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Ramadan is the
ninth month of the Muslim calendar. During this month Muslims observe
the Fast of Ramadan during daylight hours. In the evening they eat
small meals called iftar and visit friends and family.
It is a time
of worship and contemplation, a time to strengthen family and community
ties. In Leicester, schools, community centres and more than 30
mosques are celebrating.
Ramadan is also
when it is believed the Holy Quran readings were "sent down
from heaven, a guidance unto men, a declaration of direction, and
a means of Salvation".
During Ramadan
Muslims are also not allowed to smoke, gamble or have sex. One may
eat and drink at any time during the night "until you can plainly
distinguish a white thread from a black thread by the daylight:
then keep the fast until night".
The good that
is acquired through the fast can be destroyed by five things - lying,
slander, a false oath, greed or covetousness. These are considered
offensive at all times, but are most offensive during Ramadan.
During Ramadan,
Muslims often spend several hours at the Masjid (Mosque) praying
and studying the Quran. In addition to the five daily prayers, during
Ramadan, Muslims recite a special prayer called the Taraweeh prayer
(Night Prayer).
Some Muslims
spend the entire night in prayer. On the evening of the 27th day
of the month, Muslims celebrate the Laylat-al-Qadr (the Night of
Power). It is believed that on this night Muhammad first received
the revelation of the Holy Quran.
And according
to the Quran, this is when God determines the course of the world
for the following year. When the fast ends (the first day of the
month of Shawwal) it is celebrated for three days in a holiday called
Id-al-Fitr (the Feast of Fast Breaking).
Gifts are exchanged.
Friends and family gather to pray in congregation and for large
meals. In some cities fairs are held to celebrate the end of the
Fast of Ramadan.
Because Islam
uses a lunar calendar, the month of Ramadan comes around 11 days
earlier each successive year, so there is no Western season associated
with Ramadan.
The time for
prayer during this month changes depending on location in the UK.
If you want to calculate the times prayers for this area you can
use a prototype
prayer calculator the BBC has developed.
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