When Is Ramadan 2020
Ramadan 2020 should start on Thursday evening April 25, 2020
(according to Saudi Arabia) and end on Saturday May 24, 2020. Eid-Al-Fitr 2020
should be celebrated on Sunday May 24, 2020. This is the tentative date because
the actual date of the start of Ramadan 2020 is subject to moon observation.
What Is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar / Hijri
calendar. The duration of the month varies between 29 and 30 days depending on
the observation of the moon of Shawwal which leads to the eagerly awaited
Islamic festival of Eid ul Fitr on the 1st of Shawwal. Ramadan is one of the
five pillars of Islam and during this holy month, Al-Quran was first revealed
to the Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W.). The word "Ramadan" is taken from
the Arabic word "Ramad / Ramida" which means scorching heat or
drought. So the word Ramadan represents abstinence from eating anything and
drinking water from dawn to dusk.
Calendar:
Fasting Is Obligatory During Ramadan
Millions of Muslims around the world quickly observe from
dawn to dusk throughout the month of Ramadan as it is the holiest month for the
entire Muslim Ummah.
The word fasting has different words in different languages
around the world. It is known as "ayuno" in Spanish,
"Jeûne" in French, "Perhiz" in Turkish, "صوم / صيام" in Arabic and "Puasa" in
Indonesian and Malaysian. The word ‘Sawm / Siyam’ (صوم / صيام)
means to abstain or to abstain from something. It means abstaining from food,
drink, intercourse and anything that breaks the fast with the sole intention of
doing so to obey ALLAH. Anyone who denies this obligation to fast during Ramadan
does not remain a Muslim.
The food consumed before the start of Fajr is known as
"Suhoor" and that consumed after sunset (Maghrib Salah) is called
"Iftar".
Fasting was made compulsory during the month of Ramadan for
all adult Muslims in the second year of Hijri (migration from Mecca to Medina
of Muslims). As ALLAH the Almighty says in the Qur'an:
“Oh you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may learn piety and righteousness.”
Who is Exempt from Fasting
Even though fasting during Ramadan is mandatory for any able
Muslim, ALLAH has forgiven and excused some people from the act of fasting if
they cannot fast during Ramadan for certain legitimate reasons. In Surat
Al-Baqara (2: 185), ALLAH made it clear that sick people and travelers are
exempt from fasting during Ramadan. However, in light of this Aya and according
to many researchers, the following people are also exempt from fasting:
1- Physical or Mentally ill people.
2- Travelers.
3- Women during menstruation.
4- Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
5- Elderly People (if fast will further deteriorate their
health).
6- Children who have not reached puberty.
Common factors that cancel fasting
Here are some common factors that cancel a person's fast:
1- Medication taken by the nose or the ears.
2- Intentionally vomiting with a full mouth.
3- Water accidentally flows into the throat while gargling.
4- Ejaculate because of contact with a woman.
5- Swallow items that are not normally consumed, such as a
stick or a piece of iron.
6- Smoke a cigarette.
7- After eating or drinking with forgetfulness, it is
assumed that his fast is broken and thus continues to eat intentionally.
8- Eat after Suhoor/Subh Sadiq/Sehri (departure time of
the fast before Fajr Salah) with the impression that it is before Suhoor/Subh
Sadiq.
9- Do Iftar (moment of rapid break after Maghrib Salah)
before sunset with the impression that it is after sunset.
MONTH OF ALLAH’S BLESSINGS
The month of Ramadan is an opportunity given by the merciful
Creator to his servants to draw near to him, to ask forgiveness for their sins
and to satisfy their needs. ALLAH said in the Qur'an:
“… and men who fast and women who fast, … ALLAH has prepared for them forgiveness and a mighty reward.”
(Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:35)
All past sins of a fasting person will be forgiven:
It was narrated by Abu Huraira (R.A.) that Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.) said:
“Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and hope for reward, his past sins will be forgiven.”
(Sahih Bukhari: 38)
Gates of Heaven are opened
It was narrated by Abu Huraira (R.A.) that Messenger of
ALLAH (S.A.W.) said:
"When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the
heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are
chained."
(Sahih Bukhari: 1899)
Reward of all good deeds are increased by Seventy Times
Salmaan Farsi (R.A.) says that on the last day of Shabaan,
ALLAH’s Messenger (S.A.W.) spoke us and said:
‘O People, there comes to you a great month now, a most blessed month, in which is a night greater in value and goodness than a thousand months. It is a month in which Allah Has made fasting fardh (obligatory) by day and has made Sunnah the Taraweeh Salah by night. Whosoever wants to be close to Allah by doing any good deed, for such person shall be the reward like the one who had performed a fardh in any other time and whoever performs a fardh (obligation), shall be given the reward of seventy faraaidh (obligations) in any other time.’
(Ref: Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, Hadith No. 1887)
Make most out of Ramadan
One can make most out of Ramadan by doing the following good
deeds:
Recite Quran Kareem
Ramadan is also called the month of the Koran, so you have
to recite Al Quran for the whole month. Tarawih prayer is one of the means by
which Muslims complete the recitation of the Holy Quran which takes place in
mosques. It is Mustahab (an action that is rewarded, but the omission of which
is not punishable) for the Muslim to read the whole Qur'an during Ramadhan and
to try to complete it, but it is not compulsory. Some Muslims do this by
completing one (1) Juz 'each day for the 30 days of Ramadan.
Find Lailat Ul Qadr
Lailat Ul Qadr, also called "Night of Power" is
one of the most coveted nights of the Islamic year. no one knows what night is
Laylat Ul Qadr. However, according to the authentic teachings of Prophet
Muhammad (SAW), Muslims are advised to spend the 21, 23, 25, 27 and 29 nights
of Ramadan in worship and to do good works to ensure the discovery of Laylat ul
Qadr.
Observe Itikaf
Itikaf means to be isolated in a Masjid or at home with the
intention of devoting only your time to the worship of ALLAH (SWT). It is
Sunnat-al-Muaqidah (Sunnah which is to be performed) to sit in Itikaf during
the last 10 days of Ramadan. A person can start Itikaf after sunset on Ramadan
20 and finish it when the moon for Eid is sighted. Sunnah remains the same
whether the month of Ramadan is 29 or 30 days.
Narrated by Aishah (R.A.):
"The Prophet (S.A.W.) used to practice I`tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan till he died and then his wives used to practice I`tikaf after him."
(Sahih Bukhari: 2026)
Offer Nightly Prayers (Tarawih)
Tarawih are the additional prayers that some Muslim
communities perform at night after Isha's prayers during Ramadan.
Traditionally, a Hafiz (memorizer) from the Koran leads the prayer. He recites
the Qur'an in small portions, in the proper order, each night and finishes
reciting the entire Qur'an before the end of the month of Ramadan. Every Muslim
who regularly attends such prayers has the opportunity to listen to the entire
Qur'an in one month.
Pay Zakat
Zakat is another pillar of Islam, and giving charity becomes
even more important during Ramadan. It is a means of purifying your wealth for
the will of ALLAH and is payable on assets held over a lunar year. The
collected Zakat must be given to the poor and the deserving.
Ensure during fasting
1- Keep Fast during Ramadan with only intention to seek
reward from ALLAH.
2- Perform your five prayers on time in congregation
(Jamah).
3- Give food to fasting people and also give lot of charity.
4- If possible, perform Umrah during Ramadan as it is equal
to Hajj in reward. (Tirmidhi: 939)
5- Preserve yourself from doing any bad deed such as lying,
cursing, backbiting and slander etc.
6- Increase in remembrance of ALLAH, seeking of forgiveness,
asking for Paradise and protection from hell.
7- Offer more voluntary Salah (Nawafil). Increase in
supplication for yourself, your parents, your children and Muslims.
So Ramadan is a month of worship and contemplation. Every
Muslim should prepare themselves to receive blessings from ALLAH during this
month by standing in prayer, asking for ALLAH’s forgiveness, worship with
sincere faith and hoping for Allah’s reward (in both worlds).
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