Ramadan in Iran

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. This is the month during which Muslims’ holy book Quran was revealed, Hassan the second Shiite Imam was born, Prophets’ son in law Ali was murdered, a conclusive battle at Badr was won and Muslims are expected to fast. One of the main rituals of Islam, fasting is obligatory for all Muslims except with the sick, pregnant women and some travelers. In all cases once recovered or stopped travelling the missing days should be fasted.

The practice is observed for the whole month and ends with the celebration ‘Fitr’. The daily period of fasting starts at dawn and ends at sunset with no food, drink or sex during the fasting hours. Such self-control is believed to benefit the individuals by elevating spiritual nature or energy and is symbolic of an inner purification of the character. The believers must have a good intention (niyyat) in their mind when fasting. This intention must be pure and the ritual should be performed for the love of God only, not for sake of earthly gains or even the reward of paradise. Special acts of piety, such as the recitation of the entire Quran (one-thirtieth each night of the month) and prayers specific to Ramadan are performed privately or communally at the mosques. Alms are given to the needy and charitable people will provide free meals at sunset when ending the fast meals are consumed.

Fasting is a common ritual practiced by most religions and was known in the pre-Islamic Arabia. There were several Gnostic sects, Christian and Manichean missionaries that practiced fasting and were present in Arabia at the time of Prophet Muhammad. The Muslim fasting was originally based on the Jewish tradition. In Quran crossing of the Red Sea by the Jewish exodus from Egypt is called furghan meaning salvation. Each year Jews commemorate this furghan at Passover. However the fasting season is at Yom Kippur another Jewish holy day when the entire day is dedicated to praying and other religious observances. Since food can not be consumed during the prayers fasting is observed till the rituals are over. This is called the Day of Atonement by the Jews and happens on the tenth of the Jewish month Tishri.

After prophet’s migration to Medina, influenced by the Jewish tradition, the Muslim fasting happened at Passover mixing this day and Yom Kippur together. The fasting was established for the day of ‘Ashura’, the tenth of Muharam. However after the decisive and unexpected victory at the battle of Badr the Prophet declared that the fast at Passover was no longer obligatory for Muslims. Instead they were required to fast during Ramadan to commemorate their own furghan of Badr. The fast of Ramadan was observed for the first time in 625, and became one of the essential practices of Islam and a must for all Muslims. It is not obligatory for youngsters until they reach puberty however most practicing Muslims encourage their children to practice occasional fasting long before they reach that age.

Women during menstruation and up to forty days following childbirth and pregnant women are also exempt from fasting. However the missed days should be made up before the next Ramadan. The very old and the insane are permanently exempt from fasting.

The fasting starts at the beginning of the month when the moon is in conjunction with the sun illuminating the side of the moon away from the earth. In this position, the moon is known as new moon with its dark side facing the earth. By definition a new moon is not visible till it has orbited long enough to form a crescent. A lunar month is approximately 29.5 days and on average is one day shorter than a solar month. Therefore, the month of Ramadan comes 10 – 12 days earlier each year. Any observatory and astronomy center can provide detailed and exact information as to the start of the month. However many Muslims will not start fasting till the moon crescent is sighted.

For Muslims like Jews the day begins at sunset and ends at the next sunset. In this system the night comes before the day. If the new moon is sighted before the sunset fasting starts the next day, but if the moon is sighted after the sunset, the first day of Ramadan does not start until the next sunset. The same system is used to determine the ending of the month. If the new moon for the following month, Shawwal is sighted before the sunset, fasting ends at the sunset on that day. If it is sighted after the sunset, the fasting continues till next day.

People fasting will rise early before dawn to have a pre-fast breakfast (Sahari) and a more elaborate meal at the end of the fasting day called Iftar (Iftari). The first one being early in the morning is a family affair and normally consists of a large breakfast with previously prepared cold meals like koko, kofteh with flat bread, Feta cheese, eggs, bread and jam served with tea. Dates are always served with all religious rituals and are assumed to bring barakat (blessing). These were Prophet Muhammad’s favorite food and are used at most Muslim ceremonies. There is no prescribed food as such and it varies according to the taste and economic status of the participants. Iftar however is like a feast and if possible is consumed with other close members of the family clan, friends and neighbors. Independent religious gathering places like a Takeyeh may serve Iftari food for people attending the event with communal praying, recitations of Quran and preaching by the religious figures and other respected authorities mainly males.

Segregation of sexes is still practiced by many Muslims therefore in some traditional families and in the Mosques males and females will be seated separately. Volunteers perform acts of charity by preparing food in the kitchens and serving the needy with food donated by the charitable people. Ramadan is regarded as a festive month for most Muslims. Streets and shops will be decorated with lights and flowers. People will congratulate each other by saying ‘Ramadan Mubarak’ (blessed Ramadan). People are not expected to give up their daily routine and work despite the apparent hardships caused by fasting. In fact they are expected to carry on as usual and withstanding the hardships is regarded an act of self-discipline rather than an ascetic or withdrawal from the every day life.

The last 10 days are especially important because Quran was revealed in this month at the ‘Night of Power’ (lailat al-qadr). Quran is the foundation of Islam and the unadulterated word of God; it is the Divine Word par excellence. Each single verse of it is called ayat " sign" or miracle because Prophet brought forth these verses as Divine signs when his adversaries asked him for a miracle attesting to his prophecy. According to the Quran, the night of power is better than a thousand months put together. Some people will retreat into prayers during these last ten days. These are called days of i-tikaf or retreat and it ends with Id-i Fitr.

In this night while at a cave in Mount Hira (610AD), the Archangel Jebraeel (Gabriel) appeared to the Prophet with the first five verses of the first chapter, Surat al-Alaq. Muhammad’s appointment as a prophet is called Mabath , meaning the one appointed.

The belief in angles plays an important role in both theology and popular faith. Gabriel occupies the most important position among the angles and represents the Holy Spirit or the Trustworthy Spirit. For this reason he was chosen to convey the Divine message to the Prophet. Muslims believe that this divine communication is the final stage in a long series of contacts conducted through the prophets. It started with Adam and ended with Muhammad the seal of the prophets. Through these contacts humans were warned that their happiness lay in worshipping Allah and to tell them of the terrible consequences of disobedience. God’s final revelation was sent down on the night of power through his last messenger Prophet Muhammad.

This night of revelation is also known as the night of might, destiny and the precious night. This occasion is observed privately or in congregation by performing prayers special to the occasion taraweeh, recitation of Quran and acts of charity. The night is usually celebrated on one of the last odd nights in Ramadan. Most Muslims have accepted 27th of Ramadan as the correct date for this night. Shiites of Iran celebrate the night from 19th to the 21st of Ramadan. This is by design. It is said that prayers on this night are worth a thousand prayers on any other night; therefore to encourage people to pray on all these nights, the date remains unknown. Also the period coincides with Ali’s assassination and his subsequent death on the 21st. . For this reason Ramadan in more a month of mourning for the Shiites than celebration. The three nights from stabbing to death are known as the nights of Revival (Shab i Aheya) and are mourned privately or communally. People stay up all night recite special prayers and at times will hold the Quran on their head while praying loudly or crying.

Martyrdom is very important in Iranian Shiite ideology and Ali’s assassination and his death are mourned intensely by the devout Shiites. According to their account, when the Prophet died, leadership of the community was to pass on to Ali, his cousin and son-in-law. Muhammad had raised Ali as a child. He was the first male convert and fought bravely for the faith. He was a constant aide and when the prophet withdrew from Mecca under the cover of night to escape assassination in 622, Ali remained behind as a decoy in Muhammad’s bed. However Ali did not succeed as the immediate successor and only became the leader of the community after the death of the three first leaders, Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman.

This was a time of major conflict between ruling clans, chaos caused by rapid expansion of Islam and a great power struggle between close relatives of the prophet including a brother-in-law of the prophet called Muawiya. He was the Governor of Syria and the winner at the end. A rebel group called Kharijites decided to assassin the three leaders, Ali, Muawiya and Amr ibn al-As. The last two survived.

Ali was assassinated while praying in the mosque of Kufa. The details of his martyrdom like those of his son Husayn have become legends remembered and mourned by Shiites ever since. The preachers in the mosques passionately and theatrically recap the events of the three nights and Ali’s foreknowledge of his death. On the 13th of Ramadan Ali told his son Husayn that he would soon die and gave him the name of his assassin Ibn Muljam. Though asked by others including Ibn Muljam himself to kill the assassin beforehand to prevent the tragedy, Ali refused. He went on the roof the night before his stabbing to sing munajat (whispering prayers). He sang to the stars and moon that they should intensify their light because he was leaving the world. The mourners are told how desperately his daughter tried to stop him. Even his sash got caught in the door and his robe fell open. Animals on the way to the mosque blocked his way and he refused and told them he was ready for his call.

At the mosque Ali met and woke up his assassin and commented about the hidden sword and they both prayed. At the second prostration (sijda) Ibn Muljam struck Ali and he fell forward into the mihrab (the niche in a mosque wall which orients one toward Mecca). He took some dirt from the floor of the niche to put on his wound. The angel Gabriel filled the air with the cry that ‘Ali was slain and the muezzins (those who call the faithful to prayer) took up the cry from the rooftops. The assassin was captured and brought to the wounded leader. Ali ordered him detained but comforted him that if he survived, Ibn Muljam would be set free. As he died, Ali ordered that the assassin should be executed with one blow only, for he had struck only one blow, and his family should not be molested. He was executed on the twenty-seventh.

The rhetorical forms of the tragedy as the preachers tell it emphasizes the moral themes of generosity, fairness and appropriate punishment. At the same time they support and intensify the rhetoric. The stabbing during prostration is symbolically very significant. Muslim daily prayer namaz includes different positioning while praying. Ali was stabbed during the second prostration. One meaning given to the prostration is that the first refers to " from dust we are created"; the worshiper then sits back, resting upon his haunches, which represents life. The second prostration refers to " and to dust we return"; the concluding act, rising to one’s feet represents the final judgement. Ali is stabbed during the second prostration and putting the dust of the mihrab on his wound symbolizes his return to dust and acceptance of his fate and God’s will. The preachers during this part of the story recite the verse from the Quran about man being from dust. At the end how Ali’s children mourned his death is passionately described and all participants are encouraged to cry loudly and express extreme sorrow.

The end of Ramadan is celebrated on the first day of the month of Shawwal with a great feast named Id-i Fitr. The feat of breaking the fast calls for a solemn prayer, Salat al-Id.

Most people will attend their local mosques for communal prayers. The last feast or Iftari is more elaborate and is quite often joined by family friends and neighbors. On this day the statutory alms marking the end of the fast (Zakat al-fitr) are given. The more prosperous families give to the poor a prescribed quantity of the customary food of the area as an act of piety.

In the past the occasion was celebrated with grandeur with the local rulers participating and people joyfully attending the occasion. Ibn Battuta, the Moroccan traveler in the 14th century describes Id-i Fitr in Tunis as follows; the Sultan fulfilled his customary duty of "leading a magnificent procession" of officials, courtiers, and soldiers. He proceeded from the citadel to a special outdoor praying ground (Musalla) that accommodated the crowds gathered for the prayers making the Breaking of the Fast". Even in the 19th century Iran the Monarchs attended some prayers in the major mosques. Throughout the 20th century the occasion became a community oriented one with less direct participation from the monarchy. The splendor of this feast is revived again with the supreme leader and high-ranking religious authorities participating zealously in the celebrations.

Practicing Muslims outside Iran observe the fasting and all the major events of the month. The mourning for Ali is normally done communally at the local mosques or other gathering places if there are no mosques. Id-i Fitr is usually spent in the company of other practicing Muslims with feasts, elaborate meals and prayers. Older children are encouraged to practice fasting, however this is not always possible with the busy school schedule. Sighting of the moon is barely observed and accurate information is obtained from observatories and local Muslim or Iranian media will announce the sunrise and sunset times according to the locality. In the absence of religious preachers the respected and learned members of the community perform the prayers. Women’s participation in organizing and administering such events has increased tremendously. Female preachers are appearing in greater numbers and youth are encouraged to participate at all community gatherings.

salam sis renik dear, jazaki allahu khyran for ur wonderful topics as always dear, may Allah swt bless you , so wonderful &warm atmosphere wallahi !!!

take care

and here's somthing about ramadan in egypt :
Currently, Ramadan is being celebrated in Egypt. It began on October 15th, 2004 and will end on November 14th with the feast of Eid al-Fitr. We at Tour Egypt are often asked about travel during this period. People are concerned about this being a bad time to visit Egypt, but in reality, it is an excellent, festive period which simply adds to the fun. Tourist attractions and facilities continue to operate, but there are great celebrations and a wonderful time for all.

However, it should be noted that officially, monuments and other tourist sites are open until 3:00 PM, while in reality, some of the less frequented sites may close earlier (2:00 PM). While there are many restaurant (though not all) open to tourists, many may not serve alcoholic beverages during Ramadan. However, almost all larger hotels, as well as smaller hotels that cater to tourists will be completely operational, including their bars, and they will serve alcoholic drinks as usual.

Spending the holy month of Ramdan in Egypt is different than elsewhere. Other than the rituals practiced during that month, certain social habits of Egyptian Muslims are much different than anywhere else.

Ramadan is a month that follows the lunar calendar, the basis of the Islamic (or Hijri) calendar. With an eleven-day offset from the Gregorian (western) calendar, the exact timing of Ramadan during the year is variable, sometimes falling in summer and sometimes in winter. The first day of Ramadan too is variable, since "Sha’aban", the preceding month, sometimes has 29 days and sometimes 30 days. Astronomical calculations are utilized to detect the birth of the new moon, yet the cornerstone remains to be its visualization after sunset. Ramadan lasts for 29 or 30 days, as do most lunar months.

The holiness of this month comes from the fact that it marks the day when the Holy Spirit, Gabriel, started the transmission of God’s message to the prophet Mohammad, fourteen centuries ago. The exact date has never been identified, but it is believed to be on one of the last ten days of this month, which Muslims call "Lailat el-Qadr". According to Islam, the month is dedicated to prayers, as it is believed that it is an occasion to wash one’s sins away and enjoy God’s unlimited mercy.

The principal ritual during Ramadan is fasting. This entails abandoning eating, drinking, smoking or sinning, even if minor, throughout the whole day, from dawn to sunset. Though the usual daily practice is in most ways normal, Muslims prefer to spend more time praying or reading the Qora’an, particularly at night.

The daily meals become limited to two, the first of which is the "iftar" when fasting is broken just after sunset. The iftar can be a real bonus to tourists, as many of the hotels offer highly competitive specials for ifar.

The timing of the second meal, "sohour", is variable according to personal preference, but usually delayed as much as possible until just before dawn. In between "iftar" and "sohour", people are allowed to eat as they wish.

What makes this month different in Egypt? A long time ago, Egyptians adopted certain social habits during this month that are not directly related to religion. Officially, the working hours are diminished to allow more time for prayers. People usually sleep very late and spend considerable time in the mosques. The traditional practice starts immediately after sunset, which is announced to people through all mosques by the ritual "azan", or the call for prayers. Once, beginning in the 16th Century, it was the habit of the Egyptian government to fire a canon which could be heard throughout Cairo to announce end of the daily fast. This loud shot was fired from the Citadel over the "el-Moqattam" mountains. Modern technology has replaced this habit so that now announcements are made on radio and TV.

"Iftar" is considered the main meal of the day during Ramadan and is often very rich. Any type of food might be served, but traditionally the desert almost always includes "konafa" or "qatayef". The former is a cake-like food made of wheat with considerable sugar, honey, raisins and different types of nuts. The later is almost the same, but takes the shape of a small circular cake, which is folded to include nuts and raisins.

Since Ramadan is considered to be the most joyful month of the whole year, children also have their share of fun. The "fanoos" or lantern is a must for every kid. These are traditionally made of tin and colored glass, with a candle inside. More modern examples are battery operated, but really lack the spirit (though each year there seems to be a trend to see who can produce the most snazzy fanoos). All mosques and streets during the whole month are full of colored lights in a festival fashion, and in the past, children played in the streets with their lanterns, singing "wahawy ya wahawy". This tradition is still practiced, though rarely now in the streets, except in middle class or poor neighborhoods, and in the countryside.

With the introduction of TV in the 1960’s, traditions changed. TV transmissions lasts 24 hours a day, and the programs include too many new serials and movies. More than half of the serials produced by the Egyptian TV are broadcast during Ramadan for the first time. another traditional program is the "fawazeer", which is a daily riddle usually broadcast during a comedy or musical show. The family is usually gathered around the TV for long hours, if they do not go for prayers. Nuts are consumed as a snack, together with a traditional drink "qamar el-deen1" which is made of apricot. Most people prefer to spend at least the first day in an extended family reunion, gathering in the home of the grand parents’.

After the first few days, people start to go out after "iftar". Hence, many gatherings between families, friends or colleagues take place for the main meal, and for socializing afterwards. since many people prefer to spend their time in the old fashioned atmosphere of cafes, many hotels now actively market their facilities for this festive occasion. Today, it has become a tradition for all 5-star hotels to erect a large tent, furnished in the old Arabian decoration, where people enjoy their time listening to old traditional songs and music. It all recalls memories of the old classical days. "Sheesha" or water-pipes are smoked almost continuously.

Sports are also popular during Ramadan. Most clubs arrange minor tournaments, especially for football (soccer). Many people of all ages participate in games, including the elders who compete with their peers. It is not unusual to find many professional football players among these teams of amateurs. The issue is not to win, but to share. In poor districts where no clubs are available, the youth and children can utilize a side street or alley as a football field. During Ramadan, people become very tolerant of such activities, though they are not encouraged during other times of the year.

The show continues until late at night, and sometimes right up until the dawn prayers, after which people finally sleep. Of course, not everyone follows this routine. Many somewhat older people find it difficult to keep pace with these celebrations, and of course some must continue to work (for example, those in the tourism business). In the old days, the tradition was for man called a "mesaharaty" to walk down the streets before dawn with a drum. He would wake up the people by singing and calling their names. The mesaharaty was not paid a fixed salary but received donations, and though this profession is now extinct, amateurs continue to practice the tradition.

The worst experience a student might experience is if Ramadan coincides with exams. If possible, the exam timing is shifted by the school or university. But if this is impossible, then the fun may be lost. The majority of people fast during Ramadan, though according to Islam, the sick, travelers, elders and children are not required to follow this requirement. Since the days are longer in summer and the weather is hot, fasting sometimes become difficult. Children usually start demanding that their parents allow them to fast at an early age, though they are usually not allowed to do so before the age of ten, and then only for a short duration. The sick also try to fast, though of course this may be very difficult for them. In fact, no one would ever wish to miss a single day of fasting during this month, although it is possible to compensate later. It is not just the religious obligation, but also the atmosphere.

It is not considered good manners to outwardly make a display of not fasting. Though not illegal, those who do not fast would usually hide to eat, drink or smoke. Egyptian Christians also share also participate in most of these practices with their fellow Muslims. Some would also fast as a sign of national unity, but even those who do not would never eat or drink in public, as a sign of respect to Islamic traditions. Alcoholic drinks are prohibited throughout the month, and all bars are closed (with the exception of many tourist facilities)

On the last day of Ramadan, observatories again check for the new moon. The month ends after the 29th or 30th day, when the "eid" or feast begins.

1. This drink is usually made from from dried apricot sheets, or past, which is placed in boiling water. Qamar el-deem sheets, as they are called, can be found in many specialty Middle East markets. It is also used to make an apricot pudding.
fi aman Allah

Dear Admin
Thanks a million for passing & also your informative reply .
May Allah reward you
Renik