As Ramadan comes to an end, Fahim Ahmed explains the Islamic fasting month, and the differences between Ramadan in Ireland and Bangladesh. 

Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It is a special month for all Muslim people around the world.

Fasting

During Ramadan Muslims fast each day. Fasting is compulsory for people from the age of 12, however exceptions are made for people who are sick, travelling, for women who are pregnant or recovering from childbirth. In these cases people postpone the fast until they are in better condition.

Fasting begins with dawn and ends with sunset. During the day Muslim people not allowed to eat, drink or engage in any kind of sexual activity. After sunset people break their fast by eating dates and drinking water or juice, followed by after sunset prayer. Usually people would have a big meal immediately after prayers.

“Ramadan is not just about fasting; it’s more about spiritual things”

However, Ramadan is not just about fasting; it’s more about spiritual things. We believe that in this month God will wipe all your sins if you do good and please him so people worship more and spend more time in the mosque
reading the Quran during Ramadan.

During Ramadan people try to help the poor people as much as they can. Rich people give Zakat, a levy on the property of the wealthy, to the poor people in the society. If a person is a breadwinner he or she also pays Fitrana, the charity that we pay at the end of Ramadan, to the poor in the society so they can buy something nice for Eid such as clothes or special food. The rich people also distribute food during Ramadan to the poor people in society.

Ramadan in Ireland

In Ireland, 49,000 people took part in Ramadan this year. Ramadan in Ireland is quite different than in Bangladesh because almost everyone would fast during Ramadan there, making the atmosphere quite different, with shorter office hours and schools and colleges closed for much of the month.

“In Ireland, 49,000 people took part in Ramadan this year”

Although the weather is more manageable in Ireland (in Bangladesh temperatures reach 35-40 degrees), the long summer days means the fasting hours are longer here.  In Ireland, Muslim people fast for 19 hours every day, starting at 3am in the morning and finishing at 10pm in the evening. In Bangladesh, people fast from 4am in the morning until the sun sets at around 6pm in the evening.

Eid al-Fitr

At the end of the fasting month, Eid al-Fitr, is celebrated. Eid is the biggest celebration for Muslims. Comparable to Christmas for Christians, people buy new clothes and lots of food, gather for prayers, spend time visiting family and friends and exchange gifts. During Ramadan Muslim people look forward to Eid, but at the same time people feel sad when Ramadan finishes.

Author: Fahim Ahmed 

Fahim is from Bangladesh. He lives Dublin and is a 3rd year Computer Science Student in DIT. Fahim has an interest in most things, but is particularly interested in technology and sports. He also enjoys doing voluntary work.

Photo credit: Clonskeagh Mosque, Tab 59, Creative Commons License

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