Ramadan is here in the Philippines: What is Ramadan?

How many of you know what Ramadan is really about? Well, if you don't here's a something to add to your book of knowledge.

Muslims believe that their purpose in life is to please Allah (God) through ibadah. Ibadah is the way to achieve success and happiness in the life after death. Fasting in the Holy Month of Ramadan is an act of ibadah.

July 21st, 2012 is the beginning of a holy month not too strange to Muslims around the world. Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar, consists of approximately thirty days and the major practice during this month is FASTING. Fasting, or Sawm, in the Islamic Faith is the fourth of the Five Pillars of Faith, which also includes Shahadah (declaration of faith), Salah (five compulsory daily prayer), Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca), and Zakah (giving alms). One must fast once they reach the age of puberty. Now, Muslims don't fast for 24 hours, rather the time of fasting starts right before sunrise (Fajr), usually around 5am, and ends just after sunset (Maghrib) around 6:30pm. Which means they can eat anything they want in between.

"So if you're fasting, you can't eat, right? What about water?"

Not exactly, those fasting are prohibited from eating or drinking (even water), anything entering the body through the nose or mouth; this includes smoking, or having any conjugal relations. Sounds hard doesn't it? However, if one is to drink or eat unintentionally due to forgetfulness or rinsing out the mouth, bathing, and putting drops in the eyes do not make the fast invalid. This allows the Muslims to practice discipline and follow the word of God.

The very purpose of fasting is to make a Muslim able to control his passions, so that he becomes a person of good deeds and intentions. It develops self-control and helps overcome selfishness, greed, laziness and other vices. The feeling of hunger and thirst during Ramadan is for those practicing to experience what it is like to have an empty stomach. Fasting also teaches how to control the love of comfort and to keep sexual desires intact. Anger- another human weakness- should also be controlled by fasting even if some people get cranky when they haven't had anything to eat the whole day.

The Holy Month is also a time of forgiveness and to avoid any bad actions. Someone who is fasting should not tell a lie, break a promise, or any other deceitful act. So if you're Muslim seat-mate is cheating on a test, better remind him or her that it's Ramadan.

There are certain exemptions of course in various situations:
1.) If a woman is pregnant,
2.) If a woman has her menstruation,
3.) If a person is traveling,
4.) If a person is either too old, too young, or too sick to fast.

However, women, travelers, and those who are no longer sick are required to make up for lost days some other time. Just as long as they don't do it during 'Idul Fitr and 'Idul Adha, which are the two major occasions of thanksgiving joy and happiness in Islam each year.

You might wonder how important Ramadan is for our Muslim brothers and sisters. Well, it isn't just the act of Sawm that makes it special. The Qur'an (Islamic Bible) was first revealed in the month of Ramadan. There is this night, LAILATUL QADR (night of power), which is said to be "better than a thousand months" (97:3). It is said that this night is when the gates of heaven are open and those sincere would get their wish. According to Hadith (saying of Prophet Muhammad), this night occurs during the last ten days of Ramadan. It is a night of great importance and during those last ten days, an additional prayer known as TARAWIH is generally offered in congregation after the 5th prayer of the day (isha).

Of course by the end of this Holy Month, Muslims celebate 'Idul Fitr with their family. New clothes would have been bought in the days before and money would be given out to the young ones of the family, but those aren't the essence of the occasion. On this day, Muslims offer special prayers in congregation and thank Allah for His blessings and mercy.

There are so many things we need to learn about the world around which includes respecting and appreciating other religions. We should always be open so that we can achieve what we envisioned- "living in peace and building a nation that the next generation will nourish, cherish, and value."

RAMADAN MUBARAK! — ZBS