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Festivals

Ramazan – everything that you need to know

Ramazan, the holiest month of the followers of Islam, has begun. We must have seen our friends and close acquaintances fasting for the entire month. This is the time we know something about this Holy Month of Muslims- Ramzan (or Ramadan); why is it celebrated and what meaning does the month of Ramazan has in the life of a Muslim.

Why is it celebrated?

Ramazan – everything that you need to know
Source: al.kanz

Ramazan is the ninth month of Islamic calendar which is observed by Muslims worldwide. During this time period Muslims practice fasting for an entire month to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The legend says that the Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) by an angel Gabriel which used to recite one teaching to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) at every visit for over 23 years after which the Quran was completed. The holy book was compiled later by Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) followers after his death.

 

Do’s and Don’ts during Ramazan

Do’s

  • Every adult Muslim should practice fasting for the entire month of Ramazan.
  • All the Muslims during fasting consume food and water after sunset and get done with it before sunrise. No food or water is consumed during daylight.
  • Prayer is compulsory for five times a day. Wherever you are, find a clean place, spread a clean cloth and you can begin your prayers.
  • Charity is done on a large scale during Ramzan. Zakat is a kind of spiritual tax which you have to pay in these times. The amount of zakat to be paid is dependent on the amount of his possession. The rate varies between 2.5 to 20% depending on the type of goods. It is additional payable on agricultural goods, precious metals, minerals, and livestock.
  • Since the Holy Quran was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) at this time, it is the best time to read it and understand its meaning and memorize its verses. It is compulsory to read Quran at this time.

 

Ramazan – everything that you need to know
Source: straight path to Jannah

Don’ts

  • Do not eat or drink water during daytime.
  • Avoid all the activities such as drinking alcohol, smoking, and having any sort of sexual relations.
  • Avoid blood cupping, blood donating or blood withdrawal.
  • Do not curse, lie, abuse, backbite, quarrel, or practice any form of speech that is unnecessary and has no benefit, especially if it is hurtful to someone else. Prophet Muhammad said, “Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, Allah has no need of him giving up his food and drink.” (Al-Bukhari)
  • Think well. Do not think ill of anybody, do not hold any sort of grudges for anyone, try to spread love and brotherhood everywhere.
  • Avoid thinking about any sexual fantasy, avoid watching such movies, songs or any other sort of entertainment that distracts your mind from spiritual activities. Ramazan is a holy month and thinking and doing anything which takes you away from Allah is not appropriate.

 

Eid-al-Fitr

Ramazan – everything that you need to know
Source: xinhua

Eid-al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan. The exact date of Eid depends upon the sightings of the new moon and astronomical calculations. It can also vary according to the place you are in at the time of Eid and when the moon is seen at the particular place.

The festival celebrates peace, happiness, joy, and festivity. This day is for special prayers and extensive forgiveness. It brings together people as companions, friends, family, and relatives are welcomed at homes and offered desserts especially ‘Sewaiyan’. Youngsters are given endowments which are called ‘Eidi’, generally cash. Some Muslims even visit the burial ground, a custom which is known as ziyarat-al-qubur, to pay respect to the left souls. On this day, Muslims gather together at the mosque to ask for blessings, before spending the day with family or friends and wishing one another with the customary ‘Eid Mubarak’ and hugging each other as a mark of brotherhood and love. To know more about Eid-Ul-Fitr, click here.

 

Myths associated with Ramazan

Ramazan – everything that you need to know
Source: the seattle globalist
  • You are not allowed to consume food and water for a whole month.

It is false. One only need to fast during daylight. After sunset food and water can be consumed as usual until sunrise. Families and friends usually break the fast together with a big meal known as ‘Iftaar’.

 

  • You can’t brush your teeth.

Totally not true. You can brush your teeth during Ramazan. The only thing which you have to keep in mind before that is that you do not swallow any water or toothpaste during the process. However, if you think there is a bit risk about swallowing, you can brush your teeth during night time.

 

  • If you are a Muslim, you have to fast compulsorily.

Fasting during Ramazan is only for those people who are fit enough and doesn’t suffer from any physical and mental illness. Apart from that young children, elderly people, pregnant women, menstruating women, and breastfeeding women are exempted from fasting. Also, those who are on a long journey or whose occupation is such as those in the army can have food and water as normal. People in these categories can make up these days after Ramazan if the conditions allow them to do so.

 

  • You are not allowed to swallow your own saliva.

Apart from being untrue, it is also not possible even if you try to do so. Saliva is a natural thing which needs to get swallowed. Ramazan is not supposed to be unrealistic, unattainable and unreasonable.

 

  • If you forgetfully eat or drink something, you have ruined your fast.

If you forgetfully sip something or munch something, you have not ruined your fast. However, you should stop right at the moment when you become aware of it. And after that, you can continue your fast, as usual, remembering it for later times.

 

Ramazan in Udaipur

Ramazan – everything that you need to know
Source: scroll.in

Ramazan in Udaipur is celebrated on a huge scale. Muslims from all over the city have been spreading love and festive feel for a long time. There are different mosques around the city where people gather to recite their prayers of the day. A usual crowd can be seen at Paltan Masjid situated at Chetak Circle. This masjid can be called as the central masjid of the city. At the time of ‘iftaar’, a large amount of food is prepared here as Tabarruk (a blessed offering to people in the form of food) daily which is majorly shared amongst poor people and is even consumed by rich people as an offering. Various roadside stalls serve great snacks during the evening from where all the Muslims can take home dishes and snacks to enjoy their iftaar.

Here’s everything about Ramazan in a nutshell.

Ramazan Mubarak to all the readers out there. May Allah grants all your wishes and blesses you with good health and future. 

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Festivals

A day full of celebrations and festivity – Meethi Eid

sewaiyan

Men and women, boys and girls, all in happy colors, in a joyful mood, elders giving eidi to the youngers, market full of various kind of food and sweets, fragrance of sawaiyan from every kitchen, decorated houses, beautiful girls with beautiful mehandi and bangles in their hands, kids playing around merrily.

This is the picture perfect scene of today’s meethi eid. The day most awaited by all the Muslims.

There are two Eid in Islam religion; this is the first one, named Eid-al-Fitar, the festival of fast breaking. On the first day of Shawaal, the 10th month of Muslim calendar, this Eid is celebrated, following the religious month of Ramazan, which is the month of fasting; the holy Quran was reveled in this month. The entire month of fasting is celebrated as an achievement of every Muslim individual in the service of Allah. It is a way of giving thanks and to pay their gratitude to Allah. Muslims assembles at the Eidgah in a very brotherly and joyful manner. After the namaz, they wish each other, give eidi to their younger ones, go to their relatives place and then have the sweets altogether.

Among these celebrations, there is also a place for the deceased; people remember them by praying for their souls, they help the needy people by expressing their helps, show consolation to the grieved and sick.

Eid, means happiness and festivity, it should be celebrated beyond all the restrictions formed due to caste system, different religions and other social problems.  We all should celebrate this day in the same manner as we celebrate our own festivals, as these festive days are the days of pure happiness beyond restrictions.

Udaipurblog wishes a very Happy Eid to all of you.  🙂

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Festivals

EID – UL – ZUHA

Eid Ul Zuha

EID-UL-ZUHA also called EID-UL-AZHA  in arabic and BAKRA-EID  in indian subcontinent , because of  tradition of sacrificing a goat or ” bakra” in urdu.

The word eid is derived  from the arabic word  ” iwa ”  means  festival  and ”  zuha ”  comes from ”  uzhaiya ”  which translates to sacrifice . On this day , muslims sacrifice a goat or bakra to commemorate the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim , who willingly agreed to kill his son at the behest of god .

This festival coincides with Haj pilgrimage in Mecca . Prayers are offered in the mosque and sacrificed meat is then distributed after the eid prayers . Special delicacies are prepared  and served among family and friends . This famous festival is celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety in India . Muslim people generally wear fresh new traditional dress that is white kurta pajama on this day . Usually people wear white dresses on this day because white is the symbol of peace .

The path which leads to god is of  love , peace and devotion . There is a small story which forms the basis of celebrating this festival .

The festival of bakra-eid is a commemoration of  Hazrat Ibrahim ‘s great test of obedience of allah , who ordered him to sacrifice the person dearest to him . Ibrahim then decided to sacrifice his son Ismail , at Meena near Mecca .  As the great religious leader was on the point of applying the sword to the throat of  his dear son Ismail , it was revealed to him that the exercise was merely a test of  his faith in allah and that he could sacrifice a goat instead.  Since from then bakra-eid is celebrated on the tenth day of  Zil Hijja that is the month of  the lunar  Islamic  calendar .

By  – SHEEBA PARVEEN