Dates of the month of Ramadan in the year. Holy month of Ramadan for Muslims

In the Muslim faith, there is a holy month called Ramadan (which can also be called the month of Ramadan) - a time when you need to adhere to strict fasts and follow certain prohibitions. According to the Quran, Ramadan is one of the five pillars on which Islam and faith in Allah rests. Muslims live according to the Islamic calendar, which is much shorter than the Gregorian calendar.

The start and end dates of Ramadan are determined depending on the shift. Ramadan corresponds to the ninth lunar month. The Muslim holy month does not have exact dates and each year its beginning moves by about 10 days. Muslim Ramadan in 2017 will begin closer to summer and will last almost a whole month. Devout Muslims will be able to give full glory to Allah and show their humility from May 27 to June 25.

Origin

The history of the holiday is beautiful and mysterious. It says that on the holy day, “revealed words” were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, indicating the mission of the prophet. At the same time, Allah gave Muslims the Koran.

Tradition tells us that on the day of the beginning of Ramadan, Allah fulfills all the requests of believers. On the first day of the holy month, the Islamic God is open to determine the destinies of people in the most prosperous manner.

The term "Ramadan" was first mentioned in 610. Ramadan literally means “sultry”, “hot”. This is a mandatory fast, which strictly prohibits smoking, drinking (water and, especially, alcohol) and even eating food. daytime. It is especially difficult to comply with the water ban in hot countries, when daytime temperatures can rise to 50 degrees.

Muslims call the fast “Mubarak,” which translates to “blessed.” It has long been believed that the significance of any good deed performed during the holy month increases a couple of hundred times. For example, a small pilgrimage (Muslims call it “umrah”) is equal in importance to a visit to Mecca (or, in Muslim terms, hajj). Voluntary prayer at this time is also rewarded, as is obligatory.

The holiday of Ramadan has received its special status already in 622. Since then, every year devout Muslims follow the fast in Ramadan, observe every covenant and rule. Every day they must pronounce niyat - a special intention that sounds like this: “I am going to fast Ramadan in the name of Allah.” Even at night, collective prayers can be held.

Strict fasting in Ramadan

The fast that accompanies Ramadan is called Uraza. Devout Muslims strictly follow the rules and prohibitions of fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. If we compare the fasting of Eid among Muslims and Lent among Christians, the first seems practically impossible. However, this is a misconception, since Muslims happily and fully prepared They refuse human goods and pleasures - they do not consider restrictions in such things to be something supernatural.

Almost everyone adheres to strict rules and strict prohibitions, as they help believers learn tolerance and learn to understand the strength of their bodies.

The main principles of the Uraza fast:

Complete refusal of food and water during the daytime. The first meal must be taken before the first rays of the sun, and the last - after sunset. The first and second (last) meals are called suhoor and iftar, respectively. Suhur must be completed half an hour before dawn, and iftar begins immediately after evening prayer. The Koran says that best food for iftar - water and dates. You can also skip Suhoor and Iftar. This is not a violation of strict Uraz. However, observing Suhoor and Iftar is rewarded with spiritual rewards.
Strict refusal of sex. This also applies to Muslim spouses. Besides intimacy caresses and other actions that promote arousal are also prohibited.
Smoking, drinking alcohol, and using drugs are prohibited during fasting. It is important that during Uraza, devout Muslims cleanse their body and soul, therefore the smell of cigarette smoke, narcotic and alcohol poisons should not penetrate the body of a true believer.
It is strictly forbidden to lie and use foul language. In particular, it is forbidden to deceive someone and mention Allah in doing so.
During the fasting period, you cannot chew gum, induce vomiting physically, or give cleansing enemas. In other words, all actions that cleanse the body in an unnatural way are prohibited.
It is also forbidden not to pronounce niyat.

The fast is not violated:

blood donation;
injections;
swallowing saliva;
kisses;
brushing teeth;
vomiting (involuntary);
not performing prayers.

Who may not fast:

children;
pregnant or breastfeeding women;
sick people;
elderly people;
travelers.

Completion of Ramadan

During Ramadan, it is customary to completely limit oneself in pleasures and entertainment. During the daytime, Muslims are supposed to work, pray, and read the Koran. Performing good deeds is an unshakable holiday tradition.

The last ten days of Ramadan are much more important than the rest, since at this time a revelation from Allah descended on the Prophet Muhammad. Even though exact date This event is unknown, Muslims celebrate its anniversary at night from the 26th to the 27th day of the holy month. Muslims call this holiday Laylatul-Qadr, which literally translates as “night of predestination.” During this blessed time, believers pray persistently, repent of their sins and reflect on their own mistakes.

On the last day of Ramadan, followers of Islam give alms, mandatory perform Eid prayer (solemn prayer). Here and there the words of greeting “Eid Mubarak!” are heard, which means “Blessed Holiday!” The fast of Ramadan ends on Eid al-Fitr, which is one of the most important Islamic holidays.

(Turkish Ramadan) is one of the most revered among Muslims and requires strict adherence to fasting. Ramadan begins in the ninth month of Muslim lunar calendar.

Fasting (Arabic saum, Persian ruza, Turkic eid) in the lunar month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam - so important that Muslims believe that those who did not manage to make up for the missed days of fasting before their death must be compensated by their guardian (or descendants), because behind them is an unrequited debt to Allah. Fasting allows every Muslim to strengthen his faith and self-discipline, strictly following the orders of Allah.

From dawn to sunset, the fasting person abstains from all types of breaking the fast (eating, drinking, smoking, sexual intercourse, etc.) and strives to preserve his tongue from foul language, and his soul from unclean thoughts.

At sunset, Muslims break their fast. The evening ritual of breaking the fast is called iftar; The evening breaking of the fast is a blessed time, so they try to invite relatives, close friends and neighbors to it, and it is believed that a Muslim who organizes a treat can count on forgiveness of sins and a place in heaven. Often a mullah is invited to iftar.

In many countries, iftar is served in mosques and is prepared by the believers themselves so that they can enjoy the treats together.

Only pregnant and lactating women, seriously ill people, children, people who are engaged in hard work or are on the road at this time, and soldiers who participate in hostilities are allowed not to fast during Ramadan. However, these reasons do not completely exempt them from fasting; it will need to be observed at another time.

Muslims around the world prepare for Ramadan long before its onset: women stock up on food and groceries, men are busy buying gifts to celebrate the holiday.

During Ramadan, Muslims spend most of their time reading the Quran and remembering Allah (dhikr). In addition to the daily five prayers, every night of fasting an additional prayer-namaz (tarawih) is performed after the fifth prayer.

Muslims believe that Allah can forgive a person's sins if he spends time reading prayers and doing godly deeds, such as helping those in need and donating funds to charity. According to legend, Allah also frees a certain number of souls of the dead from hell.

During Ramadan, Muslims are required to generously give sadaqa (voluntary donations) and zakat (obligatory charity). Sadaqah does not necessarily mean giving money. This can be a good deed - for example, helping a neighbor - an act that a believer does in the name of Allah, thus not expecting reward from the person he helped.

It is the duty of every Muslim to make a small contribution, called Zakat-ul-Fitr, before the end of Ramadan. The money collected goes to the poorest and most needy so that they, along with everyone else, can take part in the celebrations of breaking the fast of Eid al-Fitr. Most Muslims give zakat generously during Ramadan because they believe that the reward for it increases during this month.

The first ten days of the month personify the acceptance of the mercy of the Almighty, the second - cleansing from sin, and the third marks salvation from Gehenna.

Particularly important in the month of Ramadan is the night of the 27th of Ramadan (in 2017 from June 21 to 22) - “Laylat al-qadr” (“night of power” or “night of predestination”), when Allah decides the fate of people.

The last ten days of Ramadan are the holiest, so Muslims are even more diligent in their acts of worship. These days, many men perform itikaf (spiritual retreat), spending this time in the mosque.

The end of the month of Ramadan and fasting is marked by the second most important Muslim holiday - Eid al-Fitr (translated from Arabic - the holiday of breaking the fast; in Turkic - Eid al-Fitr), which begins at sunset on the last day of Ramadan and continues on the 1st and 2nd on the 1st next month Shawwal.

It begins with reading a prayer-namaz under the guidance of an imam. After completing the prayer, the imam asks Allah to accept the fast, forgive sins and give prosperity. Next, they begin a festive meal and distribute alms to the poor, and also visit the graves of their ancestors.

During Ramadan in Muslim countries, business activity noticeably decreases, working hours decrease, and religious sentiments intensify; daily life shifts to evening and night time.

The material was prepared based on information from open sources

The month of Ramadan is the most honorable and important of the 12 months of the lunar calendar, according to which Muslims all over the world live.

When does fasting begin and how long does it last?

Ramadan (another name is Ramadan) is the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar, which is 10 or 11 days less than the solar year. For this reason, the days of Muslim religious holidays Every year they shift relative to the Gregorian calendar.

Accordingly, Ramadan, which lasts from 29 to 30 days, depending on the lunar calendar, falls on different dates every year. In 2018, Ramadan lasts 30 days.

The day, according to the Muslim calendar, begins at sunset, and not at midnight, as in the Gregorian calendar.

Ramadan in 2018 begins on the evening of May 17 at sunset and ends on the evening of June 16, 2018, after which the holiday of Eid al-Fitr (Turkic name “Eid al-Adha”) will begin.

Moreover, in different Muslim countries, Ramadan may begin at different times, and it depends on the method astronomical calculation or direct observation of the phases of the moon.

Ramadan is translated from Arabic as “hot”, “scorching heat”. Every devout Muslim this month proves the strength of his faith, thanks to the complete renunciation of the simplest human needs during hot days. During this period, the believer must free himself from various thoughts that can defile a person.

Muslims believe that spiritual and physical fasting Ramadan can significantly improve a person's state of mind. IN Turkic languages this post is called uraza.

Fasting in Ramadan

During the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims are required to observe a number of strict rules, one of which is fasting, the purpose of which is to rethink life and cleanse the soul and body.

During fasting, you should pray a lot and daily confirm your intention (niyat) to participate in this holiday in the name of Allah. You should also refrain from evil thoughts and intentions, and beware of evil deeds and ungodly people.

Fasting begins at dawn and ends after sunset.

During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating and drinking during daylight hours, smoking, including hookah or other mixtures, and intimacy.

Swallowing any liquid, including water while bathing, as well as skipping niyat is considered a violation of fasting. At the same time, donating blood, bathing, kissing, and administering medications through injections are allowed.

The main meaning of such fasting is to strengthen the faith of every Muslim believer, as well as to determine life values and, of course, to be spiritually enriched through daily prayer, as well as by abstaining from temptations. Practice shows that fasting has a healing effect on the body.

Ramadan is one of the pillars of Islam. Every adult Muslim is required to observe it. The exceptions are children, sick people, pregnant and lactating women, travelers, warriors and the elderly who are physically unable to fast. But it is obligatory to replace the fast in another, more favorable period.

If a Muslim breaks his fast, he must pay the needy a certain amount in money or food, thus making up for the fast.

With the onset of Ramadan, it is customary for Muslims to congratulate each other in words or in the form of postcards, because it was this holiday that marked the beginning of the birth of the holy book the Koran, which plays a special role in the life of every believer.

Ramadan is the time to earn eternal Paradise, when many deeds can earn great rewards. These include fasting, five daily prayers, the Tarawih prayer, sincere supplication, iftar (breaking the fast), pre-dawn meal (sahur), donations and many other good deeds and deeds.

When was the Quran revealed?

The first revelation of the Quran was revealed on the night of Laylat al-Qadr or the Night of Power and Predestination. This is the most important night of the year for every Muslim.

Muhammad was 40 years old when his prophetic mission began.

Before the revelation of the Koran, the Prophet Muhammad often retired and indulged in prayer in the cave of Hira near Mecca, where the first sura of the Koran was revealed to him in 610.

By order of Allah, one of the angels, Jebrail, came to the Prophet Muhammad and said to Him: “Read.” The word "read" means "Koran". With these words, the revelation of the Koran began - that night the angel Jebrail conveyed the first five verses from Surah Clot.

Revealed Quran

The mission lasted until the death of Muhammad - the Great Koran was revealed to the prophet over the course of 23 years.

According to sources, Laylat al-Qadr is the night when angels descend to earth and the prayer said on this night has much greater power than all the prayers of the year.

In the Koran, an entire sura “Inna anzalnagu” is dedicated to this Night, which says that the Night of Power is better than a thousand months in which it is not present. This is the night when the fate of every person is predetermined in heaven, his life path, the difficulties and trials that lie ahead, and if you spend this night in prayer, in understanding your actions and possible errors, then Allah will forgive him his sins and be merciful.

Regarding the date of the Night of Destiny, the Koran says that it falls on one of the last 10 nights of Ramadan. Therefore, it is considered most correct to devote all the last 10 nights of Ramadan to prayers. Some sources indicate that Laylat al-Qadr falls on the 27th of Ramadan.

Respect for the ninth month of the lunar calendar is repeatedly mentioned in the Koran. Muslims call the fast "mubarak", that is, blessed. It is believed that the value of a good deed performed at this time increases several hundred times.

For example, a minor pilgrimage (umrah) is equal in importance to the hajj (visit to Mecca), and voluntary prayer is rewarded in the same way as obligatory prayer. Ramadan received special status in 622.

What is celebrated after Ramadan fasting?

Ramadan ends with the second most important holiday - Eid al-Fitr or the so-called Feast of Breaking the Fast. The holiday begins after sunset on the last day of Ramadan and lasts three days.

The Feast of Breaking the Fast occurs on the first day of the month of Shawwal, which comes at the end of the holy Ramadan. In 2018, Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated from May 17 to 19.

The holiday begins with the onset of evening prayer - from this time on, it is advisable for all Muslims to read takbir (formula for the exaltation of Allah). Takbir is read before performing the festive prayer on the day of the holiday.

At this time, Muslims should indulge in reflection on spiritual values and rethinking life during the period of fasting. This day is considered a holiday of salvation from hell, as well as a day of reconciliation, love and friendly handshakes. On this day, it is customary to visit the disadvantaged and care for the elderly.

It is advisable to spend the night of the holiday in vigil, in all-night service to Allah. On the day of the holiday, it is advisable to wear clean clothes, put them on your finger silver ring, perfume yourself with incense and, after eating a little, go to the mosque early to perform the holiday prayer.

On this day, Muslims distribute alms to the needy, congratulate each other and wish the Almighty to accept fasting, visit relatives, neighbors, acquaintances, friends, and receive guests.

The material was prepared on the basis of open sources.

A revered event, one of the five pillars of Islam, a holiday of faith and human purification - it all fits into itself greatest period time for devout Muslims, the month of Ramadan (Arabic), or Ramadan (Turkish). Its annual date is variable, as it depends on the Muslim calendar (lunar) and falls on the ninth month. In 2019 this event will start on 5 May and will continue until 3 June, because, as you know, holy Ramadan lasts 29-30 days.

About a billion people - this is how many Muslims from all over the world begin the practice of spiritual and physical cleansing during this period. This is done by observing strict fasting, reading prayers, doing good deeds. It is at this time that a Muslim can express humility and love for Allah, because limiting oneself in physical pleasures on the hottest and most grueling days can only testify to the strength of faith. However, according to Islam, no food restrictions can cleanse a person from sinfulness if he holds evil, lies and bad thoughts in his soul. Therefore, during this month, Muslim believers take special responsibility for reading the Koran, the practice of obligatory and voluntary donations to those in need, and performing selfless acts.

In terms of the scale and prevalence of Ramadan among the world's population, it can only be compared with Lent in the Christian faith. Its observance allows believers to rethink their life path, rank their values and priorities, and achieve more high level spiritual development. As practice shows, those who observe all the requirements of fasting for the first time may experience difficulties, but in overcoming these difficulties lies the whole point of developing one’s spiritual fortitude and faith. In addition, cleansing the body is often accompanied by its improvement.

From the history of the holiday

Islamic traditions say that the beginning of the observance of the holiday is the transmission of the very first divine revelations to the Prophet Muhammad in 610. This was done by the angel Jibril (Archangel Gabriel in the Bible) while the prophet was near Mecca in the cave of Hira, where he often retired to religious practices. These revelations later formed the basis for the creation of the holy book of Muslims - the Koran. It, sent down to people in the month of Ramadan, was supposed to serve as a guide to what a person’s godly path of life should be, how to distinguish between good and evil, how to honor the five main foundations of Islam - the absence of another God except Allah, the need for five times prayer, zakat (giving alms to the poor ), hajj to Mecca (pilgrimage), and also indicated the obligatory observance of holy fasting.

This injunction had its own conditions: only a Muslim is obligated to fast (a non-Muslim may not do this) and takleef, or the presence of a person with the basic requirements for fasting - adulthood and puberty, as well as a clear mind (lack of mental illness) and other reasons that prevent fasting. These include:

Old age and diseases that cannot be expected to disappear in the near future;
Pregnancy and mother feeding the child, the presence of menstruation or postpartum cleansing;
Travel for those who are further than 90 kilometers from home.

After the expiration of reasons that prevent one from observing the fast, a person must make up for it, and during the fast itself, feed and serve the needy, the poor. Those who may not observe the fast are prohibited from demonstratively performing prohibited acts in front of others.

Traditions of Ramadan

The beginning of the fast comes at dawn of the designated day, and the end, accordingly, at sunset last day month of Ramadan. A mandatory part of the beginning of fasting for Muslims is the pronouncement of niyat - intention, that is, voicing a person’s readiness to undergo purification throughout the Holy month. The intention is pronounced with soul on any known to man language in the period between the night and morning obligatory prayers, namaz.

It is customary to stop eating food during fasting half an hour before dawn, and break the fast with water or milk on a specially designated day. Thus, during Ramadan it is forbidden to consume food and water during the daytime.

There is also such a thing as debt, that is, a certain religious “debt” of a person to the Almighty, if for some reason he cannot follow the fast. Completing the period of fasting, paying the poor (zakat) is the atonement of this debt.

Performing good deeds is the main occupation and at the same time a requirement for a devout Muslim who observes fasting. According to Islamic traditions, such actions are 700 times more important during Ramadan than on other days, and they are also much easier to perform because the influence of the shaitan is reduced. Prayers, alms, forgiveness and other good deeds are part of a person’s spiritual cleansing during the month of Ramadan.

In addition to the obligatory evening and morning prayers, Muslims also have a voluntary prayer - tarawih, which translated from Arabic means “rest”, “break”. It is held before dawn after night prayer, individually or in a group, and in the intervals between its parts believers rest, glorifying the Almighty at this time.

The last 10 days of Ramadan are the strictest. At this time, most worship is carried out, solitude in mosques is encouraged, following the example of Muhammad, as well as pronouncing intentions before and after entering the mosque. These actions represent one of the most significant dates in the fast - the Night of Power, or the Night of al-Qadr, which falls on the 27th night of the Holy Lent. At this time, it is customary to pray a lot, asking for forgiveness from the Lord for sins committed. In 2019 it falls on May 31st.

Features of fasting

Fasting involves restricting not only food, but also certain usual ways Behaviors that are aimed at delivering physical pleasure to a person. Thus, it is prohibited during Ramadan:

take food at any time at will, except at night;
smoke;
starting a fast without a spoken intention;
perform sexual intercourse (prohibited also include ejaculation and masturbation caused by caresses);
penetration medicines rectal and vaginal use;
ingestion of sputum and intentional vomiting (self-induced).

In addition to the fact that you can only eat in the dark, you need to limit yourself in foods. Fats should be excluded, and light dairy products, fruits and vegetables should be the basis of the diet. The morning meal is called “suhoor” (before dawn before prayer), and the evening meal is called “iftar” (after sunset and evening prayer). In order to make it easier to endure fasting, you need to know which actions are not prohibited:

Bathing, kissing, brushing teeth, if foreign liquids do not enter the throat;
Swallowing saliva and vomiting that happened unintentionally;
Administering medications by injection and donating blood;
Loving touches that do not lead to ejaculation;
Lack of prayers.

Greatest Muslim fast Ramadan ends with the holiday of breaking the fast - Eid al-Fitr, which will take place on June 4, 2019. Already on this day, believers cannot fast, because it is customary to rethink the spiritual and physical experience, learn to appreciate daily food, thank the Lord for the blessings that a person has. Eid al-Fitr is a holiday of sharing a meal with one’s neighbor, which is why believers go to visit relatives, bring alms to the poor, and also remember the dead.

The holy month of Ramadan is a huge opportunity for a Muslim believer to get closer to God, express his submission to Him, and also cleanse his soul from accumulated sins.

Eid al-Adha or the holiday of Breaking the Fast is the second most important holiday among Muslims, which is celebrated in honor of the end of the Ramadan fast, and in 2018 falls on June 16.

The month of Ramadan in which it was revealed Holy Quran, in 2018, began on May 17 at sunset and ends on June 15 in the evening.

On the last day of Ramadan after sunset, the holiday of Breaking the Fast or Eid al-Fitr (in Arabic) begins - one of the major events in Islam.

In different Muslim countries, Ramadan may begin at different times, depending on the method of astronomical calculation or direct observation of the phases of the moon.

Muslim calendar

Muslim chronology begins with the migration (in Arabic hijra) of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Yathrib, later called the city of the Prophet - Medina. According to Christian chronology, the resettlement took place in the summer of 622.

The basis of the Muslim calendar, according to which Muslims around the world live, is lunar year, consisting of 12 months - it is 10 or 11 days less than the solar year, so the days of Muslim religious holidays shift each year relative to the Gregorian calendar.

A lunar month lasts 29 or 30 days. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar in 2018 and lasts 30 days. This is the holy month of fasting and spiritual purification for Muslims - the most important and significant of all periods of the year.

A month of fasting and spiritual purification

With the onset of Ramadan, every devout Muslim must begin fasting - one of the five pillars of Islam along with witnessing faith, prayer, almsgiving and pilgrimage. Fasting in the ninth month of the Muslim calendar was prescribed in 624, the second year of the Hijri.

During the month of Ramadan, devout Muslims refuse to eat food during the daytime, devoting it to spiritual and physical cleansing. Therefore, in Islam there are two night meals: Suhur - pre-dawn and Iftar - evening.

Muslims abstain not only from food and drink, but also from foul language and unclean thoughts. Their goal is to strengthen faith, rethink their way of life, move away from the forbidden, and identify true values for themselves. life values. The fast of one whose deeds and thoughts are unclean and not pleasing to God is considered invalid.

During the holy month, after the obligatory night prayer, the Taraweeh prayer is performed - a voluntary prayer that lasts until dawn. For its execution, according to legend, it follows big reward from the Almighty.

Those who, for some reason, are exempt from fasting must feed the poor or help the needy every day, spending no less than the amount they spend on food per day.

The most important night of the year

In the holy month of Ramadan there is the night of Laylat al-Qadr or the Night of Power and Predestination - the most important night of the year for every Muslim. That night, the Archangel Jebrail came down to the praying Prophet Muhammad and gave him the Koran.

According to sources, Laylat al-Qadr is the night when angels descend to earth, and the prayer said on this night has much greater power than all the prayers of the year.

In the Koran, an entire sura “Inna anzalnagu” is dedicated to this Night, which says that the Night of Power is better than a thousand months in which it is not present.

This is the night when the fate of every person is predetermined in heaven, his life path, the difficulties and trials that must be passed, and if you spend this night in prayer, in understanding your actions and possible mistakes, then Allah will forgive your sins and be merciful.

Feast of Breaking the Fast

On the last day of Ramadan, after sunset, one of the great holidays begins - Eid al-Fitr. At this time, Muslims should indulge in reflection on spiritual values and rethinking life during the period of fasting.

This day is considered a holiday of salvation from hell, as well as a day of reconciliation, love and friendly handshakes. On this day, it is customary to visit the disadvantaged and care for the elderly.

The holiday begins at the time of evening prayer. At this time, it is advisable for all Muslims to read takbir (formula for exalting Allah). Takbir is read before performing the festive prayer on the day of the holiday. It is advisable to spend the night of the holiday in vigil, in all-night service to Allah.

On the day of the holiday, it is advisable to wear clean clothes, put a silver ring on your finger, perfume yourself with incense and, after eating a little, go to the mosque early to perform the holiday prayer.

On this day, they pay the obligatory zakat al-fitr or “alms of breaking the fast”, show joy, congratulate each other and wish the Almighty to accept fasting, visit relatives, neighbors, acquaintances, friends, and receive guests.

Eid al-Adha is closely intertwined with ideas of spiritual improvement and good deeds. During the celebration, it is customary to do good deeds, take care of relatives, and show compassion for those in need.

The material was prepared on the basis of open sources.