Ramazan - A month of piety

Well, nowadays It's Ramazan month going on so thought to devote a blog to it. Though I would be covering quite little of it as it's impractical to cover all the things of Ramazan in a single blog.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Every day during this month, Muslims around the world spend the daylight hours in a complete fast.

Ramadan is a month of countless blessings and virtues. The word Ramadhaan is derived from "ramdh' which means "burning of the feet from heat" This is because of the fast, which burns the sins of a Muslim into ashes.

During the blessed month of Ramadan, Muslims all over the world abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs during the daylight hours. As a time to purify the soul, refocus attention on God, and practice self-sacrifice, Ramadan is much more than just not eating and drinking.

Most important thing of Ramazan is, the holy book Qur'aan was revealed in this night . During the course of these 30 days, Almighty Allah had revealed the Qu’raan on his beloved Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam.

Muslims are called upon to use this month to re-evaluate their lives in light of Islamic guidance. We are to make peace with those who have wronged us, strengthen ties with family and friends, do away with bad habits -- essentially to clean up our lives, our thoughts, and our feelings. The Arabic word for "fasting" (sawm) literally means "to refrain" - and it means not only refraining from food and drink, but from evil actions, thoughts, and words.

During Ramadan, every part of the body must be restrained. The tongue must be restrained from backbiting and gossip. The eyes must restrain themselves from looking at unlawful things. The hand must not touch or take anything that does not belong to it. The ears must refrain from listening to idle talk or obscene words. The feet must refrain from going to sinful places. In such a way, every part of the body observes the fast. Therefore, fasting is not merely physical, but is rather the total commitment of the person's body and soul to the spirit of the fast. Ramadan is a time to practice self-restraint; a time to cleanse the body and soul from impurities and re-focus one's self on the worship of God.

In this month one should fast, perform all Namaz with congregation, engage in recitation of the Qur'aan, perform Taraaweeh, give charity and do whatever is possible to acquire the pleasure of Allah. One should make sure that he does not do anything contrary to the command of Allah and the teachings of His beloved Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam.

Following are the foremost things one should get hold of during this month of piety:

FASTING:

In Ramadhaan, Allah has made fasting compulsory. It is one of the five pillars of Islaam. Just like the flower which outsmarts other flowers in its smell and colour, and like the fruit which surpasses the other fruits in its taste, the Ibaadah of fasting outweighs the other forms of devotions in reward. A person gives up everything whilst fasting, only to please his Almighty Creator. It is one of the most accepted forms of Ibaadah, because Allah Himself will give the reward for fasting.

SEHRI:

Allah and His Angels send Mercy upon those who eat Sehri (Food which is eaten before starting the fast, before sunrise). Allah has made Sehri full of mercy and blessings.

IFTAAR:

Many virtues have been narrated for those who feed others when breaking fast. A person who feeds another who fasted in order to break the fast (at sunset), for him there shall be forgiveness and emancipation from the fire of Hell. Allah grants the same reward to him who gives a fasting person a mere date or a drink of water to break his fast.

TARAWIH:

Tarawih is an Arabic phrase referring to extra prayers given by Sunni Muslims at night in the Islamic month of Ramadan. In this, at Masjid, the priest recites the Qu’raan by heart in the form of Namaz. People get congregated behind them and listen. Taraweeh is sunnah (Sunnah is the way of life prescribed as normative for Muslims on the basis of the teachings and practices of Muhammad and interpretations of the Qu'raan). It is also Sunnah to complete the full Qur'aan in Taraaweeh during the Ramazan.

This is all I could come up with. You shall comment in case if you want any additional information.