Ramadan in Kuwait

Here is a good Ramadan Presentation I got from my investment bank;

Ramadan
Estimated Date: 1st September – 30th September 2008

What is Ramadan?

• Ramadan is considered the most venerated and blessed month of the Islamic year.

• It is the ninth month of the Islamic Hijri calendar, the month in which the Holly Qur'an began to be revealed.

• Each year, Ramadan begins about eleven days earlier than the previous year.

• Beginning and ending of Ramadan depends on the location of the country and the ability to sight the moon

• Ramadan, similar to all Hijri months, is either twenty nine or thirty days long.

Fasting Ramadan

• Fasting (Siyam) is one of the 5 pillars of Islam and is often thought to figuratively burn away all sins.

• Fasting Ramadan is obligatory to all adult Muslims except those who are exempt such as sick people, travelers, and women in certain conditions

• Fasting is intended to be 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.

• It allows Muslims to practice self-discipline, sacrifice, and sympathy for those who are less fortunate, intended to make Muslims more generous and charitable.

Starting & Breaking the fast

• Suhoor: Every day during the month of Ramadan, Muslims around the world get up before dawn to eat the Suhoor meal (the pre dawn meal) and perform their fajr prayer.

• Iftar: They break their fast when the fourth prayer of the day Maghrib (sunset), is due

Practices during Ramadan

• Prayer: In addition to the regular five prayers daily, the following prayers are usually held:

– Tarawih, is an extra prayer held in the mosques every night during Ramadan and is performed immediately after Al-Isha'a prayer.

– Qeyam, is usually held in the mosque and could be done at home on the last 10 days of Ramadan.

• Donations: Muslims donate to the poor on this Holy month. They donate from food to clothes and even money.

• Ramadan is a time of intensive worship, reading of the Qur'an, giving charity, purifying one's behavior, and doing good deeds.

Ramadan Traditions

• Working hours are changed in many courtiers, less working hours during the daytime and longer evening times, sometimes reaching until 2 am.

• Markets are closed in the afternoon to enable people to perform prayers and consume the Iftar meal (the meal to end the fast) - these markets then re-open and stay open for a good part of the night.

• Families and friends are invited to share Iftar (the meal to break the Fast) which is a good social gathering.

• Specific traditional food is offered during Ramadan in addition to dates, Qamardeen Juice, and Laban.

Ramadan traditions in Kuwait

• Graish, is another celebration for the coming of Ramadan. In other words, called, “Ramadan-Eve”. Family and friend gather for dinner on the night of Ramadan.

• Ghabgah, family & friends gatherings before and after the feast.

• Gergai’an, is the Arabic version of Halloween’s trick or treat. It is a three day celebration during mid-Ramadan. It is dated on 13 to 15 of the holy month of Ramadan. Kids roam around the neighborhood wearing traditional clothes and singing special songs, knock on doors and ask for candy treats and nuts.

• Specific traditional food is eaten mostly during Ramadan such as, Dates, Tashreeb, Lugaymat, Jareesh, Harees, Katayef, Vimto Juice, Qamardeen Juice, and Laban.

Eid Al-Fitr

• The Islamic holiday of Eid Al-Fitr marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan and the first day of the following month.

• Eid El-Fitr means the Happy Festival of Breaking the Fast, a three day special celebration is made.

• Zakat Al-Fitr, money that every Muslim pays compulsory to the poor calculated to feed one poor person in the region for one day.

• Everyone puts on their new clothes, and communal prayers are held in the early morning, followed by feasting and visiting relatives and friends.

• Gifts and cash money called Eideya is given to children as a token of love by their parents and relatives.

Greeting Messages

Commonly used greeting messages for Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr:

Ramadan

• Kul Aam Wa Antom Bi-Kheir

• Ramadan Mubarak

• Mubarak Alaykom Al-Shaher

• Ramadan Kareem

Eid Al-Fitr

• Kul Aam Wa Antom Bi-Kheir

• Eidkum Mubarak

• Eidkum Mubarak Wa-Asakom Min Owadah

• Eidkum Mubarak Wa-Asakom Min Ilaydeen Wilfazeen

Ramadan Mubarak

Enjoy it…

Ramadan 101 for Non-Muslims

What does the word "Ramadan" mean?

Ramadan is the name of the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The original meaning of the word was "scorching heat".

What's this Islamic calendar?

The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar. This means that each month begins with the sighting of the new crescent moon. There are twelve months in the year. A lunar year is 354 days long. This is different from a solar calendar like the Gregorian calendar used in the West. The solar year lasts 365 days. Because the lunar year is shorter, each date on it falls about 10 or 11 days earlier, relative to the solar calendar, with each succeeding year. For instance, in the year 2002 it started on November 6, while in the year 2003 it started on October 27. In 2004, it was predicted to start on October 16 (and actually started on October 15). In 2005, it started on October 5. In 2006, it started on September 23. In 2007, it is predicted to start on September 13.

Why do you say Ramadan is "predicted" to start on a certain date?

As I mentioned above, each month in the Islamic calendar starts with the sighting of the new crescent moon. Scientific calculations can pinpoint exactly when the astronomical new moon occurs, and can predict with some accuracy when the first crescent will be visible after this, but there are many factors that can complicate this, such as the weather. For this reason, and so that even ordinary Muslims who are not astronomers can take part, the rule is that the new crescent moon must be sighted by human observers. And we don't know exactly when it will appear until it's seen!

Does the month of Ramadan commemorate anything?

The month of Ramadan is when the first verses of the Quran were revealed. Note: The entire Quran was revealed over a period of about 23 years, starting in 610 CE and ending in 632 CE.

What is the purpose of the fast?

Quran Surah al-Baqarat verse 183 states that the purpose of the fast is to develop a quality called in Arabic "taqwa". Taqwa may be defined as, "Worshiping God as if you see Him because if you don't, He sees you." It is thus a kind of awe or God-fearingness, an awareness that God is always watching. Nobody but God and the person fasting know if that person actually observed the entire fast or secretly cheated. Thus, in order to resist the temptation to cheat, one has to remember that God is always watching and will see any lapse.

What does the fast entail?

The fast is from dawn to sunset each day of Ramadan. The fast involves refraining from food, drink, and (for married people) sexual relations during the daylight hours.

Who has to fast?

The fast is obligatory on all sexually mature adult Muslims. Those who are mentally handicapped or insane are not considered "adult" and do not have to fast. People who are ill do not have to fast if it would further damage their health; however, they should make up the missed fasts later when they become well again. Women who are pregnant or nursing are considered "ill" because fasting would harm their babies. As well, women who are having their menstrual period or who are experiencing post-partum bleeding should refrain from fasting during the days of their bleeding; the combination of blood loss and fasting could damage their health. Children who have not yet reached puberty are not required to fast. However, it is good for them to practice, and for this reason many Muslim children do fast starting from age seven or nine. A doctor should be consulted about how much fasting is safe for a growing child. People who are traveling may also break their fast if they feel that keeping it would harm them; as well, soldiers on guard duty for whom maximum readiness is a must may break their fast. In all cases of illness or fear of illness, the missed days need to be made up later.

Are there any other observances or customs attached to Ramadan?

The Muslim world has an almost staggering diversity of cultures and each Muslim country may have its own customs and rites associated with Ramadan. Some customs that are observed by most Muslims include the following:

• Recitation of the entire Quran, in imitation of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who did so. This is usually done for the community from the mosques or (in Muslim countries) on the radio; individuals or families may also get together for their own recitation
• Observance of special night vigil prayers in the late evening or middle of the night called tarawih
• Withdrawing to the mosque during the last ten nights of Ramadan for prayer and Quran recitation, which is called itikaf meaning "seclusion"
• Celebration of the "Night of Power" marking the specific date of the beginning of the revelation of the Quran on the 27th of Ramadan

As well, the fast is broken each evening with a meal called "iftar" (meaning "breaking the fast"), and the last meal in the morning before dawn is called "suhur" (meaning "morning meal"). In Muslim countries it is quite common to have feasts that last all night and run from iftar to suhur. These feasts are a time of celebration and community. There is also a special holiday marking the end of Ramadan, called Eid al-Fitr.

What's Eid al-Fitr?

The name Eid al-Fitr means "feast of the fast-breaking". It takes place on the first day of the month that follows Ramadan. There is a special salat (prayer) which the whole community should come together for. As well, those who can afford to do it should provide a small amount of food for the needy so that everybody can celebrate. The value of this gift is about $15 today. Most communities have a variety of festive celebrations and meals to mark the day.

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