Essay Sample about Ramadan
Islam is a religion full of life and love, and Ramadan is no exception. Often followed by Eid, Ramadan is a month of fasting from Muslims. This month tests their willpower and their self-restraint, choosing to celebrate Allah and follow examples from Muhammad over food, water, and many other daily comforts. Ramadan of 2021, in the United States, was April 12th to May 12th, during which many Muslims fasted during the day and then shared meals with family and friends after sunset. Almost every Muslim celebrates Ramadan proving to not only Allah but also their friends and family how dedicated to Islam they truly are. During this month, Muslims are able to self-reflect and understand how important their faith is.
First, to fully understand Ramadan, one needs to understand its origins and when it is celebrated. Ramadan is considered to be the month when the prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Quran (History.com Editors). It is also the ninth month of the Islamic calendar (KTRK). Because each month on the Islamic calendar starts with the new moon, Ramadan does not happen at the same time each year but rather shifts about eleven days each year. This is often a source of confusion and argumentation for many Muslims because there are different opinions on when the lunar cycle is. When the prophet Muhammad would fast, he did not have the exact science that modern-day Muslims had, so he and many other Muslims would start fasting once they could see the small sliver of the crescent moon (Williams). Conversely, now with the newer and more advanced technology, Muslims are able to know when the new moon is- but this has led to more argumentation than guessing when the new moon was. Some Muslims believe that they should continue to use the old way of beginning Ramadan when the small sliver of the crescent moon was visible because that was the way the prophet Muhammad did it, while other Muslims argue that he would opt to use new technology to figure out the exact date of the new moon (Williams). To make the matter worst, some Muslims even believe that they should start Ramadan according to the national decrees of Saudi Arabia because it is the birthplace of Islam. While many Muslims from rival countries like Pakistan and Iran, “balk at the idea of treating Saudi Arabia as the ultimate authority,” according to Williams. But although the start date of Ramadan might be a topic up for debate each year, the most important thing to all Muslims is simply participating in it.
Correspondingly, the events of Ramadan are the most important thing about this holiday. To put it simply, Ramadan is a month of fasting from sunrise to sunset. Ramadan is a Time of spiritual discipline in religious groups of Muslims. During this month Muslims fast, Avoid drinking, refrain from sexual activity, and avoid unkind or impure thoughts and words and immoral behavior (History.com editors). Additionally, Muslims try to give up negative thoughts and emotions such as jealousy and anger and even avoid swearing, complaining, and gossiping during Ramadan. Many Muslims also choose to give up or limit activities like listening to music or watching TV in favor of reading or listening to the Quran. According to Williams, Ramadan is also a time for extra prayer, increased charity and generosity, and an intense study of the Quran for many Muslims. Because many Muslims are fasting during daylight hours they opted for high-protein meals and drinking as much water as possible until sunrise. Muslims do not skip work or school or any other normal duties during the day during Ramadan and mostly go through their days as normal (Williams). Additionally, during Ramadan, many Muslims reflect on how it is to go without food or water during the day, allowing them to build more and deeper empathy for those less fortunate than themselves. During Ramadan, many Muslims hold food drives or fundraisers to help the less fortunate (KTRK).
Finally, although many Muslims participate in Ramadan, some are excluded from the celebration. Pregnant women, the sick, and the elderly are all able to skip Ramadan (KTRK). Additionally, many girls and women menstruating are able to break their fast during their menstruation, but they are expected to make up for the days missed fasting after Ramadan. Those who are able to participate in Ramadan must have already gone through puberty, but do not necessarily have to be Muslim to join the fasting in support of Muslims (Williams). Another important thing to address when talking about Ramadan is the difference between Sunni and Shia Muslims. Although there are no major differences between how the two branches of Islam celebrate Ramadan, there are some minor differences. For example, Sunnis break their daily fast at sunset when the sun is no longer visible, but on the other hand, Shia wait until the sky is devoid of all its colors (Williams). Additionally, Shia Muslims also celebrate an additional holiday within Ramadan. For the 19th, 20th, and 21st days of Ramadan Shia Muslims commemorate Ali Ibn Abi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammed. On the 19th day of Ramadan, Ali was worshiping in a mosque in Iraq when an assassin had fatally struck him with the poison sword. Ali died two days later, marking the 19th, 20th, and 21st sacred days for Shia Muslims (Williams).
In conclusion, Ramadan is not a holiday just about abstinence, but it is also about giving and understanding. Muslims no matter when they start Ramadan, or what branch they belong to all celebrate and understand the importance of the month. Muslims who are better off than others, often go out of their way during this month to help those who might not be able to feed themselves the nutritious meals that they need after the fasting. This month clearly exemplifies the true nature of Islam, which is self-reflection and giving.
