Ramadan
by Oskar O'Hara, Stefan Quaadgras, and Tommy Kearney
The next Ramadan begins on June 18th 2015 and ends on July 17th 2015
Allah's Message to Muhammad
Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, is a month in which all Muslims must fast from sunrise to sunset. Ramadan is considered a holy month because it was the month in 610 C.E. in which Allah revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad. At age 40 on this night, on Mount Hira, Muhammad had a vision of an angel named Jibril, who told Muhammad that he was the messenger of Allah. Jibril said to Muhammad, “Recite in the name of your Lord Who creates. Creates a man from a cloth. Recite: And your Lord is the Most Bountiful Who teaches by the pen, He teaches man what he does not know.” Muhammad was confused as he descended the mountain, fearing he had been visited by an evil spirit. He told his wife Khadijah, who took Muhammad to her cousin, Waraqa ibn Nawfal, who was able to interpret sacred text. Waraqa assured Muhammad that Jibril was a holy spirit, and he was a messenger of Allah. Jibril shared knowledge with Muhammad over twenty three years, which eventually formed the sayings of the Qur’an. The night when Muhammad was bestowed with this knowledge was supposedly during the month of Ramadan. This night is represented by Laylat al-Qadr, or the Night of Power, the holiest night of the year. To show respect for Allah and to thank him for his knowledge, Muhammad asked the followers of Islam to spend the month of Ramadan fasting and sending prayers to Allah. The fasting shows that God is more important than food or drink, and praying to him shows thanks to him for his gifts.
Traditions of Ramadan
Did you know?
Jibril Meets Muhammad
A Traditional Iftar
Ramadan Prayers
Works Cited
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"Ramadan." Britannica School. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2014. Web. 1 Dec. 2014.
<http://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/313135>.
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ramadan-2014-facts-history-dates-rules-muslim-fast-1454200