Ramadan (redirected from Ramazan)

Ramadan (rämädän`, răm'ədän`), in Islam, the ninth month of the Muslim year, during which all Muslims must fast during the daylight hours. Indulgence of any sort is forbidden during the fast. There are only a few who are exempt, e.g., soldiers, the sick, and the young. Because of the purely lunar calendar, Ramadan falls in different seasons. The final day of Ramadan, Id al-Fitr, is celebrated by a day of feasting. The first revelation of the Qur'an is commemorated in this month.

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Ramadan

In Islam, a holy month of fasting, the ninth month of the Muslim year, commemorating the revelation of the Qur'an to Muhammad. As an act of atonement, Muslims are required to fast and abstain from sexual activity during the daylight hours of Ramadan. Determined according to the lunar calendar, Ramadan can fall in any season of the year. The Ramadan fast is considered one of the Five Pillars of Islam, and the end of the fast is celebrated as one of the important religious holidays of Islam.

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Ramadan, Rhamadhan, Ramazan

1. the ninth month of the Muslim year, lasting 30 days, during which strict fasting is observed from sunrise to sunset

2. the fast itself

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Ramadan

holy month of the Muslim year. [Islamic Religion: Brewer Dictionary, 747]

See : Holy Days and Periods

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Ramadan

Ninth month of the Islamic year

The month of Ramadan traditionally begins with the actual sighting of the new moon, marking the start of the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar. Authorities in Saudi Arabia are relied upon for this official sighting. With the exception of children, the sick, and the very old, devout Muslims abstain from food, drink, smoking, sex, and gambling from sunrise to sunset during this period.
This holiest season in the Islamic year commemorates the time when the Qur'an, the Islamic holy book, is said to have been revealed to Muhammad. This occurred on Laylat al-Qadr, one of the last 10 nights of the month. Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars (fundamental religious duties) of Islam. It is a time for self-examination and increased religious devotion—similar to the Jewish period from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur and the Christian Lent.
Many West Africans have a two-day carnival, similar to Shrove Tuesday, before Ramadan starts.
Because it is based on the Islamic lunar calendar, which does not use intercalated days to stay aligned with the solar calendar's seasons, Ramadan moves through the year, occurring in each of the seasons over time.
The Fast of Ramadan ends when the new moon is again sighted and the new lunar month begins. It is followed by the Id al-Fitr, Festival of Breaking Fast, which lasts for three days and is marked by feasting and the exchange of gifts.

SOURCES:
AmerBkDays-2000, p. 870
AnnivHol-2000, p. 234
BkFest-1937, p. 238
BkFestHolWrld-1970, pp. 80, 112
BkHolWrld-1986, May 29
ConEncyIslam-1991, p. 329
DictDays-1988, p. 94
DictWrldRel-1989, pp. 65, 365, 597, 661
FolkWrldHol-1999, p. 668
HolSymbols-2009, p. 752
OxYear-1999, p. 733
RelHolCal-2004, p. 147
UndIslam-2004, pp. 297, 315

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Ramadan

the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar (hijra). According to Islamic dogma, it is the month in which the Koran was “bestowed” on man. Muslims must fast during Ramadan.