What would I do, if I am unable to feed a person who has kept Roja for the whole day?” Hajrat Muhammad replied “Even a piece of date and a glass of water will work.
Feeding a Famished person coming to your way is the Sutra for the people during the Holy month of Ramadan. A fest of purity and restraint, involving prolonged fasting practices. The fast is intended to bring the faithful closer to God and to remind them of the suffering of those less fortunate. People often donate to charities during the month and feed the hungry. Fasting is an exercise in self-restraint. It’s seen as a way to physically and spiritually detoxify by kicking impulses like morning coffee, smoking and midday snacking.
Ramadan is a fest of doing well to the society, neighborhood and living a life as simple as possible. The Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic Calendar, which is celebrated with the utmost purity, hygiene and prayer offerings. The meaning of Ramadan is “Intense heat and sweltering earth, shortage of food and drink materials” defined by the Arabic vocabulary. The whole month of Ramadan is spent in charity, swam and purity by heart and body.
Historical facts about the Ramadan
The month of Ramadan is also known as “Ramzan”. People from Islamic community spread over the world swam during the month of Ramzan. The month is spent in the strict resilience, offerings of 5 “Namaz” or “Ibadat”. The Islamic followers around the world recite the verses of the holy Quran and those people unable to read are bind to hear the verses of this holy book. It is believed that during the month of Ramadan, the verses of Holy Quran were first revealed to the prophet Hazarat Mohammad and that’s why the Muslim community started swam and following pure life during the holy month of Ramadan.
The concept of Roza
Islam followers resort to complete fasting and penance and they avoid consuming anything during the day-hours of Ramadan month. It means they have to intake their meals before the sunrise and after the sunset; only two times in a cycle of 24 hours. This is the wide concept of Roza but actually, it is much more than swam or fast for the day. The Roza is time for self-reconstruction to purify the body and the mind. The Roza enforces charity, service, the sacrifice of luxuries and comforts, fosters brotherhood and restrict fighting, back-beatings and Gossips. The holy hours of Roza also advocate feeding a hungry person or “Rozadar” (The Muslim followers keeping swam for the day) during the time of “Iftar” or “Sahari”.
Everyone traditionally breaks their fast like the Prophet Muhammad did some 1,400 years ago, with a sip of water and some dates at sunset. That first sip of water is by far the most anticipated moment of the day.
Ifatar and Sahari
Those people keeping fast for whole day break up their fast or swam after the sunset known as “Iftar” or “Iftari”. Those people who are capable enough, they organize “Iftar-Party” and feed up the people around them. Shahari is the same concept when Rozadar wakes up early in the morning and after their “Namaz” they eat light food for the rest of the day.
Payers and offering during the Month of Ramadan
The followers are expected to offer “Namaz” 5 times in a day in their daily routines and it becomes even crucial during the time of Roza or Ramzan. The “Namaz’ is a duty of every devotee that he or she should follow with a pure heart. In the month of Ramadan, the Namaz and Ibadat are organized in the nearby mosques where all of the followers gather and offer their prayers to almighty. During the Namaz, they praise the almighty superpower and ask them for their kindness called “Dua”.
At the time of Namaz, devotees direct their face in the direction of the holy place of “Makka” and then they offer their prayers to Khuda. The teachings of Quran Sharif are read during the time of Namaz and prayed for the kindness of the lord and his care for them and their families.
The legend of “Shab-E-Kadar”
Shab –E-Kadar is popularly known as “Sataisa” among the Indian Islamic followers. This is a great day of the month of Ramadan which is celebrated on 27th day of Ramadan Month. It is believed that in the night of the 27th day of Ramadan, the angle popularly called “Farishta” came to the Prophet Hazarat Mohammad and revealed the verses of Quran. This day is spent in complete compassion, charity, fast and prayer. The legend of this night signifies the day when Holy Quran Sharif firstly appeared in the existence of Islamic culture and life. Most of the Muslim awake whole night on Shab-E-Kadar and read the verses of Quran. It is also believed that those people who couldn’t keep on Roza every day during the time of Ramzan they can keep Roza on the day of Shab-E-Kadar and almighty God bless them with all the good fortune and freed them up from all the sins and bad Karmas. The children, sick or old people must keep Roza on the day of Shab-E-Kadar to exercise their duty towards Islam and the truth of God.
People fasting on the day of Shab-E-Kadar also offer Iftar to the incapable people, do charity and help the poorer section of society. The payers and Iftar parties are also organized on this day near the mosques, Community halls and at private spaces.
Duties of the Muslim followers during the holy month of Ramadan –
The teachings of Quran also foster brotherhood, charity and faith in the god and the verses of the Quran ask all of the Muslim followers to complete their duties sincerely and contribute in the upliftment of the society and neighbors. These duties become crucial and part of the daily lives of Muslim followers. These duties are –
- Roza- The first and foremost duty of an Islam follower is to keep “Roza” during the month of Ramadan.
- “Quran Tilwat” is a must. All of the Islamic followers should read the verses of Quran Sharif and those who are unable to read they must hear it.
- “Tarawih Namaz” offering. Though all five Namaz offering is must yet the Namaz read in the night is a special duty for the Muslim followers.
- “Ittefaq” is another duty of the Islamic followers. The people sitting with community members pray to the almighty power for the goodness of the community. This sitting is done at a public area keeping silence all over the place during the Ittefaq prayer.
- Zakat – Zakat is a must to do the duty of every adult Muslim who is earning a livelihood. This is believed that every Muslim should donate 2.5% of his/her total annual income to uplift society and to help the poor.
- Neki – This is also a duty of Muslim to donate generously to the incapable section of the society in order to help them out from starvation and basic needs accomplishments.
- Dua – Offering prayers and thanking God for his kindness and blessing is must during the time of Ramadan.
Apart from all these things keeping one self away from gossips, sexual activities, Back –Beatings and Fights is also must during the time of Ramadan.
The first day of Shaivaal
The first day of Shaivaal month of the Muslim calendar brings a lot of joy with biggest festival of the Islam, popularly known as “Eid-Ul-Fitr”. The people start their day by going to the nearby mosque and offering Namaz with community members. People also Offer Dua to Khuda. “Dua” are offered to the lord for keeping the Rozadar on the go during the pure month of Ramadan. The day is observed with the exchange of gifts and money among friends and families. The day is observed as the successful accomplishment of the holy month and start of a new month with all the purity and blessing of the Khuda.
The Flavorful Iftar
This is the best part of the festivals. If you are among them who think that what would be the meaning of dishes and yummy preparation during the month of Swam or Fast, then this is just for you. There are a number of dishes and food preparations are done for the Iftar and Shahri. The final day of celebration of Eid has also its own charm of Meals. So here some of the yummiest food items are mentioned for you to known about the meals prepared during the holy month of Ramadan and Eid.
In India, the meals of iftar and Shari majorly include fruit Salads, Lamb/chicken curries, Loaves of bread and Buns, Butter, sweets and Sharbat (Juices/lime water). Yet there are some traditional meals prepared during the time of Ramadan.
- Dates – Muslim people break their fast with 3 pieces of dates and water.
- Shorba – Commonly known as soups are the main part of Shahri or Iftar. People make different kinds of soups made up of vegetables and Meats.
- Fattoush – This is a traditional salad made up with fresh vegetables and topped with baked or fried slices of bread and dressed with pomegranate seeds. This is the must-have meal for the people keeping Roza.
- Dry fruits and Juices – People usually relish on the mixed preparation of dry fruits and nuts accompanied by Gulab Sharbat or juice.
- Shahri Keema – It is another non -vegetarian preparation made especially for Shahri, The meal of the morning before sunrises. These preparations are full with the nutrition and fine enough for easy digest.
Recommended Read: 5 Best Food Options for Iftar During Ramzan Festival
The holy month of Ramadan gets concluded with the arrival of the next Islamic month of “Shaivaal “and celebration of Eid-Ul-Fitr. The month of Ramadan brings purity, harmony and inner reflection in the lives of all those people following the duties bestowed by the almighty.
So, regardless of your religion and dietary preferences, enjoy the pious feast of Iftar at your neighbour’s place or the local market.
Team Railrestro wishes everyone a heartfelt “Ramadan Mubarak” and pray for the holistic developments and goodness of the Human beings. !!!!