as human beings, we have our shortcomings, we commit sins and we make mistakes. Sometimes the nature of life makes us forget our real purpose. The purpose of our life is to serve God and God has given us Ramadhan in His infinite wisdom and grace. It is a month that, when used wisely, recharges our spiritual and physical batteries. It is a month of grace and forgiveness when God makes it easy to overcome our shortcomings when He rewards us in abundance. He is our creator who understands that we are far from perfect. When we walk towards God, He runs towards us; when we stretch out our hands, He grabs us and grants us His forgiveness. Muslims love Ramadhan, it’s a lifeline. They stand shoulder to shoulder and bow their heads in submission. Ramadhan spreads across the world when Muslims start and break their fast together, one body, one people and one nation. Ramadhan comes gently and his deeds rise quietly to God. Far from being a test of deprivation, the month of Ramadhan is a joy and an incomparable gift. Even before the month is over, Muslims begin to mourn the passing of this blessed month and try to take advantage of the time
Footnotes:
[1] Sahieh Al-Bukhari, Sahieh Muslim.
Source: https://www.islamland.com/deu/articles/warum-muslime-den-monat-ramadhan-lieben