On August, 11th, 2010, Muslims of Ukraine and the whole world meet the first day of the Holy Month of Ramadan. On it stated the Religious Administration of Muslims of Ukraine “Ummah” and the all-Ukraine Association of Social Organizations "Аlraid".
A sign of the beginning of Ramadan is emergence in the sky of a new moon which is expected on Tuesday, on August, 10th, in the morning at 6 o'clock 8 minutes, the Kiev time. With approach of a morning dawn on August, 11th, Muslims start to fast.
On Friday, August, 13th, 2010, in the mosque of the Islamic Social Cultural Centre (Degtyarevskaya Street, 25-A, Kiev) will take place a solemn Friday sermon and a collective prayer of Muslims devoted to the beginning of the Holy Month of Ramadan. Similar actions will pass in mosques of all cities and settlements of Ukraine where there are Muslim communities, emphasized the Religious Administration.
In Islam there is a concept "a holy season", that is Ramadan. Muslims look forward for its approach, as Ramadan is the month in which God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad the last Divine Scripture — the Quran. During this Holy Month Muslims should fast:
"O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint" (The Holy Quran, 2:183).
"Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting…" (The Holy Quran, 2:185).
Fast for Muslims is the time of spiritual clarification, approach to God and reconsideration of life. During the fast from dawn until sunset believers abstain from food, drink and intimate relations with their spouses.
The main mission of fast is that the believer for a while completely devoted himself to prayer and spiritual self-improvement.
Fast teaches to appreciate God's gifts — food and drink. Believers on their private experience learn feeling of hunger that induces them to be more sensitive to requirements of millions deprived people. During Ramadan Muslims strive to be especially generous.
Fast positively influences a human body. But if a person is sick or is a traveler, and also if it is a pregnant woman or a feeding mother, fast is supposed to be transferred on another season. The one, who cannot fast at all, should feed the needy or distribute alms to the deprived.
Only in Ramadan, except an obligatory fivefold prayer, in addition Muslims perform an individual or collective prayer – tarawih every night. There is also Sunnah (practice) of the Prophet Muhammad consisting in every day reading of the Quran throughout the whole Ramadan. And nowadays many Muslims adhere to it, improving their knowledge of the Holy Scripture.
Last ten days of Ramadan are especially precious to Muslims, since in one of these nights the Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Quran.
Emergence of the new moon marks the termination of the Holy Month of Ramadan and approach of the fast-breaking holiday, Id al-Fitr (Turk. – Uraza-Bayram) which terminates the Month of fasting. This year, according to preliminary calculations, it will take place on September, 9th.
By the press-service of the RAMU “Ummah”
