The Holy Month of Ramadan

Hello all and welcome back to school. I am sure everyone has holiday stories to tell whether it involved mini breaks or staying at home. For many of our school community, much of the holidays involved the holy month of Ramadan. One of our families has kindly agreed to tell us a little about this most important month in the Islamic calendar. Thank you to the Kazmi family.

Saima Kazmi with her boys, Hadi and Ghazi.

In Islam, a holy month of fasting occurs in the ninth month of the Muslim year and is called Ramadan. It commences with the appearance of new moon and ends with the next new moon.

Muslims keep fast during the day time. During Ramadan, Muslims must fast by refusing to eat or drink anything during daylight hours. Small children, very old people, and people with illnesses are excused.

They start their fast before sunrise. In Adelaide a prayer to announce the start of each day’s fast, called Sehri is broadcast on Channel 44.

The eating time before sunrise is called SEHRI or SAHUR, Arabic for 'of the dawn', 'pre-dawn meal'. Yoghurt is an important part of the morning meal as it keeps bodies hydrated during the day.

Muslims observe Ramadan by praying, reading the Quran (Holy book), fasting and a time to be kind in thoughts, words and actions. It is a period self-restraint. Ramadan is a month to practice being a good human; help others and a month to think about your own behaviour and practice kindness.

After sunset, Muslims break their fast with prayer Aftari (and also broadcast on Channel 44), before enjoying festive night-time meals, called IFTAR, these meals are often shared with friends and extended family. The IFTAR usually begins with dates or apricots and water or sweetened milk, and continues through many courses of vegetables, breads, and some meats. It is a tradition to share a plate of food with your neighbours.

Ramadan officially ends when religious officials first see the new moon. The festival of ʿEid al-Fitr, the Feast of Fast-Breaking, marks the end of the month of Ramadan. After the Eid Prayer, Muslims greet each other. Eid ul-Fitr lasts three days. Eid is a time of celebrations. Elders give gifts to children called EIDI.

Here in Australia, Eid is celebrated with colours and joy. Friends and family gather to have food together and enjoy each other’s company. It is a time for sharing happiness. People decorate their house and enjoy the celebrations. Everyone wears their celebratory clothing. Women decorate their hands and feet with henna after abstaining from any form of adornment or perfume during the month of Ramadan.

The correct greeting to wish everyone Happy Eid is ‘Eid Mubarak’

So, to all of our Muslim families here at Magill: Eid Mubarak!

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