On Thursday, September 13, 2007, Muslims of Ukraine and the entire world celebrate the first day of the Holy month of Ramadan. The sign of the beginning of Ramadan is appearance of the new moon that according to astronomic calculations appears this year at night from 12 to 13 September. Islamic fast begins at sunrise the next day.
On Friday, September 14, 2007, in the mosque of the Islamic social cultural centre (Dehtyarevskaya, 25-А, Kiev) will take place Friday sermon dedicated to the beginning of the Holy month of Ramadan. Similar actions will take place in all cities and settlements of Ukraine where Muslim communities are situated.
There is a concept of “Favorable time of the year”, and in Islam this time is the Holy month of Ramadan. Muslims wait its beginning with impatience, as Ramadan is the month when God sent to the Prophet Muhammad the first revelation of the Qur'an.
“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that ye may ward off (evil)” (The Holy Qur'an, 2:183)
“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month” (The Holy Qur'an, 2:185).
The fast for Muslims is clearing and perfection of their spiritual qualities. In the course of fasting from rising to sunset believers renounce food, drink and intimate relationships. Main destination of the fast is to draw nearer to the Almighty by inhibition of one’s passions. The fast also teaches to value God’s gifts – the food and the drinks. Believers experience the feeling of hunger by themselves. It urges them to be more sensitive to the necessities of the poor. During Ramadan Muslims try to be especially generous. In the course of Ramadan Muslims especially watch their conduct, speech, abstain from evil acts.
The science has proved that fasting positively influences on man’s organism. But if a man is sick, is on the way or if it is a pregnant or breast-feeding woman, they can postpone fasting. Those who cannot fast at all are allowed to feed the poor or to give them charity.
Only in Ramadan except for obligatory five prayers Muslims also perform extra night prayers, which are called “tarawih” individually or collectively. There is also Sunna (practice) of the Prophet of Muhammad to read the whole Qur'an during Ramadan. And nowadays many Muslims follow this practice perfecting their knowledge of the Holy Book. The last ten days of Ramadan are especially valuable for Muslims, because exactly in one of these nights the first revelation of the Qur'an was sent to the Prophet Muhammad.
Appearance of the new moon is the sign of completion of Ramadan. The Holy month of Ramadan is the time when Muslims due to the greater detachment from mundane anxieties have a good opportunity to devote themselves to God perfecting their morality and spirituality.
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