Ramadan 2014

A blessed Ramadan to all Muslim friends out there

Today June 28,2014 (Saturday)is the start of Ramadan. It is a month of fasting for Muslims and considered to be the most sacred month. It is set to end on July 28,2014(Monday). Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic Calendar.

Muslims observe fasting from sunrise until sunset. Fasting is one of the 5 pillars of Islam and it is compulsory for all adult Muslims except for those who are ill,pregnant,travelling,breastfeeding or going through their menstrual period. They take their meals before dawn and break the fast after sunset. They refrain from consuming food,drinking liquids,smoking and engaging on sexual acts.

It is a month of increased prayer,reading the Quran, of patience and self control.  One has to refrain from greed and lust,vulgar talks and sinful acts.

The result of spiritual reflection,prayer and self control results to self purification and a more developed personality. I've read that prayer done in the month of Ramadan is rewarded 70 times that those made in any other months. There's an increase of prayer to ask kindness and Forgiveness from Allah.

The end of Ramadan is marked by the celebration called Ed'l Ftr (Eid al-Ftr)which will be on July 29,2014 .  Ed'l Ftr means "breaking the fast". It is not just to celebrate the end of the fasting but to thank Allah for the strength throughout the fasting month. Eid also calls  for forgiveness and making amends and giving to charity....and to wear the finest clothes to celebrate with friends and family. 

as for now,Greet your Muslims friends with a Ramadan Mubarak!

Twitter has created special hashtags where a crescent moon icon appears beside the  #Ramadan and a special Eid icon for #Eid.

*photo grabbed from web