Holy month of Ramadan. The beginning of fasting among Muslims

Ramadan is the sacred and main month of Muslims. At this time they begin a fast, which is prescribed to practically everyone. The Feast of the Month of Ramadan is a time for understanding your "I". Muslims refuse practically all worldly goods, such as water, food, intimate relationships and any bad habits.

Post Features

Fasting in the month of Ramadan can last up to 30 days. It takes place at different times, depending on the lunar calendar, on which it is installed. The main feature of Ramadan is that it begins every day as soon as the dawn comes. Muslims perform the first prayer - the morning azan, and from that moment the fast begins, but every evening, just after sunset, when the last day prayer is performed, the evening azan, the fasting ends, and it will continue only with the coming of the next morning. That is, the fast does not work at night. For this reason, sexual intercourse is forbidden in this month only during the day, as in fact there is no such post at night.

The beginning of Ramadan is announced by the appearance of a young moon, which is met by Muslims.

Early in the morning or late in the evening, every Muslim after a prayer says aloud the following words: "I will today (tomorrow) carry out the holy month of Ramadan in the name of Allah."

Throughout Ramadan, one can note the growth of the number of good deeds, the commission of good deeds and the distribution of alms. The fact is that according to the speeches of Muhammad, during the fasting, Allah increases the significance of any good deed 700 times, and the Shaytaan at this time is chained in a chain and is not able to prevent a person from doing good or doing good deeds.

On the streets in the hands of children and near houses in the month of Ramadan you can often see flashlights - fans. It is a very ancient tradition to light them, especially at night. This is a kind of part of the post, a kind of symbol. Also in honor of the beginning of the month fireworks and salutes are often arranged, but such joys are arranged already after sunset. Some people also decorate houses, for example, with the same flashlights and various kinds of other illumination.

Given that in the daytime Muslims have little to do, the streets are deserted. But at night, open all the trays with street food and entertainment, as you can eat, and have fun.

Food and water

Ramadan literally by the hour paints all the canons. Morning meal (suhur) occurs before dawn, that is, until the sun has risen, you can have breakfast, but with the first rays of the sun the meal ends. After that, the fajr (pre-dawn prayer) is read. Evening meal (iftar) occurs already after sunset, when it becomes dark. First you need to say the evening prayer, and then start eating. The meal begins, drinking three sips of water and eating a few dates.

Dishes on this holiday are served any - and meat, and vegetable, as well as cereals. From drinks, tea, coffee, milk and water are preferred.

Water is one of the prohibitions of the month of Ramadan. However, it is not only the refusal to drink water that is meant. Any presence of fluid in the mouth with subsequent swallowing is prohibited. Up to the point that you can not swallow water when brushing your teeth, or the saliva of a partner when you kiss. If you take a shower and the water accidentally gets into your mouth, you also need to spit it out, not swallow it.

The meaning of fasting in Ramadan

The main goal of Ramadan is to strengthen the spirit and will power, demonstrate faith, spiritual and physical faith and strength, control over your thoughts and desires. That is, at this time the Muslims are testing themselves for strength, you can put it this way. This is the time when you can prove how persistent you are, to show the strength of spirit.

And yet, the holy month of Ramadan is always properly observed by all Muslims, even if they live in another country. This is a sacred rule, one of the five pillars of Islam. And if someone could not keep the post for various reasons, this person must observe it in any other month, but definitely before the next Ramadan.

Contemplation and comprehension are the inalienable companions of Ramadan. Reading the Koran and spending the whole day in prayer is a natural way of life throughout the entire fast. Muslims rethink their past deeds, plan future deeds, in principle, just for this purpose, a post was created. The point is not to cleanse the body or not to eat for a long time, namely, to look from one side to one's achievements, to realize that a person has what is not enough to think about all this. A refusal of food, water and love relationships frees time for spiritual growth and clears the head of all unnecessary thoughts.

Who is freed from fasting?

The beginning of the month of Ramadan is one for all, however, there are people who can not fast, or "postpone" it. People of a different religion, little children or adults with different psychological illnesses that interfere with fasting. Maternal and nursing mothers may also not follow the fast. After all, in these cases, correct and timely intake of food can affect not only health, but also human life. Women during critical days may also not perform fasting, but only on condition that they themselves want it.

In any case, even people suffering from mental disorders or a nursing mother can fast if they want. This is dangerous, but for Muslims it is important, and therefore such cases also occur.

It is not necessary to observe fasting in principle to those who can not physically do it. For example, if a person is seriously ill and needs to eat right, or if it is very elderly, a very weak person, or if it is a traveler who needs strength for the road. For example, a lost traveler without food can even die, he needs to eat when there is a possibility. If a person flies to an important meeting, he needs strength, since a heavy journey and stress can greatly undermine health.

What can you do in Ramadan

• Do not deviate from the rules of fasting.
• Take food or water for vital necessities.
• Wash off with water or swim, but do not get water into your mouth.
• To do good deeds.
• Kissing without swallowing the partner's saliva.
• Give blood.

What is not allowed in Ramadan

• You can not drink alcohol in any of its forms and manifestations.
• Smoking is also prohibited.
• Inhale various strong fragrant smells.
• Drip drops in the eyes, nose or ears.
• Detain the contents of the intestines or, on the contrary, induce vomiting.
• To enter into sexual relations (in the afternoon), and in any form.
• To put banks.
• Eat and drink.
• Use medication vaginally or rectally.

In the event of a violation of Ramadan

Depending on the cause, different punishments are established for the violation of fasting in the holy month of Ramadan. So, for example, if the cause was in sickness or old age, you need to feed the poor man, and the amount spent on it should be equal to the price of the products personally eaten.

If the reason is respectful: pregnancy, travel or other valid reasons. Ramadan for such people is transferred and performed at any other time, until the next Ramadan. Separately missed days of fasting, for example, because of critical days, are transferred to the next month. That is, the post will end not in the due time, but after "working off" those days that the Muslim missed.

If during sexual intercourse sex was committed during the day, it is punishable by 60 days of continuous fasting. That is, twice as much is necessary to fast. True, such punishment can be replaced by feeding 60 poor people.

Regardless of the reason, any violation of fasting is a grave sin, so a person is obliged to repent.

The end of the month of Ramadan will mark the coming of the new month Shavval. Ramadan Bairam or Id ul-fitr, the so-called holiday, which is arranged after the sunset of the last day of fasting. A solemn meal is held in honor of the successful Ramadan and general obligatory alms are brought.