ram-uh-dahn
Also written Ramazan, Ramadhan, Ramadaan
This will be my first year attempting to observe Ramadan. It’s also the first year I have heard of it. Therefore, I have been doing a little bit of research recently on the origins and meaning of this month-long holiday.The month of Ramadan has been around since before Islam appeared on the Arabian Penninsula. It is the 9th month on the Arabic lunar calendar and is believed to be the month in which the prophet Mohammed received the Qur’an. During this month, Muslims around the world practice fasting, prayer, and self-sacrifice as a way to cleanse themselves physically, mentally, and spiritually.
The Qur’an encourages those who are able to abstain from food, drink, smoking, and sex from sunrise to sunset for the 30 or 31 days of Ramadan. If you look deeper into the purpose of this time of fasting, it could also be interpreted as a month to reject evil. Therefore one might refrain from such things as cursing, fighting, arguing, and other negative behaviors. The Qur’an makes it clear that this is not a time when God wishes to place a burden on His followers. This is an opportunity to exercise self-control and patience by restraining one’s self from the natural desires of the flesh, and it also helps one to understand what life is like for those who do not have these comforts.
Along with fasting, more emphasis is placed on prayer and service to the needy during this time. Therefore, Ramadan is a month to sacrifice one’s personal wants and desires in order to sympathize with those less fortunate, serve the community, and ultimately draw closer in communion with our Creator and Sustainer, God. After all, true worship is serving others.
As I examined the purpose of Ramadan, I noticed that this is something I can appreciate as well. Jesus also encouraged His followers to fast, pray, and serve those less fortunate. In his letters, Paul wrote of the tremendous challenge we have in denying the selfish desires of the flesh. Therefore, intentionally choosing to serve God rather than ourselves brings us closer to a life of submission to God. If this is a month of physical, mental, and spiritual cleansing for our Muslim neighbors, why don’t we make it a time to fast from something that keeps us from better communion with God?
During these 30-31 days of Ramadan, about 1.6 billion people around the world are earnestly seeking a closer, more devoted relationship with their Creator. Nearly 2 million of them are in the United States. If these Muslims are seeking a deeper connection with Allah, what better time would there be for us to lift them up in prayer that God might encounter them in a deeper and more personal way than they have even imagined? Perhaps God might choose this month to reveal Himself to those who are seeking him.
Sources:
www.wikipedia.com
www.holidays.net
www.factbook.net
This celebration thing sounds cool I just wonder if people eat a lot at night. I have researching fasting as well and wondering what it's all about. I've tried it a couple times and found it really helped my prayer life and commitment to God. Party on my friend!
ReplyDeleteYa, it is quite a celebration. As soon as the sun goes down (and they know the time down to the minute each night), they start eating lots of food. And their feasting can go all the way until sunrise! The break fast meal is called Iftar. I had the privilege of experiencing this with one of my refugee friends. It's so fun, and the food is really good! You seriously are anticipating it all day! It's also a great time to hang out and laugh with your family and friends!
ReplyDeleteHi Brittany,
ReplyDeleteAssalam-u-alaikum. As a way of introduction, I used to live in Hinsdale, IL and your father was my youth pastor! We were so happy when he met and married your Mom! I've stayed in touch with your parents over the years. I also know Nikke and she (and your mother) told me about your website! See, I work as an Estate Mgr for a foreign diplomat from one of the Arab countries ... I've been doing this for 12+ yrs!
I actually fasted for the month of Ramadan with one of the Indian butlers I work with who is a Muslim. It was an amazing experience. Further, my bosses' daughter is married to HRH Prince Ghazi bin Mohammad who is studying to be an Imam. So, I am rather immersed in the Muslim culture! If there is any way I can help you in your quest to learn more about Islam ... I'd be happy to do so. I'm also trying to 'bridge' cultures and feel Muslims have been branded by media unfairly.
For starters ... I'd like to recommend a website, one that Prince Ghazi had a hand in: http://www.acommonword.com/ The website gives people the opportunity to learn about Islam and actually has an area where Christians and Jews are encouraged to comment. All for the purposes of dialogue between the major faiths.
I'd also like to recommend the book, "The Great Theft ... Wrestling Islam from the Extremists" by Khaled Abou El Fadl. Khaled is a moderate Muslim who provides a historical perspective complimented by fresh views on where Islam is today and how it is viewed. I've very much enjoyed the book and wish more people in government and foreign affairs positions would read it!
Anyway, I'd also like to invite you to my blog ... I'm working on my Master's in Communications at Johns Hopkins Univ and I used my blog for my paper last semester ... the paper was on the Israeli/Palestinian issue ... "What we perceive, we tend to believe". My blog is www.qglenda.wordpress.com . I'm also on FB ... so, if you want to stay in touch that way, feel free! My blog is a work-in-progress ... I don't have much time to work on it due to my class load. But, I try!
It's nice to meet you Brittany ... I'm just tickled to know that someone your age is interested in the beautiful people who make up the world of Islam. May God bless you in your quest to learn more. And, if I can be a resource, never hesitate to reach out to me. OK.
il alaqat (until we meet again),
Glenda Nelson