Its only a few days before Ramadan starts. I knew about Ramadan but now that I live in a country that is almost all Muslim, this will be the first time I truely experience it. For the record, the next section has been copied from a presentaton sent to all expats to provide the background of Ramadan. Not to worry, I'm not planning on converting, just thought you'd be interested in what its all about.
What is Ramadan?
These include:
1. Observe the five daily prayers.
2. Exerting extra effort in performing good deeds and refraining from evil actions that are prohibited in Islam.
3. Guarding the tongue against all forms of ill speech: lying, backbiting, slander, foul speech, etc
4. Avoiding the consumption of any substances (including smoking, alcohol, etc)
5. Anger management
6. Forgiveness to people who have wronged you.
7. Avoidance of excessiveness in spending
8. Maintaining and honouring ties of kinship
9. Gentleness and politeness in all transactions and interactions
10. Avoiding sexual contact during fasting
By now you must be asking....why?
The wisdom behind Ramadan is the following:
What is Ramadan?
- The 9th month in the Islamic (lunar) calendar, known in the Arabic language as the "hijri' calendar (i.e. the calendar of migration) as it begins from the day the Prophet Mohammed migrated from the city of Makah to the city of Medina (in Saudi Arabia)
- Islamic significance: The month in which the Qur'an was descended upon and revealed to the Prophet Mohammed
- The month of fasting for Muslim
- Linguistically, the Arabic word "Ramad" means heat and drought, and hence Ramadan literally means the month of heat/drought, symbolising the abstinence from drinking during the hours of fasting
- Fasting is the fourth amoung the five foundational pillars of Islam, these are: the declaration of faith, establishing the five daily prayers; offering the annual charity of the alms (2.5% of all savings to be given to poor; fasting the month of Ramadan; and performing the pilgrimage once in a life time for those who are phyically, financially and mentally capable.
- Fasting involves abstinence from all food and drink, from dawn to dusk, every day throughout the holy month.
- Fasting is prescribed upon every mature, adult Muslim. The elderly, children and those whom risk health repercussions are exempt.
These include:
1. Observe the five daily prayers.
2. Exerting extra effort in performing good deeds and refraining from evil actions that are prohibited in Islam.
3. Guarding the tongue against all forms of ill speech: lying, backbiting, slander, foul speech, etc
4. Avoiding the consumption of any substances (including smoking, alcohol, etc)
5. Anger management
6. Forgiveness to people who have wronged you.
7. Avoidance of excessiveness in spending
8. Maintaining and honouring ties of kinship
9. Gentleness and politeness in all transactions and interactions
10. Avoiding sexual contact during fasting
By now you must be asking....why?
The wisdom behind Ramadan is the following:
Spiritual recharge - Ramadan provides an annual station for a spiritual recharge and boost for Muslim
Self restraint - Fasting demonstrates to Muslims the human capability to exercise self restraint, and to control their desires. It serves to remind us to distinguish between 'needs' and 'wants' in order to live a balanced life, free from excessiveness and extravagance.
Compassion - Fasting is also intended to serve as a reminder about the life long suffering of the poor and the needy in order to increase the charitable deeds and offerings. The hunger and thirst experienced through the daylight provides a sample of what poor experience on a daily basis and serves to encourage the observers of fasting to donate generously.
Charitable Support - In spirit of the former point, Ramadan directly precedes Eid-ul-Fitr (the first two of two annual Islamic festivals) which commences by the giving of an obligatory charity known as Zakat-ul-fitr, aimed to provide the poor and needy with means to feed and celebrate the festival.
Anyway, enough about the background...how is it going to affect me.
1. Most employers reduce the work hours to 6 hours a day. Starting next Sunday, we'll be working 8 until 2pm. This may sound good, but there is no eating or drinking allowed in the office (or least not in front of any muslims). Obviously this is seen as disrespectful. I suspect the first few mornings without a cup of coffee will be difficult. The positive is that I'll be on the golf course by 3pm. They won't serve booze on the course but you can get water. (I guess there isn't too many Muslim's on the course)
2. As a result of the fasting the work pace is also impacted. I can only imagine the productivity will decrease when people are not able to eat or drink.
2. Most cafes, restaurants, food courts, shopping centres close during the hours of Ramadan.
3. The Muslims feast in the evenings so after sunset (approximately 7:30pm) the town comes alive and all the restaurants offer the special meal called Iftar (break fast meal). They also offer a pre fast meal called Suhoor, but it must be eaten before sunrise. Heck no, I won't be getting up that early...
4. Majority of bars are closed and there is no live music or entertainment allowed during Ramadan
5. People are generally expected to dress a bit more conservatively.
That's it for now, but I'll drop a couple of posts after Ramadan starts to let you know how its going.
To wish all the Muslims well, they say "Ramadan Kareem".
Charitable Support - In spirit of the former point, Ramadan directly precedes Eid-ul-Fitr (the first two of two annual Islamic festivals) which commences by the giving of an obligatory charity known as Zakat-ul-fitr, aimed to provide the poor and needy with means to feed and celebrate the festival.
Anyway, enough about the background...how is it going to affect me.
1. Most employers reduce the work hours to 6 hours a day. Starting next Sunday, we'll be working 8 until 2pm. This may sound good, but there is no eating or drinking allowed in the office (or least not in front of any muslims). Obviously this is seen as disrespectful. I suspect the first few mornings without a cup of coffee will be difficult. The positive is that I'll be on the golf course by 3pm. They won't serve booze on the course but you can get water. (I guess there isn't too many Muslim's on the course)
2. As a result of the fasting the work pace is also impacted. I can only imagine the productivity will decrease when people are not able to eat or drink.
2. Most cafes, restaurants, food courts, shopping centres close during the hours of Ramadan.
3. The Muslims feast in the evenings so after sunset (approximately 7:30pm) the town comes alive and all the restaurants offer the special meal called Iftar (break fast meal). They also offer a pre fast meal called Suhoor, but it must be eaten before sunrise. Heck no, I won't be getting up that early...
4. Majority of bars are closed and there is no live music or entertainment allowed during Ramadan
5. People are generally expected to dress a bit more conservatively.
That's it for now, but I'll drop a couple of posts after Ramadan starts to let you know how its going.
To wish all the Muslims well, they say "Ramadan Kareem".
