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When is Ramadan in 2011? Ramadan in 2011 will start on Monday, the 1st of August and will continue for 30 days until Tuesday, the 30th of August. This Ramadan, all North Americans, Asians, latin, Africans, and Australians are invited to join Muslim fasting. Australians: Do you know what zabiha halal is? |
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1) What is Ramadan? A: Ramadan is a very special time of the year. During this month, people of the Muslim faith fast from dawn to dusk every day. 2) What does an Islamic year look like? A: Hijrah calendar.
Safar Rabi' al-awwal (Rabi' I) Rabi' al-thani (Rabi' II) Jumada al-awwal (Jumada I) Jumada al-thani (Jumada II) Rajab Sha'ban Ramadan Shawwal Dhu al-Qi'dah Dhu al-Hijjah 3) Are Non-Muslims required to follow Ramadan practices? A: Non-Muslims are in no way forced to follow Islamic traditions during the month of Ramadan. However, as a sign of respect, refrain from consuming food, drinks, chewing gum and smoking in public during the fasting hours of the day (dawn to dusk). 4) When does Ramadan begin? A: Muslims follow the Islamic calendar, which is about eleven days shorter than the Gregorian calendar. The beginning of the Islamic months depends on the actual sighting of the new moon. Thus Ramadan begins on a different day each year and moves forward. Ramadan in 2011 will start on Monday, the 1st of August and will continue for 30 days until Tuesday, the 30th of August. 5) What about dress code? Should I wear conservative clothing? A: It is encouraged to wear conservative clothing during the month of Ramadan as a sign of respect. 6) Are there any changes in working/business hours? A: Companies, administrations usually do have reduced working hours for their staff over Ramadan, especially for those that are fasting, but it is business as usual and the normal business hours are covered in most cases with employees working different shifts in most organizations. The start of the business day in the morning might be a little later than normal. 7) Is everything closed during the day? A: No, not everything is closed during Ramadan. Opening and closing hours do change during the month as opposed to the other days of the year for offices and shops. 8) What is the derivation of "Ramadan"? A: Ramadan is derived from the Arabic word ar-ramad, meaning "parched thirst," and is also the name of the ninth month of the lunar calendar. 9) How did Ramadan begin? Who is a leader? What skills, knowledge, qualities, and character should a good leader have? Does your leader have these characteristics? Who is an Imam? You answer that. 10) How is Ramadan celebrated? A: Muslims practice sawm, or fasting, during the entire month. This means eat or drink nothing, including water, while the sun shines. Adults also refrain from marital relations during the hours of fasting (i.e. the daylight hours). Other duties include prayers. 11) Why do Muslims fast during Ramadan? A: Fasting is one of the Five Pillars (duties) of Islam. The Quran says that the main reason behind fasting is to attain taqwa, or God-consciousness. While they are hungry and thirsty, Muslims are reminded of the suffering of the poor. Fasting is also an opportunity to practice self-control and to cleanse the body and mind. In the Muslim world, most restaurants are closed during the daylight hours during Ramadan. Families get up early for suhoor, a meal eaten before the sun rises. After the sun sets, the fast is broken with a meal known as iftar which usually includes dates, fresh fruits, appetizers, beverages and dinner. All Muslims partake in the customs and celebration of Ramadan, starting at approximately age 12. Exceptions include men and women who are too old to fast, those who are too ill, women in the advanced stages of pregnancy, and women who are menstruating. 12) What does the Quran say about Ramadan? A: "The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Quran was sent down, a guidance for mankind, clear proofs for the guidance, the Criterion; so whoever amongst you witnesses this month, let him fast it." (Surah al-Baqarah 2:185) The hadith, a collection of the sayings of Muhammad, recommends the following: * Study the Quran. * Come together for this purpose. * Check your memory of the Quran. * Increase your recitation of the Quran. 13) How and when does Ramadan end? A: Ramadan ends with the festival of Eid al-Fitr. 14) What is the length of the Fasting? A: From dawn to sunset, every day of the month of Ramadan. 15) Who should observe the Fast? A: Fasting is obligatory upon every Muslim male and female who has reached the age of puberty. 16) Who is exempted from Fasting? A: All Muslims partake in the customs and celebration of Ramadan, starting at approximately age 12. Exceptions include men and women who are too old to fast, those who are too ill, women in the advanced stages of pregnancy, and women who are menstruating. 17) How and when does Ramadan end? A: Ramadan ends with the festival of Eid al-Fitr. 18) What is Eid-ul-Fitr? A: A feast called Eid-ul-Fitr, a day of thanks giving and happiness celebrates the end of Ramadan. On this day, Muslims offer special prayers in congregation and thank Allah for His blessings. 19) What does fasting achieve? A: During Ramadan, Muslims go through a period of intense reflection and devotion, seeking guidance and forgiveness. Sawm, or fasting, is practiced during the entire month, during which time eating, drinking (including water) and all bodily pleasures are forbidden during the hours of daylight. When hungry and thirsty, Muslims remember the suffering of the poor. There is an increased compassion for those in need of the basic necessities of life, a sense of self-purification and reflection and a renewed focus on spirituality. Muslims appreciate the feeling of togetherness shared by family and friends throughout the month. It is an opportunity to practice self-control and to cleanse the body and mind. Perhaps the greatest benefit is the annual lesson in self restraint and discipline that can carry forward to other aspects of a Muslim's life such as work and education. 20) So what's involved? A: The day begins whilst it is still dark and families will wake early for suhoor, a meal eaten before the sun rises. After sunset, the fast is ended with a meal known as iftar which traditionally includes dates, water, fresh fruits, appetizers, tea, cofee and dinner. 21) How did the fast during Ramadan become obligatory for Muslims? A: The Quran is the holy book of the Muslims. It contains the revelations from God to Prophet Muhammad. The obligation to fast is explained in the second chapter of the Quran: "O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may become careful about your duties toward God . Chapter 2, verse 183. 22) What do Muslims gain from fasting? A: Fasting is in obedience to the command of God and brings Muslims closer to Him. It creates an increased humbleness and compassion for those in need of the necessities of life, a sense of self- purification and reflection, and a renewed focus on spirituality. Muslims also appreciate the feeling of togetherness shared by family and friends throughout the month. 23) When is Ramadan starting in 2011? Muslims follow the Islamic calendar, which is about eleven days shorter than the Gregorian calendar. The beginning of the Islamic months depends on the actual sighting of the new moon. Thus Ramadan begins on a different day each year and moves forward. In 2011, Ramadan is expected to start around the 1st of August and end around 30th August. The answer to this question varies depending on the actual sighting of the new moon. The end of Ramadan is celebrated with 3 days of joyous festivities, the "Eid al Fitr." 24) Calendar Facts A calendar is a system for naming periods of time, typically days. A lunar month is determined by the period required for the moon to complete its full phased cycle of 29 and a half days A lunar calendar is a calendar whose date indicates the moon phase. Hijrah Calendar Calculations Muslims measure the passage of time using the Islamic (Hijrah) calendar. This calendar has twelve lunar months, the beginnings and endings of which are determined by the sighting of the crescent moon. Islamic months begin at sunset, on the day when the lunar crescent is visually sighted. The lunar year is approx. 354 days inshaAllah. Names for the days of the weekŠ Yaum al Ahad-Sunday Yaum al-Ithnayn-Monday Yaum ath-thalatha-Tuesday Yaum al-Arba'a-Wednesday Yaum al-khamees-Thursday Yaum al-Jumuah-Friday Yaum as-Sabt-Saturday What does an Islamic year look like?
1. Muharram 2. Safar 3. Rabi' al-awwal (Rabi' I) 4. Rabi' al-thani (Rabi' II) 5. Jumada al-awwal (Jumada I) 6. Jumada al-thani (Jumada II) 7. Rajab 8. Sha'ban 9. Ramadan 10. Shawwal 11. Dhu al-Qi'dah 12. Dhu al-Hijjah Calendar-Ramdan1) What is a calendar?2) How many types of calendars exist in the world? 3) What are the names of the calendar which exist? 4) How many months are in the lunar calendar? 5) Which surah and ayat tell us how many months are in the lunar calendar? 6) Write in your own words (summarize) what the Prophet (salla allahu alaihi wa salaam) said concerning the number of months in the year? 7) How is the beginning and the end of each month in the lunar calendar determined? 8) What is ramadan? 9) Why is the Islamic calendar used? 10) Why is the Gregorian calendar used? 11) How do people celebrate Ramadan in your region? 12) What do you like most about Ramadan? 13) Whats your best Ramadan memory? 14) What would you like non-Muslims to understand about Ramadan? 15) Whats your favourite Ramadan food? 16) Who do you think enjoys Ramadan more, children or adults? 17) Do you say special prayers during Ramadan? 18) Are there medical benefits to Ramadan?
19) Do people in different regions celebrate Ramadan differently? 20) How would you explain what Ramadan is to someone who didnt know? 21) Do you think the way people celebrate Ramadan today is different to how they celebrated it in the past? HAJJ
Why does Hajj begin on a different day each year? Why do Muslims sacrifice a lamb or other animal during the festival of Eid ul-Adha? Is Hajj an obligation on all Muslims? Isn't astronomy a must for Muslims? How many Muslims are there in astronomy? How many space scientists are there? When is Eid-ul-Fitr in 2011? (1432) Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr at the end of Ramadan after sighting the new moon of the month of Shawwal. Eid-ul-fitr in North America, Africa, Latin America, Australia, and Asia in 2011 (1432) will be on _______, the _______ 2011. (1432) |