http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/
Ramadan
By BBC Team
Ramadan
Ramadan
Find this year's date in the multifaith calendar
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Ramadan is the most important of the four months which are regarded as
sacred in Islam.
There are several reasons why it is regarded as holy:
* The Qur'an was first revealed during this month
* The gates of Heaven are open
* The gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained up in Hell.
The Qur'an revealed
"The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance
for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion
(between right and wrong)"
The actual night that the Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad
is called Lailat ul Qadr, and to stand in prayer on this one night is
said to be better than a thousand months of worship.
Ramadan is often called `month of the Qur'an' because of this, and
Muslims attempt to recite as much of the Qur'an as they can during the
month. Most mosques will recite one thirtieth of the Qur'an each night
during the Taraweeh prayers.
No one knows on which particular night the Qur'an was first revealed,
but it is said to be one of the last ten nights of Ramadan.
The gates of Heaven are open and the gates of Hell are closed
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)
that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
said: "When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened and the
gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are put in chains."
Muslims believe that their good actions bring a greater reward during
this month than at any other time of year, because this month has been
blessed by Allah.
They also believe that it is easier to do good in this month because
the devils have been chained in Hell, and so can't tempt believers.
This doesn't mean that Muslims will not behave badly, but that any
evil that they do comes from within themselves, without additional
encouragement from Satan.
Almost all Muslims try to give up bad habits during Ramadan, and some
will try to become better Muslims by praying more or reading the Qur'an.
Muslims believe that this is one way that the chaining up of the
devils is manifested, since there is no other reason for them to do so.
Special practices
There are a number of special practices which are only done during
Ramadan.
Fasting the whole month long
Although Muslims fast during other times of the year, Ramadan is the
only time when fasting, or sawm, is obligatory during the entire month
for every able Muslim.
Ramadan is intended to increase self-control in all areas, including
food, sleeping, sex and the use of time.
Taraweeh Prayers
These are long night prayers, which are not obligatory, but highly
recommended.
Mosques are filled with worshippers who go to attend these prayers,
which usually last for one and a half to two hours.
These prayers also give Muslims a chance to meet at the mosque every
day, and so they also help to improve relationships in the Muslim
community.
I'tikaf
I'tikaf refers to going into seclusion during the last ten nights of
Ramadan, in order to seek Lailat ul Qadr by praying and reading the
Qur'an. Some people live in the mosque during this time for serious
reflection and worship. Others spend a few hours at the mosque or home.
The date of Ramadan
Confusion
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and as with all
months in the Islamic calendar, its start is based on the sighting of
the new moon.
There can be confusion and disagreement over the starting date of this
month. Since the month is full of blessings and marks the beginning of
fasting, or sawm, accuracy is very important.
Since Muslims live all over the world, but Islam started in what is
now known as Saudi Arabia, they may not agree as to which country's
first moon sighting marks the start of the month.
But although Muslims do often start and end Ramadan on slightly
different days, there is little real ill will, and it is forgotten
once the fasting starts.
Sighting in each country
Some Muslims believe that a new moon sighting from their individual
country marks the start of Ramadan.
One argument for accepting this is that Islam is regarded as a way of
life for all people. Choosing a local sighting includes those who do
not have access to technology or fast communication.
It's argued that unity within a known geographic location is more
important than celebrating Ramadan with people who live in another
country or continent.
Sighting in Saudi Arabia
Other Muslims believe that the sighting of the new moon from Saudi
Arabia marks the beginning of Ramadan.
They believe this unifies all Muslims, as well as carrying on the
tradition of the Prophet Muhammad, pbuh.
Technology
Some Muslims believe that technology should be used to mark the true date.
The Fiqh Council of North America has recently decided they will no
longer use naked eye sightings of the moon, but will use astronomical
calculations instead.
Health advice
Advice on health during Ramadan
In this section, Professor Saghir Akhtar
[/religion/biographies.shtml#saghirakhtar] gives his health tips for
fasting.
Ramadan is a month where believers learn to exercise self-control. A
major facet of this is the abstinence from food and drink that is
prescribed to all healthy Muslims during the hours of sunrise to
sunset. Although the sick are exempt, many continue to fast and
therefore abstain not only from eating and drinking water but also
from consuming oral medications and intravenous nutritional fluids.
This article provides a personal reflection on what advice might be
pertinent for fasting Muslims in good health and those on medication.
Advice on diet
Sacks of grain and beans
During years where Ramadan falls in the winter, and the long hot days
of the summer a mere distant memory, most of the health problems are
likely to arise from inappropriate diet, over-eating and insufficient
sleep. Firstly, there is no need to consume excess food at Iftar (the
food eaten immediately after sunset to break the fast), dinner or
Sahur (the light meal generally eaten about half an hour to one hour
before dawn).
The reasons for this are two-fold. Firstly and most importantly such a
lifestyle contradicts the principal aims and spirit of Ramadan. A
learned scholar once said that "There is no receptacle more odious to
God, than a belly stuffed full of food after a fast" and therefore "of
what use is the Fast as a means of conquering God's enemy and abating
appetite, if at the time of breaking it one not only makes up for all
one has missed during the daytime, but perhaps also indulges in a
variety of extra foods?" Indeed, there is a concern that it is
becoming customary for some to "stock up" for Ramadan, so that more is
consumed during this time than in the course of several other months
combined. It is therefore worth reflecting on the true objective of
fasting which is to experience hunger and to check desire in an
attempt to reinforce the soul in piety.
Secondly, the body has regulatory mechanisms that reduce the metabolic
rate and ensure efficient utilization of the body's fat reserves in
times of hunger. Add to this the fact that most people assume a more
sedentary lifestyle whilst fasting and the implication is that a
balanced diet that is even less in quantity that normal will be
sufficient to keep a person healthy and active during the month of
Ramadan.
To remain healthy during Ramadan, normal quantities of food from the
major food groups: bread and cereal, milk and dairy product, fish,
meat and poultry, bean, vegetable and fruit should be consumed.
(Vegetarians and Vegans should amend this list as appropriate). Intake
of fruits after a meal is strongly suggested. In actual fact, our diet
in Ramadan should not differ very much from our normal diet and should
be as simple as possible. The diet should be such that we maintain our
normal weight, neither losing nor gaining. However, if one is
over-weight, Ramadan is an ideal time to shed those extra pounds!
Selection of vegetables
In view of the long hours of fasting, we should consume the so-called
'complex carbohydrates' or slow digesting foods at Sahur so that the
food lasts longer (about 8 hours) making you less hungry during the
day. These complex carbohydrates are found in foods that contain
grains and seeds like barley, wheat, oats, millet, semolina, beans,
lentils, wholemeal flour, and unpolished rice.
In contrast, refined carbohydrates or fast-digesting foods last for
only 3 to 4 hours and may be better taken at Iftar to rapidly restore
blood glucose levels. Fast-burning foods include foods that contain
sugar and white flour. Dates are an excellent source of sugar, fibre,
carbohydrates, potassium and magnesium and have been recommended since
the days of the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) as a good way of breaking the
fast.
Fried foods, very spicy foods and foods containing too much sugar such
as sweets, the delight of many Muslims, can cause health problems and
should be limited during Ramadan. They cause indigestion, heart-burn,
and weight problems. Fasting can often increase gastric acidity levels
in the stomach causing a burning feeling, a heaviness in the stomach
and a sour mouth. This can be overcome by eating foods rich in fibre
such as whole wheat bread, vegetables, humus, beans and fruits. These
foods trigger muscular action, churning and mixing of food, breaking
it into small particles, and thus help reduce the build up of acid in
the stomach.
Drinking of sufficient water and juices between Iftar and sleep to
avoid dehydration and for detoxification of the digestive system
should be encouraged in fasting individuals. However, the intake of
large amounts of caffeine-containing beverages should be avoided
especially at Sahur. For example, drinking too much tea will make one
pass more urine and inevitably cause the loss of valuable mineral
salts that your body would otherwise need during the day. Fruits such
as bananas are a good source of potassium, magnesium and
carbohydrates. However, bananas can cause constipation and their
intake has to be balanced with adequate fibre intake.
It is recommended that everyone engage in some kind of light exercise,
such as stretching or walking. Exercise, together with a balanced
diet, should help everyone watch their weight during Ramadan. Anyone
overweight should increase the amount of exercise and reduce the
amount of food intake to help reduce weight.
It is also important to follow good time management procedures for
Ibada (prayer and other religious activities), sleep, studies, work,
and physical activities or exercise. A good balance in the amount of
time attributed for each activity will lead to a healthier body and
mind in Ramadan.
Advice for the sick who fast during Ramadan
Ramadan fasting is obligatory for the healthy adult but when fasting
may significantly affect the health of the fasting individual or when
one is genuinely sick, Islam exempts him from fasting. "God intends
every facility for you, he does not want to put you into difficulties"
(Quran 2:185). However, a significant number of ill patients, for
whatever reasons, do decide to observe the fast. And it is these
patients who need to seek the opinion of health professionals on an
individual basis.
Those suffering from minor ailments really do not have any problems
fasting. Those suffering from acute conditions may need advice about
altering their dosing regimen i.e. the amount and frequency of their
medication. Drugs that are normally required to be taken frequently,
such as many antibiotics, can be problematic for the fasting patient.
However, the increasing availability of alternative drugs with long
half-lives (circulation times in the body) and the increasing
formulation of short-acting drugs as sustained release preparations
have offered much needed assistance to fasting patients.
For example patients suffering from acute upper respiratory infections
such as a severe sore throat may still be able to fast. Normally such
a patient may be prescribed antibiotics that have to be taken 3 or 4
times a day and would not be able to fast. However in order to
facilitate fasting, the patient could be given a long-acting
antibiotic such as Septrin (co-trimaxozole), which only needs to be
taken once every 12 hours, or Zithromax (azithromycin), which only
needs to be taken once daily. This can only be done when the infecting
organisms are treatable with the alternative antibiotics and this
needs to be discussed with the patient's own medical practitioner on a
case-by-case basis.
Bottle of pills
Medicines cannot be taken according to the rules of fasting, but
Muslims should not risk making themselves ill
An example where alternative routes of drug administration may help
fasting patients is the use of transdermal (skin) patches. For example
some patients suffering from mild forms of angina pectoris, a heart
condition, could benefit from taking their medication, glyceryl
trinitrate, as a skin patch rather than sub-lingual tablets. Here, the
drug would be effective by entering the blood stream through the skin,
and not orally (which would break the fast). Again, this may only be
possible in specific patients and needs to be discussed with the
patient's doctor. Pharmacists are generally willing to advise patients
on the availability of alternative dosage forms for medication during
Ramadan.
An example of where sustained release formulations may help is that of
the fasting patients suffering from mild forms of hypertension (high
blood pressure). These patients can be given their drug in
formulations that only require once-daily dosing. Here the drug can be
administered orally at Sahur and the special formulation then allows
the drug to slowly release into the body over a day. In fact, there is
a school of thought among medical practitioners that those patients
who have mild to moderate high blood pressure and are also overweight
should be encouraged to fast as fasting may help to lower their blood
pressure. Such patients should see their physician to adjust
medication. For example, the dose of diuretics should be reduced to
avoid dehydration, and sustained release formulations such as Inderal
LA can be given once a day before the pre-dawn meal.
An increasing case where practitioners are likely to advise patients
on fasting is in those suffering from Diabetes mellitus. Many Muslims,
especially of Asian descent, have an increased risk of suffering from
some form of diabetes. The International Journal of Ramadan Fasting
Research has suggested the following guidelines for health
professionals treating Muslim patients with diabetes: "Diabetic
patients who are controlled by diet alone can fast and hopefully, with
weight reduction, their diabetes may even be improved. Diabetics who
are taking oral hypoglycaemic agents along with the dietary control
should exercise extreme caution if they decide to fast. These patients
should consult their medical doctor for dose adjustment. If they
develop low blood sugar symptoms in the daytime, they should end the
fast immediately."
In addition, diabetics taking insulin should consult their doctor to
see if their dose can be adjusted for them to fast during Ramadan. In
all cases of Muslim diabetics fasting, they should closely monitor
their blood sugar levels especially before and after meals.
In summary, Islam offers an exemption to the sick from observing their
fast during the holy month of Ramadan. However, some patients may be
able to fast if their health is not adversely affected during the
period of fasting. In such cases, advice from pharmacists and doctors
about changing prescriptions to equally effective drugs that have
reduced dosing, such as sustained release formulations, may be
beneficial to the fasting Muslim. In all cases of illness, it is
recommended that Muslim patients, if they do fast, do so under medical
supervision.
Related Links
Articles
* Sawm (fasting): a pillar of Islam -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/practices/sawm.shtml
* Laylatul Qadr -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/holydays/lailatalqadr.shtml
* Anwar Uddin's Ramadan -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/people/anwaruddin.shtml
* Eid ul Fitr -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/holydays/eidulfitr.shtml
BBC Links
* BBC Asian Network - Ramadan -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork/ramadan/
* BBC Coventry - Iftar gallery -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/coventry/features/faith/coventry-iftar.shtml
* BBC Leicester - Ramadan 2006 -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/content/articles/2006/09/27/ramadan_2006_feature.shtml
* BBC Birmingham - Ramadan 2004 -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/faith/2004/10/ramadhan2004/
* BBC News - In pictures: Ramadan worldwide -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/3746012.stm
* BBC Food - Eid recipes -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/news_and_events/events_eid.shtml
External Web Links
* End to moon fighting in N America -
http://www.islamicity.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=IC0608-3094
Published on BBC Religion & Ethics: 2003-09-29
This article can be found on the Internet at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/practices/ramadan_1.shtml
© British Broadcasting Corporation
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