The Glade 4.0

Ramadan is a Muslim religious observance that takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar; believed to be the month in which the Quran began to be revealed. It is considered the most venerated and blessed month of the Islamic year. It is a time for inner reflection, devotion to God, and self-control. There are as many meanings of Ramadan as there are Muslims. Prayers, sawm (fasting), charity and self-accountability are especially stressed at this time. Religious observances associated with Ramadan are kept throughout the month.

Laylat al-Qadr, which falls during the last third of the month, commemorates the revelation of the first verses of the Quran and is considered the most holy night of the year. Ramadan ends with the holiday Eid ul-Fitr, on which feasts are held. During the month following Ramadan, called Shawwal, Muslims are encouraged to fast for a further six days.

The most prominent event of this month, fasting (sawm), is practiced by most Muslims. Every day during the month of Ramadan, Muslims around the world get up before dawn to eat the Suhoor meal and perform their fajr prayer. They break their fast when the fourth prayer of the day, Maghrib (sunset), is due. Since Ramadan emphasizes community aspects and since everyone eats at the same time, Muslims often invite one another to share in the Ramadan evening meal.

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 and reach a raised level of closeness to God. Fasting allows Muslims to practice self-discipline, sacrifice and sympathy for those who are less fortunate; intended to make Muslims more generous and charitable. During Ramadan, Muslims are expected to exert extra effort into following the Islamic teachings and to avoid obscene and irreligious sights and sounds. Sexual activities during fasting hours are also forbidden, as purity of both thought and action is important.

Muslims are also encouraged to read the entire Quran. Sunni Muslims tend to perform the recitation of the entire Quran by means of special prayers called Tarawih, which are held in the mosques every night of the month, during which a section of the Quran is recited, so that by the end of the month the entire Quran has been completed.

Muslims with means also pay Zakaat during the month. Although Zakaat can be paid any time of the year, it has to be calculated on a year to year basis and many Muslims use Ramadan as the month for calculation and distribution.

Since it is a festival of giving and sharing, Muslims prepare special foods and buy gifts for their family and friends and for giving to the poor and needy who cannot afford it, this can involve buying new clothes, shoes and other items of need. There is also a social aspect involved - the preparing of special foods and inviting people for the Iftar meal (the meal to break the Fast).

Muslims are encouraged to fast six days in Shawwal, the month following Ramadan that begins after Eid ul-Fitr; these days need not be consecutive. According to hadith, one who fasts the month of Ramadan and six days during Shawwal will be rewarded as though he fasted the entire year.

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Ramadan mubarak.

It's going to be an interesting month. First time being in a Muslim country during Ramadan.

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~Tolyn~

"A penny for your thoughts; $20 to act it out."

Since folks will probably have more knowledge (or at least immediate access to it) than I, what's the difference between Ramadan Kareem and Ramadan Mubarak?

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"Dress cops up as soldiers, give them military equipment, train them in military tactics, tell them they’re fighting a ‘war,’ and the consequences are predictable." —Radley Balko

Peace and happiness on Ramadan and throughout every year.

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The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. B. Franklin

"A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone." -- Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

An interesting thing about Ramadan is that it is based on the lunar calender, so it shifts throughout the year over time. Fasting from sunrise to sunset is easy enough when it's December, and not really ever unbearable in the middle east, though it's certainly longer in the summer. But imagine being a Muslim above the arctic circle right now....

They are both used interchangeably to my knowledge but I think Kareem means "generous" while mubarak means "blessed."

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~Tolyn~

"A penny for your thoughts; $20 to act it out."

That works.
Thanks, Tolyn.

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"Dress cops up as soldiers, give them military equipment, train them in military tactics, tell them they’re fighting a ‘war,’ and the consequences are predictable." —Radley Balko

If I recall correctly so does Jewish Passover which drives Easter, which drives Lent.

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Read a short story in my AP English class about a circus performer who's "talent" was fasting.

Figured I'd see what it was like, so I fasted for 3 days. Last meal was a Friday night, the next one was the following Monday.

Its an interesting experience.

Sort of. Those are based on a combination of lunar and solar... Passover begins at the night of the full moon after the spring equinox, and Easter occurs on the following Sunday. so while it floats around a little it doesn't circle the calendar the way Ramadan does. Easter always occurs between March 22 and April 25. Since Ramadan isn't tethered to the solar calendar at all it occurs about 11 days earlier each year. I seem to recall that it took place in spring back when I was in high school... we had a lot of Muslims in my area.