What is Ramadan? (I'm not ignorant, rather, I'm curious)?

Answer 1

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Every day during this month, Muslims around the world spend the daylight hours in a complete fast.
During the blessed month of Ramadan, Muslims all over the world abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs during the daylight hours. As a time to purify the soul, refocus attention on God, and practice self-sacrifice, Ramadan is much more than just not eating and drinking.
Muslims are called upon to use this month to re-evaluate their lives in light of Islamic guidance. We are to make peace with those who have wronged us, strengthen ties with family and friends, do away with bad habits -- essentially to clean up our lives, our thoughts, and our feelings. The Arabic word for "fasting" (sawm)literally means "to refrain" - and it means not only refraining from food and drink, but from evil actions, thoughts, and words.

During Ramadan, every part of the body must be restrained. The tongue must be restrained from backbiting and gossip. The eyes must restrain themselves from looking at unlawful things. The hand must not touch or take anything that does not belong to it. The ears must refrain from listening to idle talk or obscene words. The feet must refrain from going to sinful places. In such a way, every part of the body observes the fast.
Therefore, fasting is not merely physical, but is rather the total commitment of the person's body and soul to the spirit of the fast. Ramadan is a time to practice self-restraint; a time to cleanse the body and soul from impurities and re-focus one's self on the worship of God.

I hope it answers ur curiousity......

Answer 2

Ramadan is the name of the 9th month of the Islamic lunar calandar and the month when the first Quranic verses were revealed. Did you know the original meaning of the word was intense heat? When there's a new crescent moon during the 9th month that marks the start of it.The whole purpose of Ramadan is to worship God by engaging in pure and spiritually clean acts during the day and to identify with the poor. The fast is from sunrise to sunset (like 6 am-6pm) and Muslims can't eat or drink anything during that time period. They can when the time period is over. Also they refrain from any kind of immoral acts like smoking, lieing, cheating, sex, etc during the hours of fasting. I would also say that Ramadan is a challenge to perfect yourself as an individual that's why it's revealed in the month called intense heat, to test if you can endure it and make yourself stronger in your moral and spiritual development. In other words, if the heat is on, you need to prove you can take it.

Answer 3

Ramadan is about fasting for a month from dawn to dusk, and refaining from any sinful acts.
We do this in order to have an insight of what the poor actually have to go through and at the end of the month on the sighting of the new moon we celebrate eid.

Answer 4

Ramadan - the month when the Qu'ran was revaled by Allah. AS a result, the Muslims (Not Mohammadeans - we don't worship Mohammed peace be upon him) thus pay tribute to this by fasting from sunrise to sunset i.e. no food/drink etc and refrain from smoking, sex etc throughout the month.
It is one of the holiest months in the Islamic calendar. They say a person who prays during this month will be rewarded 10,000 times more than any other time.

I enjoy this month - because it teaches me self-restraint, will power and shows my committment to my religion. it is a very hard month.

Thanks to all those who didn't disgrace us by their nasty comments.

Peace and love xxxx

Answer 5

Ramadan is one of the lunar months,regarded as a holly month in Islam,during which was the qura`n revealed
,ordering Muslims to fast during its 30 days from sunrise to sunset,for all food and drinks,smoke, sex ,lies, and any bad thing..fasting Ramadan is one of the five basics of Islam.

Answer 6

Ramadan is a holiday that last for 30 days, it begins from sunrise to sunset--which you fast or starve(not literally) for the day and eat at sunset.

There are 2 stories that I know from my parents-- the first is that Prophet Muhammad wanted people to feel how the poor people felt without food in their stomachs. The second is that Prophet Muhammad was fat and needed to get into armor it was too small for him so he fast for the 30 days and was soon to get in his armor(i heard this story from my dad).

Answer 7

Ramadan is the third pillar of islam, its the month where the Quran sent to us, and we fasting from the morning until the sunset.

Answer 8

tasneem answer explains almost everything. Ramadan is considered to be the holiest month among all others. Quran was revealed or actually completed in this holy month. the night when Quran was completed is suppose to be some where in last 10 days of Ramadan(odd nights only).
Ramadan is the month of purifying yourself, your soul. it doesnt mean only fasting of stomach but its the fasting of tongue (dont say ill words, do say something hurting to other etc), fasting of eye (do look at bad things, things that can tempt you to evil etc), fasting of ears (dont listen to something thats is distracking u from your right path etc), fasting of actions (avoid bad deeds, wrong actions) and so on.
we give alms and charity to poors in this month. we do in other months also but since this month has its utmost importance so we do all those deeds that can make Allah n HIS prophet Mohd. PBUH happy. and so in return we can have the share from God's blessings in this world as well as in next world.
when you observe the whole month of Ramadan, by being staying so near to your God, automatically you have the effect of it for long time. and as soon as, in case, it starts fade away you have the month again in new year. so its just like a reminder to you once in a year that remember your creator and be thankful to HIM and be good human beings.
it teaches you lot of patience and build your will power. not only on religious side it works but madically also it helps your body to take rest. just like machine needs to be oiled maintained atleast once in a year, so it can work properly. some ppl eat alot after sun set that is not good.
socially it gives you a sesne of unity. u see all ppl around you doing same things. everyone eager to pray as much as he can, every one getting up early in the morning before dawn, every one stops eating at one time, start eating at one time, fasting for same number of days, all these things give you an intense feeling of to be ONE, united nation.

Answer 9

ramadan is the month when all muslims all over the world fast
i like tasneem answer she forget one to mention that when we fast we r also made to realised that how poor people r living in this world with out the food

Answer 10

Ramadan is the name of the ninth month in the Hijri (Islamic) calendar. The religious observances of Ramadan (Arabic: رمضان) occur throughout the entire Islamic calendar month.

Practices during Ramadan

Fasting
Main article: Fast of Ramadan
The most prominent event of this month is the fasting practiced by all observant Muslims. The fasting during Ramadan has been so predominant in defining the month that some have been led to believe the name of this month, Ramadan, is the name of Islamic fasting, when in reality the Islamic term for fasting is sawm.

Eating, drinking and sexual intercourse are not allowed between dawn (fajr), and sunset (maghrib). During Ramadan, Muslims are also expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam by refraining from violence, anger, envy, greed, lust, angry and sarcastic retorts, and gossip. People are meant to try to get along with each other better than they normally might. All obscene and irreligious sights and sounds are to be avoided. Purity of both thought and action is important. The fast is an exacting act of deep personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised level of closeness to God. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm.

Fasting during Ramadan is not obligatory for several groups for whom it would be excessively problematic. Children before the onset of puberty are not required to fast, though some do. However, if puberty is delayed, fasting becomes obligatory for males and females after a certain age. According to the Qur'an, if fasting would be dangerous to someone's health, such as a person with an illness or medical condition (this can include the elderly), that person is excused. For example, diabetics and nursing or pregnant women usually are not expected to fast; they are encouraged to feed a needy person instead[1]. According to hadith, observing the Ramadan fast is not allowed for menstruating women. Other individuals for whom it is usually considered acceptable not to fast are those in battle and travelers who intend to spend fewer than five days away from home. If one's condition preventing fasting is only temporary, one is required to make up for the days missed after the month of Ramadan is over and before the next Ramadan arrives. If one's condition is permanent or present for an extended period of time, one may make up for the fast by feeding a needy person for every day missed.

If one who does not fit into one of the exempt categories breaks the fast out of forgetfulness, the fast is still valid. If, however, one intentionally breaks the fast, that individual must continue fasting for the remainder of the day but then make up for the entire day later. If one breaks the fast through consensual sexual intercourse, the trangressor must make up for the day by fasting for sixty consecutive days.

Laylat al-Qadr
Main article: Laylat al-Qadr
Laylat al-Qadr is the anniversary of important dates in Islam that occurred in the month of Ramadan..

Tarawih
Main article: Tarawih
During this month, extra optional prayers of eight to twenty raka'ah, called tarawih, are prayed each night in the mosque by Sunni Muslims.

Shi'a Muslims do not pray this prayer. They call it an innovation in Islam.

Eid ul-Fitr
Main article: Eid ul-Fitr
The Islamic holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر) marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan and the beginning of the following month.