Ramadan is inextricably linked to the lunar Muslim calendar, so every year the fast has a different start and end date. On May 1, 2, and 3, Muslims will celebrate Uraza Bayram. Ramadan is a month of obligatory Muslim fasting. This is one of the pillars of Islam, sacred for every believer.
Fasting in Islam is one of the strictest in all world religions. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and intimacy during the day. It is believed that it strengthens faith, spiritual development and helps curb passions.
Each fasting day is divided into two periods. The period of moderation lasts from dawn to sunset. During this time, you can’t drink, eat or have an intimate relationship. The period when eating, drinking and intercourse are permitted is from sunset to sunrise, i.e. at night.
It is desirable to have breakfast before the first signs of dawn, when the morning dawn is not yet visible. You should talk after the evening prayer, when the sun has disappeared over the horizon.
Despite all the importance of observing the month of Ramadan, there are people who are not obliged to observe it. These are minors, the elderly and people with diseases who cannot withstand fasting, as well as pregnant and lactating women. Travelers may not observe the fast if they are traveling far from home.
During fasting, in addition to the usual five prayers, Muslims should be generous with voluntary donations and almsgiving. According to Muslim theologians, Allah rewards the believer for every good deed he does during the days of Ramadan.
According to traditions, the Qur’an was sent to the Messenger of Allah in one of the nights of the month of Ramazan. Sources differ on the exact date, but it is believed to be one of the odd nights of the second half of Ramazan, most likely on the 19th, 21st or 23rd, so these nights are celebrated especially solemnly, accompanied by night vigils in mosques.
Also, it is believed that on the Night of Predestination (Al-Qadr), the angels descending at the command of the Almighty Allah dictate the fate of every believer for the next lunar year, until the next Night of Predestination. Despite the difficult time in the country, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated the Muslims of Ukraine with the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan. The head of state said this in his video message. The President drew attention to the fact that this month is characterized by sincere prayers, mutual forgiveness and good deeds. “But in Ukraine, one more virtue is added – loyalty to comrades and one’s people in battles. In battles for the freedom of Ukraine. In our war for independence,” Zelenskyy said.