Ramdan Moon sighted, Fasting begins today

Ramdan Moon sighted, Fasting begins today

Mangalore Today News Network

August 12: After hours of sky-gazing, sighting of the moon was reported by regional ulema (clerics) from various parts of the country, including New Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, on Wednesday evening.

According to Islamic tradition, Ramadan is the ninth and the holiest month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is an auspicious month during which Muslims observe a rigorous fast from dawn to dusk everyday and worship and read the Holy Quran.

During Ramadan, Muslims around the world get up before dawn, have their meals after prayer. They are forbidden to indulge in impolite acts and improper thoughts. They also cannot make offensive gestures or utter unkind words during the period.

Muslims break their fast at sunset prayer time with a meal called Iftar, for which they throng local shops to buy stocks of meat and vegetables and enjoy delicious feasts.

In accordance with the ritual followed by the Prophet Mohammad, dates are traditionally used by Muslims to break their fasts.

Fasting has a very important place in Islam. It is projected to be a rigorous act of self-restraint with deep personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised awareness of Allah and has been made one of the fundamental tenets of the religion.

Muslims consider that observing the Ramadan fasts would secure them a place in ’Jannat’ (heaven) and also bring them face-to-face with Allah on the day of ’qayamat’ (when the world will cease to be).

The Gulf countries, namely Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar, have already started observing Ramadan with viewing the moon on Wednesday.