Ramadan

Ramadan(Arabic: ‫َر َم َض اُن‬,) is the ninth month of the Hijri calendar. On the moon
this, Muslims around the world perform fasting (saum) and commemorate the first revelation that came
down to the Prophet Muhammad according to the beliefs of Muslims. Ramadan fasting is one of the
pillars of Islam. The month of Ramadan will last for 29–30 days based on hilal observations, according to
some rules written in the hadith. The word Ramadan comes from the Arabic root ramiḍa or ar-ramaḍ,
which means scorching heat or drought. According to Islamic law, Ramadan fasting is legally fardhu
(mandatory) for adult Muslims, unless he or she has hindered from doing so such as being sick, on the
way, being old, pregnant, breastfeeding, diabetic, or having menstruation. The obligation to fast in the
month of Ramadan is set in the month of Syakban the second year after the hijra of Muslims from
Makkah to Medina. The month of Ramadan begins with the determination of the crescent moon as a
sign of the new moon.
During fasting from morning to evening, Muslims are forbidden to consume (eat, drink, including smoke)
anything and have sexual intercourse. In addition, they are commanded to avoid sinful deeds to perfect
the reward of fasting, such as saying bad things (such as insulting, slandering, cursing, lying) and
fighting. Food and drinks can be provided every day, namely before sunrise (Dawn) until sunset
(Magrib). The spiritual approach (taubat) during the month of Ramadan is crowded. Fasting for Muslims
during Ramadan is usually followed by multiplying prayers and reciting the Quran.

Etymology
Ramadan comes from the root of the word ‫ ض‬- ‫ م‬- ‫ر‬, which means scorching heat. The Babylonians,
whose culture was once very dominant in the north of the Arabian Peninsula, used the suryacandra
calendar (counting of years based on the moon and sun at once). The ninth month always falls on a very
scorching summer. From morning to evening the mountain rocks and desert sands are roasted by the
summer sunburn whose daylight hours are longer than the night time. At night, the heat in the rocks and
sand subsided, but before the cold was completely met in the morning. This happens over and over
again, so that after a few weeks there is a scorching accumulation of heat. Those days are called
Ramadan, the month of scorching heat.
After Muslims developed a month-based calendar, which averages 11 days shorter than the Sun-based
calendar, Ramadan no longer always coincides with summer. People better understand the 'heat' of
Ramadan metaphorically (figuratively). Because on the days of Ramadan people fast, the throat feels hot
because of thirst, or, it is hoped that with Ramadan services, the previous sins become burnt and after
Ramadan the one who fasts no longer sins.
From the root of the word, the word Ramadan is used to indicate a sensation of heat when a person is
thirsty. Another opinion says that the word Ramadan is used because in that month sins are washed
away by good deeds as the Sun burns the ground. Furthermore, it is perpetuated by the use of the
moment of Ramadan by serious adherents of Islam to dilute, rearrange and renew their physical,
spiritual and behavioral strength, just as heat represents something that can dilute matter.

History
Surah Al-Baqarah verse 185 in the Quran states:
The month of Ramadan is (the month) in which the Koran derives, as a guide for man and explanations of
that instruction and a distinction (between the true and the vanity). Therefore, whoever among you finds
the month, then fast. And whoever is sick or on the way (he does not fast), then (is obliged to replace it),
as many days as he leaves, on other days. God desires ease for you, and wills no hardship for you. Let you
suffice-infuse the numbers and glorify God for His instructions given to you, that you may be grateful. [Qur'an
Al-Baqarah:185]
According to the hadith, all scriptures are handed down during the month of Ramadan. The Suhuf
Ibrahim, Torah, Psalms, Gospels, and Qur'an were handed down on the 1st, 6th, 12th, 13th, and 24th of
Ramadan, respectively. The Koran was first revealed to Muhammad on the night of lailatulqadar which is
one of the five nights in the last ten days of Ramadan.
Although Muslims first fast in Ramadan after 18 months post-hijra, i.e. in the month of Sha'ban in the
second year of Hijra (624 AD), they believe that fasting is not new and has been practiced by previous
people to achieve takwa. [Qur'an Al-Baqarah:183] The pre-Islamic Arabs also fasted, but only on the tenth day of
Muharram to atone for sins and avoid drought.
Abu Zamad, an Arab writer from Iraq who lived after the founding of Islam, circa 747 AD, wrote that at
least one Muslim community in al-Jazira (modern northern Iraq) celebrated Ramadan before converting
to Islam. According to Philip Jenkins, Ramadan comes "from the strict discipline of the Syrian churches".
However, this suggestion is based on the orientalist idea that the Koran itself has a Syriac origin, which
Muslim academics such as M. Al-Azami reject.

Important period
Beginning
Artikel

Table of the beginning of Ramadan of the Gregorian year between 1938 and 2038.

The Hijri calendar is based on the revolution of the moon around the earth and the beginning of each
month is set at the occurrence of the hilal (crescent moon). The method of determining the time of
occurrence of hilal used today is the method of vision with the naked eye (known as rukyah) and using
the astronomical calculation method (known as hisab). The Islamic Union (Persis) and the Indonesian
Ulema Council (MUI) use a combination of hisab and rukyah for the determination of hilal. Nahdlatul
Ulama (NU) and the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia as the Government of
the Republic of Indonesia use the rukyatul hilal method; while Muhammadiyah uses hisab hakiki wal
form hilal as a basis for determining hilal. This difference in methods causes possible differences in the
results of determining when the beginning and end of Ramadan as happened in 1998 AD (1418 H).

Night of glory
Main article: Lailatulqadar
Lailatulqadar (decreed night) is a night that specifically occurs in the month of Ramadan. In the Koran on
surah Al-Qadr, tonight is mentioned better than a thousand months. The exact time of tonight is
unknown but according to some histories, tonight falls on the last 10 nights of Ramadan, precisely on one
of the odd nights i.e. the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th night. Some Muslims usually try not to miss
tonight and celebrate this night by keeping themselves awake on the last nights of Ramadan while
worshipping all night.

End
The end of the month of Ramadan is celebrated with joy by all Muslims around the world. In the evening
(the night of 1 Shawal), commonly called the night of victory, they will announce takbir together. In
Indonesia, Muslims usually chant takbir while marching around cities and villages, sometimes by hitting
stirrings and setting off fireworks or lighting lanterns.
The next day, the 1st of Shawal, which is celebrated as Eid al-Fitr, both Muslim men and women will
throng the mosque and the field where the Id Prayer will be performed. The prayers are performed two
rakaats and will then be concluded by two sermons on Eid al-Fitr. The celebration then continued with a
mutual apologetic event among Muslims, and at the same time ended the entire series of special
religious activities that accompanied Ramadan.

Religious activities

The atmosphere of breaking fast (iftar) together at the mosque.

The main activities in the month of Ramadan are filled with fasting, suhoor, iftar, evening prayers,
multiplying the reading of the Quran, celebrating the day of the descent of the Quran, and other good
deeds.

Ramadan fasting
Main article: Saum and Ramadan Fasting

Saum or fasting for muslims (Arabic: ‫صوم‬, transliteration: Shuwam) is the refrain from eating and
drinking and any deeds that can cancel the fast, from dawn to sunset , under certain conditions, to
increase the piety of a Muslim. Fasting (saum) is one of the five pillars of Islam. Saum linguistically means
to restrain or prevent.
Suhoor
Main article: Sahur
Suhoor is an Islamic term that refers to eating activities by Muslims that are carried out in the early
hours of the morning for those who will observe fasting in the month of Ramadan. Suhoor as breakfast
goes well with Iftar as dinner, during Ramadan, replacing three meals a day (breakfast, lunch and
dinner), although in some places dinner is also consumed after Iftar later in the evening.
Iftar
Main article: Iftar
Iftar refers to a banquet when Muslims break their fast during the month of Ramadan. Iftar is one of the
worship services in Ramadan and is often performed by a community, and people gather to break the fast
together. Iftar is done right after Magrib time. Traditionally, dates are the first thing to consume when
breaking the fast.
Many Muslims believe that feeding people open fasting as a form of charity is very beneficial and
practiced by the Prophet Muhammad.

Evening prayers
Main article: Salat Tarawih
In the evening, precisely after the Isya prayer, Muslims continue their worship by performing Tarawih
prayers. Special prayers that are only performed in the month of Ramadan. Tarawih prayers, although
they can be performed individually, are generally performed in congregations in mosques. Sometimes
before the performance of tarawih prayers in certain places, short lectures are held to equip the pilgrims
in performing worship in the month in question. After performing tarawih prayers, it is usually
immediately continued with the Witir prayer of three rakaat. ]

Reciting the Qur'an

In addition to the practice of fasting, most Muslims fill the time before breaking the fast by reading the
Qur'an at a rate of one juz every day. It is usually recited specifically in groups or individually, but there
are also those who complete 30 Juz through the recitation of the surah at the Tarawih Prayer. [citation needed]

The descent of the Qur'an

Main article: Nuzululquran
In this month in Indonesia, precisely on the 17th of Ramadan, (there are differences of opinion of
scholars regarding the exact date of the descent of the Quran for the first time) is also commemorated as
the day of the descent of the Quranic verse (Nuzululquran) for the first time by some Muslims. On this
occasion, Surah Al-'Alaq verses 1 to 5 were handed down when the Prophet Muhammad SAW was in the
Cave of Hira. The commemoration of this event is usually done with lectures in mosques. But this
commemoration is considered heresy, because the Prophet did not teach, The beginning was
commemorated in Indonesia, when President Soekarno received advice from Hamka to commemorate
every Nuzulul Quran, because it coincided with the date of Indonesian Independence, as a gratitude for
Indonesian independence.

Umrah
Main article: Umrah
Umrah worship if performed this month has more value and reward when compared to other months. In
the Hadith it says "Umrah in the month of Ramadan is comparable to hajj or hajj with me." (HR: Bukhari
and Muslims).

Zakat fitrah
Main article: Zakat fitrah
Zakat fitrah is zakat issued specifically in the month of Ramadan or at the latest before the completion of
Eid al-Fitr prayers. Every capable Muslim individual is obliged to pay this type of zakat. The amount of
zakat fitrah that must be issued per individual is one sha' staple food in the area concerned. This amount
when converted is approximately equivalent to 2.5 kilograms or 3.5 liters of rice. Zakat recipients are
generally designated in 8 groups (fakir, miskin, amil, muallaf, hamba sahaya, gharimin, fisabilillah, ibn
sabil) but according to some scholars specifically for zakat fitrah should take precedence over the first
two groups, namely fakir and poor. This opinion is based on the grounds that the amount of zakat is very
small while one of the purposes for issuing zakat fitrah is so that the poor and the poor can participate in
celebrating the holiday.

Cultural practices
Hitting the bedug in Indonesia

Ramadan lantern decorations in Cairo, Egypt

Ramadan in the Old City of Jerusalem

In some muslim countris today, lights are hung in public squares, and on city streets, to add to this
month's celebrations. Lanterns become a symbolic decoration to welcome the month of Ramadan. In
developing countries, they are hung on city streets. The tradition of lanterns as decorations attributed to
Ramadan is believed to have originated during the Fatimid Caliphate centered in Egypt, where Caliph
Al-Mu'izz li-Dinillah was greeted by people holding lanterns to celebrate his decision. Since that time,
lanterns have been used to illuminate mosques and houses in the capital Cairo. Shopping malls,
establishments, and people's homes can be seen with stars and crescents and various lighting effects as
well.
As a country with the largest Muslim population in the world, Indonesia has a variety of Ramadan
traditions. On the island of Java, many Javanese bathing in holy springs prepare to fast, a ritual known as
Padusa. The city of Semarang marks the start of Ramadan with the Dugderan carnival, which involves
the narration of ngendog Warak, a horse-dragon hybrid creature allegedly inspired by Buraq. In the
Chinese-influenced capital of China, fire crackers were traditionally used to wake people up for Dawn
prayers, until the 19th century. Towards the end of Ramadan, most employees receive a one-month
bonus known as Hari Raya Allowance. Several types of food are very popular during the month of
Ramadan, such as beef in Aceh, and snails in Central Java. Iftar meals are announced every night by
hitting bedug, a giant drum, in the mosque.
Greetings during the month of Ramadan are "Ramadan Mubarak" or "Ramadan Karim", who expect the
recipient to be blessed or generous during Ramadan.

Health
Ramadan fasting is safe for healthy people, but those with medical conditions should seek medical
advice. The fasting period is usually associated with simple weight loss, but weight tends to return
afterwards.

Kidney disease
A literature review by an Iranian group suggests fasting during Ramadan can cause kidney injury in
patients with moderate disease (GFR <60 ml/min) or worse kidney disease, but does not harm kidney
transplant patients with good function or at most stone formation.

Fines for violations

In some Muslim countries, failing to fast or openly arguing against such behavior during Ramadan is
considered a crime and prosecuted as such. For example, in Algeria, in October 2008 a Biskra court
condemned six people to four years in prison and heavy fines.
In Kuwait, according to law number 44 of 1968, the penalty is a fine of not more than 100 Kuwaiti
dinars, or imprisonment of not more than one month, or both penalties, for those who are seen eating,
drinking or smoking during the daytime of Ramadan. In some places in the United Arab Emirates, eating
or drinking in public during the day during Ramadan is considered a misdemeanor and will be punished
for up to 150 hours of community service. In neighboring Saudi Arabia, which The Economist describes
taking the month of Ramadan "more seriously than anywhere else", there are harsher penalties, whereas
in Malaysia, there are no such penalties.
In Egypt, the sale of alcohol is prohibited during the month of Ramadan.
In 2014 in Kermanshah, Iran, a non-Muslim was convicted of burning a cigarette and five Muslims were
whipped with 70 lines for eating during Ramadan.

Other legal issues

Some countries have laws that change work schedules during Ramadan. Under the United Arab Emirates
Labor Act, the maximum working hours are 6 hours per day and 36 hours per week. Qatar, Oman,
Bahrain and Kuwait have similar laws.

Economic aspect
Iftar at Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey

The month of Ramadan in Indonesia and muslim-majority countries in general can be linked to the
increasing purchasing power and consumptive behavior of people for goods and services. In Indonesia,
this is closely related to the custom of the government and private companies to provide Holiday
Allowance (THR) to their employees. This increase occurred in almost all sectors from transportation,
food, beverages to household needs. So it is not uncommon for the inflation rate to reach its highest
point in this month's period. This phenomenon is visible with the proliferation of seasonal vendors selling
various commodities ranging from food to clothing, in public spaces, especially on the roadsides. In
addition, the rampant implementation of bazaars both sponsored by the government, private sector,
certain organizations and non-governmental organizations.

Crime rate
The correlation of Ramadan with crime rates is mixed: some statistics show that crime rates fall during
the month of Ramadan, while others indicate that it increases. Declining crime rates have been reported
by police in several cities in Turkey (Istanbul and Konya) and Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province. A 2012
study showed that crime rates declined in Iranduring Ramadan, and the decline was statistically
significant. A 2005 study found that there was a decrease in assault, robbery and alcohol-related crimes
during Ramadan in Saudi Arabia, but only a statistically significant decrease in alcohol-related
crimes. Increased crime rates during Ramadan have been reported in Turkey, Jakarta, parts of Algeria,
Yemen and Egypt.
Various mechanisms have been proposed for the Ramadan effect on crime:

 An Iranian cleric argues that fasting during Ramadan makes people inclined to commit
crimes for spiritual reasons. Gamal al-Banna argues that fasting can stress people out, which
can make them more likely to commit crimes. He criticised Muslims who commit crimes
while fasting during Ramadan as "false and superficial".
 Police in Saudi Arabia attributed the decline in crime rates to the "spiritual atmosphere
prevalent in the country".
 In Jakarta, Indonesia, police say traffic was empty as 7 million people left the city to
celebrate Eid al-Fitr resulting in an increase in street crime. As a result, the police deployed
7, 500 additional personnel.
  During the month of Ramadan, millions of pilgrims enter Saudi Arabia to visit Mecca.
According to the Yemen Times, such pilgrims usually do charity, and as a result smugglers
drive children from Yemen to beg on the streets of Saudi Arabia.

Ramadan in the polar regions

The length of dawn to sunset varies in different parts of the world according to the summer or winter
solstice. Most Muslims fast for 11-16 hours during the month of Ramadan. However, in the polar regions,
the period between dawn and sunset in Mecca exceeds 22 hours in summer. For example, in 2014,
Muslims in Reykjavik, Iceland, and Trondheim, Norway, fasted almost 22 hours, while Muslims in Sydney,
Australia, fasted for only about 11 hours. Muslims in areas where night or day is continuously observed
during the month of Ramadan follow the fasting hours in nearby towns where fasting is observed at dawn
and sunset. Alternatively, Muslims may follow the time of Mecca.

Work during Ramadan

Muslims will continue to work during the month of Ramadan. Prophet Muhammad Shalallaahu 'Alayhi
Wasallam said that it is important to maintain a balance between worship and work. In some Muslim
countries, such as Oman, however, working hours are shortened during the month of Ramadan. It is
often recommended that working Muslims inform their employers if they fast, given the potential for
obedience to affect performance at work. The extent to which Ramadan observers are protected by
religious accommodation varies by country. Policies that put them at a disadvantage compared to other
employees have been met with claims of discrimination in the UK and the US.

Duration of fasting time

The time of fasting is determined by the period from sunrise to sunset, so the position of the sun towards
the earth affects the length of time a person observes fasting. Just as tropical countries in the equatorial
area have a balanced duration (about 12 hours of daylight and about 12 nights), the duration of fasting
tends to be stable from year to year. Different things are experienced by countries in the northern
hemisphere and southern earth that experience "extreme changes", namely when winter the length of
fasting time becomes shorter (less than 12 hours) while when summer will increase in length (more than
12 hours).

Ramadan in the Gregorian calendar

See also: Hijri calendar
In the Hijri calendar, the determination of 1 Ramadan is always the same every year, this is different in
the Gregorian calendar which always changes from year to year. In the Hijri calendar, the determination
of the day is based on the phase of the moon (candra calendar), while the Gregorian calendar is based
on the phase of the earth around the sun (solar calendar). This difference is what causes the
determination of 1 Ramadan to always change in the Gregorian calendar, that is, there is a change 11
days earlier each year.
The following is a list of the 1st dates of Ramadan and the duration of the month of Ramadan in that year
in the Gregorian calendar throughout the years 1928 to 2034:

Hijri
1 Ramadan in the Year A.D. Length (days)
Year
1346 23th February 1928 30
1347 February 9th, 1929
1348 January 31st, 1930
1349 20th January 1931
1350 January 10th, 1932
1351 December 28, 1932
1352 December 17, 1933
1353 December 7, 1934
1354 27 November 1935
1355 16 November 1936
1356 5 November 1937
1357 25 October 1938
1358 15 October 1939
1359 3 October 1940
1360 22 September 1941
1361 11 September 1942
1362 1 September 1943
1363 August 20, 1944
1364 August 10, 1945
1365 30 July 1946
1366 20 July 1947
1367 8 July 1948
1368 27 June 1949
1369 17 June 1950
1370 6 June 1951
1371 May 25, 1952
1372 May 15, 1953
1373 May 4th, 1954
1374 24 April 1955
1375 12 April 1956
1376 1 April 1957
1377 March 22, 1958
1378 March 11, 1959
1379 28th February 1960
1380 16th February 1961
1381 6th February 1962
1382 27th January 1963
1383 16th January 1964
1384 January 4th, 1965
1385 December 23, 1965
1386 December 13, 1966
1387 December 2, 1967
1388 21 November 1968
1389 11 November 1969
1390 31 October 1970
1391 20 October 1971
1392 8 October 1972
1393 27 September 1973
1394 17 September 1974
1395 6 September 1975
1396 August 26, 1976
1397 August 16, 1977
1398 August 5, 1978
1399 25 July 1979
1400 13 July 1980
1401 3 July 1981
1402 22 June 1982
1403 12 June 1983
1404 May 31, 1984
1405 21th May 1985
1406 10th May 1986
1407 29 April 1987
1408 16 April 1988
1409 7 April 1989
1410 March 27, 1990
1411 March 17, 1991
1412 March 5, 1992
1413 23th February 1993
1414 12th February 1994
1415 1st February 1995
1416 22th January 1996
1417 January 10, 1997
1418 December 31, 1997
1419 December 20, 1998
1420 December 9, 1999
1421 27 November 2000
1422 16 November 2001
 1423 6 November 2002
1424 27 October 2003 29
1425 15 October 2004
1426 4 October 2005
1427 24 September 2006 30
1428 13 September 2007
1429 1 September 2008
1430 August 22nd, 2009 29
1431 August 11th, 2010
30
1432 August 1st, 2011
1433 21 July 2012
1434 10 July 2013
29
1435 29 June 2014
1436 18 June 2015
1437 6 June 2016 30
1438 27 May 2017[94]
29
1439 17 May 2018
1440 6 May 2019
1441 24 April 2020 30
1442 13 April 2021
1443 3 April 2022 29
1444 March 22, 2023
1445 March 11, 2024
1446 March 1, 2025
1447 18 February 2026
1448 8 February 2027
1449 28 January 2028
1450 16 January 2029 30
1451 5 January 2030
1452 25 December 2030
1453 15 December 2031
1454 4 December 2032
1455 23 November 2033
1456 12 November 2034

Since the Hijri year differs by about 11 days from the year AD, 1 Ramadan can occur twice a year, as in
1965 and 1997, and will occur again in 2030, 2063, 2095, 2128, 2160, 2193, 2225, 2258, 2290 , and
2323 (will continue to occur every 32 or 33 years).
NOTE
In Arabic pronunciation, this word can be pronounced as [rɑmɑˈdˤɑːn, ramadˤɑːn, ræmæˈdˤɑːn],
depending on the region. The word Ramadan is pronounced /ram.dˤaːn/ in Moroccan pronunciation.

The hadith from Jabir bin Abdullah states that the Bible was revealed on the 18th of Ramadan.