Ramadhan 101

شَہۡرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ هُدً۬ى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَٱلۡفُرۡقَانِ‌ۚ فَمَن شَہِدَ مِنكُمُ

ٱلشَّہۡرَ فَلۡيَصُمۡهُ‌ۖ وَمَن ڪَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوۡ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ۬ فَعِدَّةٌ۬ مِّنۡ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ‌ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِڪُمُ ٱلۡيُسۡرَ وَلَا

يُرِيدُ بِڪُمُ ٱلۡعُسۡرَ وَلِتُڪۡمِلُواْ ٱلۡعِدَّةَ وَلِتُڪَبِّرُواْ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَٮٰكُمۡ وَلَعَلَّڪُمۡ تَشۡكُرُونَ

"The month of Ramadhan in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast the same) number of other days. Allah desireth for you ease; He desireth not hardship for you; and (He desireth) that ye should complete the period, and that ye should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that peradventure ye may be thankful." [002:185]

There are 3 parts in the month of Ramadhan. Divided by its first 10 days, the mid 10 days and the last 10 days.

Part 1. Rahmah (mercy)
Part 2. Maghfirah (forgiveness)
Part 3. Nijah (salvation)

During Ramadhan, Muslims are expected to put extra effort into following the teachings of Islam as well as refraining from anger, envy, greed, lust, sarcastic retorts, backstabbing, and gossip. In addition to fasting, Muslims are encouraged to recite the Qur’an in its entirety.

Fasting is intended to be an exacting act of deep personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised level of closeness to God. The act of fasting is to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. Properly observing the saum (fast) is supposed to induce a comfortable feeling of peace and calm. It also allows Muslims to practice self-discipline, sacrifice, as well as to evoke the feeling of sympathy towards those who are less fortunate, with the intention of making Muslims more generous and charitable.

Performing the prayer of Sunah Tarawikh and Sunah Witr after the Fardhu Isha' every night in Ramadhan is also urged for all Muslims. The prayers consist of 8 rakaah, followed by 3 rakaah.

Fardhu (mandatory)
Sunah (optional)
Haram (forbidden)

The best night in Ramadhan is called the night of Lailatul Qadr. It is the night that angel Jibril (Gabriel) came down to mankind. The Holy Qur'an was sent from Allah on this night to the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.). Muslims are encouraged to perform du'a and zikr (supplication) during this period.

Qadr in English means honour, dignity or power. Lailatul Qadr means the night of honour or night of power. It is this night in which the first Divine Revelation came to the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), when he was in prayer in the cave of Hira.

This is one of the holiest and most blessed nights in Ramadhan, in which the reward of worship on this night alone is better than the worship of a thousand months, equivalent to a person’s lifetime. Muslims do not know when Lailatul Qadr is exactly, but it likely occurred on one of the odd nights on the last 10 days of Ramadhan according to Islamic scholars. On this night one should perform Nafil Namaz, recite the Qur'an, du'a and zikr as much as possible.

Before I end, I would like to wish my dear family and all my Muslim friends hearty iftars (break fast) during this month and Eid Mubarak! May Allah reward all your good deeds in abundance, insyaAllah.