What is Ramadan?
Islam is a Faith created 622 years ago in the Arabian penisula based on five core principles; believing in these principles is key to being identified as a follower of the Islamic faith. These five principles are also referred to as the Five Pillars of Islam: Shahadah (belief in one God, Allah SWT), Salat (prayer), Zakat (charity), Sawm (to fast), and Hajj (pilgrimage). These are acts of worship that Allah (SWT) has made compulsory. Fasting for Ramadan is one of the five pillars, meaning it is mandatory for all able Muslims and forms a significant aspect of their devotion to Allah.
In the month of Ramadan, there are three very important nights called the Nights of Decree(Laylat-al-Qadr). These Nights usually fall in the last ten of Ramadan (the 19th,21st,and 23rd nights). Muslims believe that important events happened during these nights.
First, it is believed that the Qur-an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammed on one of these nights. Because of this, the nights are considered very holy.
Second, in the Islamic belief, during the night of Decree the destiny of people for the coming year is decided, and angels come down to the earth. That is why we pray more and make many supplications on these nights.
Also, in Islamic history, Ali ibn Abi Talib was wounded on the 19th night of Ramadan and passed away on the 21st night. These nights are therefore very special and full of prayer for many Muslims.
Ramadan is an important month for Muslim people. Ramadan is thirty days.In these thirty days people have been fasting from morning to night time. During Ramadan, Muslim fast from dawn until sunset, which means they do not eat or drink during the daytime. The fast means to help people practice self control, be thankful for what they have, and focus on their faith. Many Muslims also spend more time praying, reading the Qur’an, and helping people in need. Families and communities often gather to break the fast in the evening meal called iftar. After Ramadan Muslim people celebrated Eid.
Eid is an important holiday celebrated by Muslims around the world. There are two main Eids we have. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Eid al- Fitr comes after the holy month of Ramdan and celebrates the end of fasting. On this day, Muslims gather for special prayers, wear new clothes, visit family and friends, and share meals together. They also give charity to help people in need. Also in Eid times adults give children money. Eid is a joyful time that brings families and communities together to celebrate gratitude, kindness, and faith.
How is 30 day season of Ramadan similar to the roots of the Jewish celebration of Passover and the Christian 40 day season of Lent?
Jesus of Nazareth, who the Christians call Jesus Christ, son of God was a Jewish man born in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. The Jewish prophets are recongnized by Christians in their sacred scripture known as the Bible and by Muslims in their sacred scripture known as the Qur’an. The Bible contains Jewish sacred scripture in the books known as the Old Testament and the Psalms. Within the Bible the man Jesus revelas himself as God and Messiah. Christians follow the New Testament of the Bible as a revelation of the life, teaching, death, and ressurection of Jesus who they believe is the son of God made man . Beleiveing in God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in a relationship of 3 distinct persons united into one God is a central Christian practice. The practice of Lent in Christianity is a 40 day season of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving that prepares Christians to receive the Easter mystery which they celebrate for 50 days after the Jewish feast of Passover.
The Jewish people continued in their traditional ways but the believers in Jesus as God became the first Christians. over 500 years went by before the Prophet Mohammad is believed to have received messages from the same messenger angel of the Bible kown as Gabriel. The shared roots and geography if these three religions leads to similar practices today that recognize temptation, sin and the need for purification through deliverance. Fasting, Prayer, and Almsgiving are common practices in all three religions. The season of Ramadan overlaps with the season of Lent in Christianity. Lent is a time to prepare for the central solemn season of Easter which commemorates Jesus being put to death and rising again to life. He celebrated his Last Supper with his close friends known as the 12 Apostles. This was a traditional Jewish Passover meal that became transformed by the Christian belief that Jesus was becoming the final sacrifice for all sins. The Jewish people would sacrifice an innocent lamb before God and mark their doors with lamb’s blood as a sign of the one God’s promise of protection when they were fleeing slavery in Egypt. Christians believe that God sent his son Jesus into the world to become the final innocent sacrifice throughout all history for all mankind. Since God entered into full humanity but also remained God, he becomes the new man or the new Adam, purifying the effects of sin. This becomes the central belief of Christian slavation. Jewish people believe in a savior but they believe he is yet to come.
