eHow launches Android app: Get the best of eHow on the go.

  • Bookmark and Share

Ramadan

    Ramadan Editor's Picks

    • About Ramadan

      Ramadan is a religious observance of Islam that occurs during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. During this time, Muslims around the world do not eat or drink anything from sunrise to sunset in order to learn patience and humility. While fasting, those observing Ramadan will repent for their sins and pray more often than usual... more »

    • How to Observe Ramadan

      Each year, Muslims throughout the world observe the holy month of Ramadan, which falls during the ninth lunar cycle of the Islamic calendar. Since Ramadan is marked by the emergence of the new moon during this period, Muslims in varying parts of the world may begin to observe the holiday at slightly different times. For instance,... more »

    • How to Make the Most out of Ramadan

      Ramadan is a special time of year for Muslims around the world. A time for personal reflection, devotion and self-sacrifice, Muslims view Ramadan as the most blessed period on the Islamic calendar. Read on and gather ideas on how to make the most of Ramadan. more »

    • How to Fast During Ramadan

      Ramadan is celebrated during the ninth month of the "Hijri," or the Islamic lunar calendar. Ramadan marks the time of year in which the divine messages from Allah were first bestowed upon the Prophet Muhammad and later embodied in the Holy Book of Qur'an. An important part of Ramadan is the fast that Muslims undertake to purify mind... more »

    • What Is the Origin of Ramadan?

      Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, is intended to draw attention to the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which is when it is traditionally believed that the Prophet Mohammed was given the Qur'an. The Ramadan celebration is named after the month during which it occurs. more »

    Ramadan Quick Guides

    • Honor Ramadan

      The ninth lunar cycle of Islam's calendar marks Ramadan, a holy month of personal reflection,...

    Ramadan Articles

    • How to Send a Ramadan ECard

      The month of Ramadan is of important religious and spiritual significance in the Islam religion. However, it's not always easy to express your... more »

    • How to Observe Laylat Al-Qadr

      Laylat Al-Qadr, also referred to as the "Night of Measures" or the "Night of Decree," earmarks several important anniversaries that are essential... more »

    • How to Prepare Suhoor and Iftar Meals

      During the month of Ramadan, Muslims practice Sawm, or fasting, during the hours between sunrise and sunset. However, most Muslims rise before... more »

    • How to Celebrate Eid Ul-Fitr

      Eid Ul-Fitr is a celebratory feast that marks the end of the fasting period of the Islamic month of Ramadan and ushers in the month of Shawwaal.... more »

    • How to Respect Ashura

      Ashura, commemorated on the tenth day of the month of Muharram on the Islamic lunar calendar, is a day of respect for the martyrdom of Husain... more »

    Wikipedia

    Ramadan

    Ramadan ( Ramaḍān, ) (also written Ramazan, Ramzan, Ramadhan, Ramdan, Ramadaan) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and indulging in anything that is in excess or ill-natured; from dawn until sunset. ; BBC, 03 October 2005 Fasting is meant to teach the Muslim patience, modesty and spirituality. Ramadan is a time for Muslims to fast for the sake of God ( and to offer more prayer than usual. During Ramadan, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds. As compared to the solar calendar, the dates of Ramadan vary, moving forward about ten days each year as it is a moving holiday depending on the moon. Ramadan was the month in which the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Islamic Prophet Muhammad.

    Origins of Ramadan
    The name "Ramadan" had been the name of the ninth month in Arabian culture long before the arrival of Islam; the word itself derived from an Arabic root , as in words like "" or "" denoting intense heat, scorched ground and shortness of rations. In the Quran, God proclaims that "fasting has been written down (as obligatory) upon you, as it was upon those before you". According to the earliest hadith, this refers to the Jewish practice of fasting on Yom Kippur.Sunan al-Tirmidhi I.145.

    Sometimes referred to as "the night of fate", Laylat al-Qadr is considered the most holy night of the year, as it is the night in which the Quran was revealed to Muhammad.Robinson> Muslims believe it to have occurred on an odd-numbered night during the last 10 days of Ramadan, either the night of the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th (in Sunni thought) or the 19th, 21st or 23rd (in Shia thought). Ramadan ends with Eid ul-Fitr on the 1 of Shawwal, with much celebration and feasting. During the month following Ramadan, read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan

    Related Ads

    Ramadan People & Community

    Connect with people who share your interest by joining one of our Groups:

    Topic Contributors
    Get Free Culture & Society Newsletters

    Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.   en-US Portions of this page are modifications based on work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.

    Demand Media