THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN

People listening to sermon 

The holiest month in the Islamic calendar sees Muslims undertake a 30-day fast which ends in mid-June.
Ramadan began last week with Muslims around the world embarking on a 30-day period of ritual fasting and abstinence.
The date on which Ramadan begins changes each year. It is determined by the first confirmed sighting of the new moo.
There is often controversy about when it starts, with different countries observing it on different days. In the UK, Ramadan this year began on 15 May and finishes on 14 June.
Fasting is the most well-known and important part of the month. Practicing Muslims are not allowed to eat between sunrise and sunset to help teach “self-discipline, self-restraint and generosity”.
It's common to have one meal, the suhoor, just before sunrise and another known as the iftar directly after sunset.
Non-Muslims, young children, the sick, people with mental health illnesses, travellers, the elderly and women who are menstruating, pregnant, breast-feeding or have recently given birth do not have to fast.
The government’s Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has a page for helping employers support Muslim employees during Ramadan, and warns that “fasting may affect people in different ways.
some people may understandably become a little irritable or slightly tired at times and some understanding from managers and colleagues can be helpful.
Eating at least two meals a day; the suhoor and ifta, packing them with complex carbohydrates such as wheat, oats, lentils and basmati rice that release energy slowly will enable one stay healthy during Ramadan.
Also, High-fat and high-sugar foods are not recommended and fasters should instead eat baked samosas, boiled dumplings, grilled meat and milk-based puddings.
Dr Lawal Abdul Qudus , a Lecturer at the MuslimAssoication of Nigeria says: “Ramadan isn't always thought of as being an opportunity to lose weight because the spiritual aspect is emphasised more generally than the health aspect. However, it's a great chance to get the physical benefits as well.”
Despite this, he adds, a balanced diet with the right proportion of carbs, fat and protein is needed to see any benefits.
Knowing the exact times of sunrise and sunset is important during Ramadan, but this can be complicated as this differs around the world and sometimes even in a country. Apps such as Muslim Pro tell when to begin fasting and what time followers can eat again.
Ikeja - Lagos Mosque has a prayer timetable to help Muslims keep up with the different times throughout the month of Ramadan.
LISTEN HERE
The Timetable also gives the exact sunrise and sunset times for any location around the world.
Ramadan marks the month when Allah revealed the Koran to the Prophet Muhammad.
Alhaja Al-Moruf Zainab, a practitioner of the Muslim society says: "Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam; a verse in the Koran prescribes it for all mature and healthy Muslims.
Muslims fast as an act of worship, a chance to get closer to Allah and a way to become more compassionate to those in need.
On the 27th day of Ramadan, Muslims mark Lailat al Qadr – the “Night of Power”. This is Islam’s holiest night and commemorates the day the Koran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. It involves spending the night praying, studying and reciting the holy text.
However, the exact day of Lailat al Qadr falls was never actually specified by the Prophet Muhammad(SAW) and some Muslims choose to commemorate all the last ten days of Ramadan as if they were Lailat al Qadr.
To mark the end of fasting, Muslims celebrate the Eid ul-Fitr festival , beginning with early morning prayers and then a day of feasting with friends and family.
Many Muslims wear their best clothes to celebrate eating their first daylight meal in a month and give thanks to Allah for giving them strength and self-control. They also exchange gifts and decorate their homes for the celebrations.
Ramadan is based on a lunar calendar, which is determined by the position of the moon in the sky. This means each year the fasting begins around 11 days earlier than the previous year.
Next year, it begins on 5 May, then it moves to April in 2020. By 2023, it will have hit March and by 2026, Ramadan will be in February.
The change means keeping Ramadan is slightly easier when the days are short, but summer months, when the days are long, make the fast more difficult – especially for those living in countries in the far north, where the sun can remain in the sky almost all day.
To counter this, some scholars suggest only using Mecca time to measure the fast, but the idea is controversial, leaving many believers fasting for up to 19 hours at a time.
As with many religious traditions, some of the Ramadan fasting practices differ depending on the specific school of thought and can be open to interpretation.
Ibrahim Sulaimon, an advanced student of Islamic teaching school, and a Hafidh of the Koran, suggests those who are worried about this can use “minimal toothpaste, something that is not very strong, not too minty” or alternatively using a miswak - a teeth-cleaning stick.
These exemptions do not extend to swallowing medication, which would invalidate the fast and should therefore be taken before dawn or after sunset.
However, Habeeb stresses anyone with a medical condition should first ask whether they should be fasting at all, adding “what's clear cut in the Koran is that you should always follow the advice of the doctor”.
In many Muslim countries, visitors are expected to abide by the restrictions of Ramadan, at least in public, meaning no eating, drinking, chewing gum or smoking during the day.
It also warns that in some countries "if you demonstrate culturally insensitive behaviour that offends, you could be arrested".
Loud music and dancing is considered disrespectful during Ramadan and some restaurants will close or amend their opening hours.
Travellers are advised to stock up on food in their hotel room, unless they want to rise early for a big pre-dawn breakfast and stay up late to break the fast.
In conclusion, due to facts, Muslims are also expected to give away 2.5% of their wealth during the 30-day festival as part of zakat.
Another common misconception is that swallowing saliva will break your fast. Hassan says this too, “has no basis at all”, although the exchange of bodily fluids with another person, including kissing, is not allowed.