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…