Ramadhan

   Ramadhan is the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar, and the month in which the Quran was revealed.Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The month is spent by Muslims fasting during the daylight hours from dawn to sunset.The Quran was sent down to the lowest heaven during this month, thus being prepared for gradual revelation by Jibreel (Gabriel) to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Furthermore, Muhammad told his followers that the gates of Heaven would be open all the month and the gates of Hell (Jahannam) would be closed.The first day of the next month, Shawwal, is spent in celebration and is observed as the "Festival of Breaking Fast" or Eid al-Fitr.



Timing:

The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. Since the Islamic lunar calendar year is 10 to 11 days shorter than the solar year and contains no intercalation, Ramadan migrates throughout the seasons. The Islamic day starts after sunset. The actual and estimated start and end dates for Ramadan in 2010–2020 were and are as follows

Many Muslims insist on the local physical sighting of the moon to mark the beginning of Ramadan, but others use the calculated time of the new moon or the Saudi Arabian declaration to determine the start of the month. Since the new moon is not in the same state at the same time globally, the beginning and ending dates of Ramadan depend on what lunar sightings are received in each respective location. As a result, Ramadan dates vary in different countries, but usually only by a day. This is due to the cycle of the moon. The moon travels the same path all year round and when the moon is seen in the east, it is then seen traveling towards the west. All the countries around the world see the moon within a 24 hour period once spotted by one country in the east.

Each year, Ramadan begins about eleven days earlier than in the previous year. Astronomical projections that approximate the start of Ramadan are available. It takes about 33 years and five days for Ramadan to complete a twelve month move across the yearly calendar.

Events:

Ramadan is observed by Muslims during the entire lunar month by the same name. The month of religious observances consists of fasting and extra prayers. Some important historical events during this month are generally believed to include:

• 2 Ramadan, the Torah (Tawrat) was bestowed on Moses (Musa)
• 10 Ramadan, death of Khadijah bint Khuwaylid – first wife of Muhammad
• 10 Ramadan, in 1973, Operation Badr took place, starting the Yom Kippur War
• 12 Ramadan, the Gospel (Injil) was bestowed on Jesus (Isa)
• 15 Ramadan, birth of Hasan ibn Ali
• 15 Ramadan, In the Ottoman Empire, the sultan presented trays of baklava to the Janissaries in a ceremonial procession called the Baklava Alayı
• 17 Ramadan, death of Aisha bint Abu Bakr – third wife of Muhammad
• 17 Ramadan, the Battle of Badr was won by the Muslims
• 18 Ramadan, the Psalms (Zabur) were bestowed on David (Dawood)
• 19 Ramadan, Ali bin Abu Talib was struck on the head by a sword
• 20 Ramadan, The great Islamic event that took place in Ramadan was Fatah Makkah (the conquest of Makkah)
• 21 Ramadan, Ali bin Abu Talib died due to injuries he sustained by a sword
• 27 Ramadan, The Islamic Republic of Pakistan was established on 14 August 1947 (27 Ramadan 1366 in the Islamic Calendar)

Laylat al-Qadr is observed during one of the last ten days of the month (typically the odd nights). Muslims believe that this night which is also known as "The Night of Power" is better than a thousand months. This is often interpreted as praying throughout this night is rewarded equally with praying for a thousand months (just over 83 years i.e. a lifetime). Many Muslims spend the entire night in prayer.



The fast of Ramadhan:

 The Month of Ramadan is also when it is believed the Holy Quran "was sent down from heaven, a guidance unto men, a declaration of direction, and a means of Salvation".

It is during this month that Muslims fast. It is called the Fast of Ramadan and lasts the entire month. Ramadan is a time when Muslims concentrate on their faith and spend less time on the concerns of their everyday lives. It is a time of worship and contemplation.

During the Fast of Ramadan strict restraints are placed on the daily lives of Muslims. They are not allowed to eat or drink during the daylight hours. Smoking and sexual relations are also forbidden during fasting. At the end of the day the fast is broken with prayer and a meal called the iftar. In the evening following the iftar it is customary for Muslims to go out visiting family and friends. The fast is resumed the next morning.



Sahur:

Sahour ( Arabic : سحور light of dawn), also in quotes Sehri , Sahari and Suhoor , is the term used to refer to Muslims to eat in the morning before fasting during the day in Ramadan . It was done before enter time Fajr , more precisely before the dawn call to prayer began pulsing. Suhoor is the meal in the early morning (before dawn prayer), while the iftar is to eat in the evening (Maghrib prayer at the start) to break the fast during Ramadan.

Suhoor is Sunnah muakkat the act is not required, but is very, very encouraged to implement. In fact, it made ​​the differential between dawn and morning Muslim Jews. Prophet 

1. Suhoor is Sunnah muakkat the act is not required, but is very, very encouraged to implement. In fact, it made ​​the differential between dawn and morning Muslim Jews. Prophet :"The differentiator between our fasting and the fasting of the Book is eating the meal". (Narrated by Muslim).

2. Allah made ​​the meal blessing. Prophet  :"Bersahurlah, indeed in the morning there is blessing." (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim)

3. Sahur produced by eating any food and drink kosher. Prophet :"Anyone who wishes to observe the bersahurlah with something" (Narrated by Ahmad, substantiated by syawahid).

Based on the Hadith, Muslims are encouraged meal with palm (palm). Prophet said:

"The best morning believer is dates (palm)". (Reported by Abu Dawud, Ibn Hibban and al-Bayhaqi, authentic chain of narration).

Iftar:

Iftar (Arabic: إفطار‎ ifṭār  "Breakfast"), refers to the evening meal when Muslims break their fast at the time of sunset, right at the time of maghrib adhan before Maghrib prayer, during the Islamic month of Ramadan.

Iftar is one of the religious observances of Ramadan and is often done as a community, with people gathering to break their fast together. Iftar is taken right after Maghrib time, which is around sunset. Traditionally but not mandatory, three dates are eaten to break the fast in emulation of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, who broke his fast in this manner. Many Muslims believe that feeding someone iftar as a form of charity is very rewarding and that such was practised by the Prophet Muhammad.

In Malaysia, iftar is known as "berbuka puasa", which literally means "to open the fast". As usual, the Muslims break the fast with either dried or fresh dates. There are various foodstuffs from the Malaysian cuisine available in Bazaar Ramadhan (local food markets open during fasting month) such as sugarcane juice, soybean milk mixed with grass jelly,nasi lemak, laksa, ayam percik, nasi ayam, satay, popia basah and others. Besides, there are many exclusive restaurants and hotels providing special iftar and dinner packages for those who want to break the fast outside with the families and friends. Even most of the mosques in Malaysia also provide free bubur lambok (rice porridge) after Asar prayers.

After iftar and maghrib prayer, there will be Isya prayer followed by tarawih prayer. And after that, most Malaysian Muslims usually will have special supper called moreh(pronounced as more-ray) with local traditional snacks and hot tea.