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Ramadan (Arabic: رمضان) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and the month in which the Qur'an was revealed.

Ramadan is the holiest of months in the Islamic calendar. Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The month is spent by Muslims fasting during the daylight hours from dawn to sunset. The name came from the time before the Islamic calendar, when the month of Ramadan fell in the summer. Fasting during this month is often thought figuratively to burn away all sins. Muslims believe that the Qur'an was sent down to the lowest heaven during this month, thus being prepared for gradual revelation by the angel Gibril (Gabriel) to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Furthermore, Muhammad told his followers that the gates of Heaven would be open all the month and the gates of Hell (Jahannam) would be closed . The first day of the next month, Shawwal, is spent in celebrations and is observed as the "Festival of Breaking Fast" or `Eid ul-Fitr.

Timing

The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. Since the Islamic lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year and contains no intercalation, Ramadan migrates throughout the seasons. The Islamic day starts after sunset. The actual and estimated start and end dates for Ramadan in 2005–2015 were and are as follows:

Many Muslims insist on the local physical sighting of the moon to mark the beginning of Ramadan, but others use the calculated time of the new moon or the Saudi Arabian declaration to determine the start of the month. Since the new moon is not in the same state at the same time globally, the beginning and ending dates of Ramadan depend on what lunar sightings are received in each respective location. As a result, Ramadan dates vary in different countries, but usually only by a day. This is due to the cycle of the moon. When one country sees the moon, mainly Saudi Arabia, the moon travels the same path all year round and that same moon seen in the east is then seen traveling towards the west. All the countries around the world see the moon within a 24 hour period once spotted by one country in the east.

Each year, Ramadan begins about eleven days earlier than in the previous year. Astronomical projections that approximate the start of Ramadan are available.

At the end of Ramadan, Eid ul-Fitr is celebrated by Muslims.

Events

• Ramadan is observed by Muslims during the entire lunar month by the same name. The month of religious observances consists of fasting and extra prayers.
  • 02 Ramadan, the Torah (Tawrat) was bestowed on Moses (Musa). (According to Shia Islam)
  • 10 Ramadan, death of Khadijah bint Khuwaylid – first wife of Muhammad
  • 12 Ramadan, the Gospel (Injil) was bestowed on Jesus (Isa). (According to Shia Islam)
  • 15 Ramadan, birth of Hasan ibn Ali
  • 17 Ramadan, the Battle of Badr was won by the Muslims.
  • 18 Ramadan, the Psalms (Zabur) were bestowed on David (Dawood). (According to Shia Islam)
  • 19 Ramadan, Ali bin Abi Talib was struck on the head by a sword.
  • 21 Ramadan, Ali bin Abi Talib died due to injuries he sustained by a sword.
  • Laylat al-Qadr is observed during one of the last ten odd numbered days of the month. Muslims believe that this night which is also known as "The Night of Power" is better than a thousand months. This is often interpreted as praying throughout this night is rewarded equally with praying for a thousand months (just over 83 years i.e. a lifetime). Many Muslims spend the entire night in prayer.
• In the Ottoman Empire, the sultan presented trays of baklava to the Janissaries in a ceremonial procession called the Baklava Alayı.
• 10 Ramadan, in 1973, Operation Badr took place; paving the way for the re-conquest of Sinai Peninsula after six years of Israeli occupation.

See also

• Islamic holy books

References

1. ^ Predicted by the Umm al-Qura calendar of Saudi Arabia
2. "§2 What is the Islamic calendar?". General Ramadan FAQ. Ramadan Awareness Campaign.
3. "Moonsighting". Committee For Crescent Observation. Retrieved 2008-09-01. Click on the "Ramadan" tab.

External links

• 2010 Ramadan Calendar for people all over the World
• Islamic-Western Calendar Converter (Based on the Arithmetical or Tabular Calendar)
• The Umm al-Qura Calendar of Saudi Arabia
• Predicting the First Visibility of the Lunar Crescent
• Blog and Forum about Ramadan.

• Sawm
• Islamic calendar