Beyond Fasting: Saintly Significance of Ramadan ?? and Enigma of Eid al-Fitr ??

Eid al-Fitr, also known as the "Festival or Feast of Breaking the Fast," holds profound significance in the Islamic calendar ??. It marks the end of the most significant and holy month of fasting, devoted prayers, and spiritual reflection to strengthen one's bond with Allah.

The name #Ramadan itself means "burning heat," reflecting the hot weather during which it was first revealed. This is both physically and mentally challenging, even in the modern days with help from transportation, refrigeration, and air conditioning. Can you imagine how difficult fasting must have been in the early days, in the scorching heat ?, in the deserts of the middle-east nations among scarcity of water & food for #Iftar.

To understand its origin, we need to travel back to the year 610 A.D. During this time, Prophet Muhammad meditated in the cave of Hira near Mecca when angel Jibril appeared to him and revealed the first words of the Qur'an. This night of divine revelation is known as Laylat al-Qadr, or the “Night of Power” which marked the beginning of Islam. ?? The exact date is unknown, but it is believed to fall on one of the odd nights in the last 10 days of Ramadan which is the very month in which the Holy Quran was revealed to the Prophet.

Over the course of the next 23 years, the Prophet Muhammad continued to receive preachings from Allah, which formed the basis of the Islamic faith. These laid out the five core principles that all Muslims must live and abide by.

5 Pillars of Islam

1. Declaration of faith (Shahada) ??- It is the fundamental pillar of Islam, declaring the belief and faith in the oneness of Allah (SWT) and the prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH).
2. Prayer (Salat) ?? – This ritualistic prayer is performed five times a day facing towards the Kaaba in Mecca. It serves as a means of communication and connection with Allah.
3. Fasting (Sawm) ??♂? – originated in 622 AD, Ramadan finds its roots here.
4. Pilgrimage (Hajj) ?? - Pilgrimage to the holy city of #Mecca is something that every able-bodied and financially capable Muslim is expected to undertake at least once in their lifetime.
5. Charity (Zakat) ?? – It is the obligatory act of giving a portion of one's wealth to those in need to help create a more equitable society. (More on this coming soon. Stay tuned!)

Unfortunately, Khadijah, the beloved wife ?? of Prophet Muhammad passed away in Ramadan, followed by the death of Abu Talib, the Prophet's uncle. Thus, this emotionally challenging period came to be known as the "Year of Sorrow."

5 Key Struggles During the Period of Ramadan – Over the Years

These events highlight the historical significance of Ramadan and its impact on the #IslamicCommunity.

1. On the 17th of Ramadan, in the 2nd year of Hijrah, the Muslims achieved a significant victory against the Meccans in the Battle of Badr. The believers, despite being outnumbered, are believed to be aided by angels sent by Allah.

2. In the 8th year of Hijra, during Ramadan, Prophet Muhammad peacefully conquered the city of Mecca. This marked the end of idol worship and the return to the worship of the One True God.

3. The Battle of Guadalete was fought between the Muslim Umayyad Caliphate and the Kingdom of Visigoth during Ramadan in the 92nd year of Hijrah. This led to the Muslim conquest of Hispania.

4. The Muslims faced the Mongols in the Battle of Ain Jalut during Ramadan. This battle, which took place in Egypt, resulted in the first-ever defeat of the Mongols and saved the Islamic empire from further expansion.

5. In Ramadan of 1187 CE, Salahudeen confronted and defeated the Crusaders at the Battle of Hattin which marked the end of the Crusaders' hopes to wage war against the Muslims and paved the way for the reconquest of Jerusalem.

For the non-Islamic readers, the concept of #Hijrah represents Prophet Muhammad's migration to Medina (known as “Dar al-Islam” or the house of Islam) in 622 CE because Muslims faced persecution in Mecca (termed as “Dar al-Harb” or the house of war). The traditional meaning of Hijrah, therefore, is that only Muslims who are unable to practice Islam, or face opposition when they do so, are obligated to migrate to the lands of the Muslims.

Source: History of Ramadan, Meaning of Hijrah, Other events from Ramadan

Wishing all Muslims on #LinkedIn a blessed Ramadan filled with peace, joy, and spiritual growth. #EidMubarak! ??? #Ramadan #SpiritualGrowth #HolyQuran