Ramadan – one of the holiest months for Muslims – starts on the evening of Wednesday, March 22 lasting 30 days and ending at sundown on Friday, April 21
It’s is a time for communal prayer, spiritual reflection, meals with extended family and friends to break daily fasts, concluding with the community celebration of Eid-Ul-Fitr
Many NHS staff who are Muslim and observe fasting during Ramadan, will participate in a daily period of fasting, starting at sunrise and finishing at sunset over the month, and it’s important if you work with muslim colleagues to be aware of this. This means abstaining from food, drink (including water) and smoking. While fasting is an important part of Ramadan, it is also a time of self-reflection and self-evaluation for Muslims.
At NCIC there are several chapels where Muslim staff can pray during the month of Ramadan. There are two prayer rooms and a chapel at CIC - the chapel is on the first floor at CIC, and there is a prayer room in there. The other prayer room is in the Fairfield Centre opposite the Old Drs Residence.
At WCH there are two prayer rooms on the lower ground floor corridor near to clinical coding. There is also a chapel in the old reception area next to WH Smith.
There is also a Mosque on Brook Street in Carlisle.
Ramadan case study
Dr Amal Kona, a consultant paediatrician, will celebrate Ramadan with her family.
Originally from Sudan but growing up in Saudi Arabia, Dr Kona said: "It's all about how we can be more spiritual, be closer to God, and be better people."
She said: "I'm so excited. Ramadan is my favourite time of year. It's a time to feel clean and relaxed and physically feel better.
"What I love about Ramadan is that it reminds us of those who can't find food or shelter, and we start recognising all the small things around us, which we take for granted.
"We believe charity never decreases wealth. Before Ramadan, Muslims donate some of their saved money, called Zakah donation, one of Islam's pillars."
Before Ramadan, Dr Kona has been busy preparing food for her family and guests.
She said: "Feeding someone who is fasting is very rewarding. I love inviting people and preparing food for them.
"As a family, we spend a lot of time together. We rise at 4 am to pray and make a proper meal – usually featuring cereal and bananas as it is easily digested and provides lasting energy.
"The children typically go back to sleep briefly before going to school.
We break our fasting with three dates as they rejuvenate your energy levels; then, take a warm soup."
On the last day of Ramadan, Zakat al-Fitr is paid by the head of the household for each family member before the Eid al-Fitr prayer. Zakat al-Fitr is about the price of one meal—estimated to be $15.The recipient must be poor or needy.
At the end of Ramadan, there's a big three-day celebration called Eid al-Fitr, or the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast.
Ramadan facts
Introduction
Ramadan is considered one of the holiest months of the year for Muslims. In Ramadan, Muslims commemorate the revelation of the Qur’an, and fast from food and drink during the sunlit hours as a means of drawing closer to God and cultivating self-control, gratitude, and compassion for those less fortunate. Ramadan is a month of intense spiritual rejuvenation with a heightened focus on devotion, during which Muslims spend extra time reading the Qur’an and performing special prayers. Those unable to fast, such as pregnant or nursing women, the sick, or elderly people and children, are exempt from fasting.
When does Ramadan take place?
Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, which is based on a 12 month lunar year of approximately 354 days. Because the lunar year is 11 days shorter than the solar year, each lunar month moves 11 days earlier each year. It takes 33 solar years for the lunar months to complete a full cycle and return to the same season. The month traditionally begins and ends based on the sighting of the new moon. Starting on April 1st, Muslims will begin to search the sky for the new crescent or will follow a pre-determined date based on astronomical calculation.
The Length and Purpose of Fasting
Muslims fast from pre-dawn to sunset, a fast of between 11-16 hours depending on the time of year for a period of 29-30 days. Ramadan entails forgoing food and drink, and if married, abstaining from sex during sunlit hours. For Muslims, Ramadan is a time to train themselves both physically and spiritually by avoiding any negative acts such as gossiping, backbiting, lying or arguing. Muslims welcome Ramadan as an opportunity for self-reflection, and spiritual improvement, and as a means to grow in moral excellence. Ramadan is also a highly social time as Muslims invite each other to break their fast together and meet for prayers at the mosque.
The ultimate goal of fasting is gaining greater God-consciousness, known in Arabic as taqwa, signifying a state of constant awareness of God. From this awareness a person should gain discipline, self-restraint and a greater incentive to do good and avoid wrong. In commemoration of the revelation of Muslim’s holy book, the Qur’an, Muslims attempt to read the entire book during Ramadan. The entire Qur’an is also recited during special nightly prayers.
Who Fasts?
All Muslims who have reached puberty are obliged to fast. However, people for whom fasting would be a hardship are exempted from fasting. This includes anyone who is sick or traveling; women who are pregnant, nursing, or on their menses; or older people who are too weak or ill to fast. Anyone who is exempted must make up the fast later, except for those who cannot fast due to age or chronic illness. Instead, they can feed a poor person for every day of fasting which they miss.
Children
While children are not required to fast until they reach puberty, it is customary for children beginning around seven years of age to perform limited or symbolic fasting such as fasting half days or on weekends. This trains them gradually and helps to engender a sense of inclusion during the month-long observance. Mosques often give special recognition to children who are fasting their first full day or first Ramadan.
Family Routines
A Muslim family usually rises around 5am before dawn and eats a modest, breakfast-like meal called suhur. After the meal, the family performs the morning prayer, and depending on the circumstances, goes back to bed or begins the day. Particularly during the long summer months, people often take a nap in the late afternoon after work or school. At sunset, family members break the fast with a few dates and water, and depending on the culture, other light foods such as soup, appetizers or fruit. This is referred to as iftar which means “breaking the fast.” After performing the sunset prayers, the family eats dinner. Inviting guests to break the fast or going to someone else’s house for iftar is very common in Ramadan. Many families then go to the mosque for the night prayer and a special Ramadan prayer called taraweeh. After completing their prayers, the families return home around 11.45pm (All of these times vary depending on the time of year, with shorter days in the winter and longer days in the summer.)
Special Activities
Many mosques host daily community dinners where Muslims can break their fast together. This is a great service for students, the poor and anyone who desires a break from cooking. Many mosques also host a community dinner on the weekends.
Special Ramadan prayers called taraweeh are held in most mosques after the night prayer. During taraweeh, the prayer leader recites at least one thirtieth of the Qur’an so that by the end of the month the entire Qur’an will have been recited.
Since Ramadan is a time for Muslims to be especially charitable and fasting helps Muslims feel compassion for the hungry and less fortunate, many mosques hold food drives or fundraisers for charity during Ramadan. Many mosques also host open houses for their friends and neighbours of other faiths to join them for their fast-breaking dinner or iftar at the end of the fasting day.
The Night of Power known as Lailat al-Qadr, is believed to fall on one of the odd nights during the last ten days of Ramadan, but is most widely observed on the 27th night of Ramadan. It is considered the most blessed night in Ramadan because it is believed to be the night in which the Qu’ran was first revealed. Mosques are open all night as Muslims hold vigils in prayer, Qur’anic recitation, and contemplation.
Special Foods
Breaking the fast with dates or water is the only strictly traditional culinary custom associated with Ramadan. It is interesting to note the suitability of dates for this purpose as they are a concentrated source of energy and easily digestible. Different Muslim-populated countries have a variety of special dishes and desserts for Ramadan.
Benefits of Fasting
Doctors agree that fasting is extremely beneficial for lowering cholesterol levels and for other health benefits. Fasting is a means of purifying the body as well as the spirit, as it gives the body a rest from the continuous task of digesting food.
Eid al-Fitr
At the end of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate one of their major holidays called Eid al-Fitr or the “Festival of the Breaking of the Fast. Children traditionally receive new clothes, money or gifts from parents, relatives and friends. A special prayer and sermon are held the morning of Eid day, followed by a community celebration usually in a park or large hall. Food, games and presents for children are important parts of the festivities, as friends and family spend the day socializing, eating and reuniting with old acquaintances. The greeting Eid Mubarak means “blessed holiday!”