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[quote][blue]To: Renaissance Readers Club UK
From: The Slough &amp; Thames Valley Foyer

Dear Chair
Following is the Ramadan Leaflet produced by the local authority of Berkshire. Please check and comment.
Thank you

Katie Kempen 
Corporate Policy Officer (Diversity and Equality) 
Royal Borough of Windsor &amp; Maidenhead 
Town Hall 
St Ives Road 
Maidenhead SL6 1RF 
01628 796459 [/blue]

[purple]What is the meaning of ‘Ramadan’?
Ramadan derives from the Arabic root: ramida or
ar-ramad, meaning scorching heat or dryness. It is
believed that the month's name may refer to the heat
of thirst and hunger, or because fasting burns away
one's past sins.

Ramadan &amp; the holy Quran..
Muslims believe that God began revealing the Qur'an to
the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) during Ramadan in
the year 610. The Qur'an says that Muslims should fast
every Ramadan.

Fasting is the third of the Five Pillars of Islam:
1. Faith (Shahadah)
2. Prayer (Salah)
3. Fasting (Sawm)
4. Charitable giving (Zakah)
5. Pilgrimage to Makkah (Hajj)

Ramadan is a special month of the year for over 1.6
billion Muslims throughout the world. It is a time for
inner reflection, devotion to God, and self-control.
Fasting has many special benefits:
• Learning self control
• A time of intense worship
• Reading of the Quran
• Giving charity
• Purifying ones behaviour &amp; doing good
deeds
• Experiencing hunger and developing sympathy for the
less fortunate.
• Learning thankfulness and appreciation for all of God's
provisions.
• Being thoughtful, helpful, considerate and showing
kindness to others.
• Fasting is also beneficial to the health and provides a
break in the cycle of rigid habits or overindulgence.

Who Fasts in Ramadan?
During Ramadan fasting
becomes obligatory. Sick people, people on a long
journey, and women in certain conditions are exempted
from the fast but must make it up as they are able.
Fasting in Ramadan is the most widely practiced of all
the Muslim forms of worship.

The Sighting of the Moon?
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic
calendar. The much anticipated start of the
month is based on a combination of physical sightings of
the moon and astronomical calculations. Today Islamic
Scientists, Astronomers and Scholars unite on the
decision of sighting a new moon.

What time of day do Muslims observe fasting?
The daily period of fasting starts at the
breaking of dawn and ends at the setting of
the sun. During the daylight hours, Muslims
totally abstain from food, drink, smoking,
and any sexual contact. Even more than at
other times, they must also avoid undesirable or
imperfect behaviours. The practice is to have a pre-fast
meal (suhoor) before dawn and a post-fast meal (iftar)
at sunset.

Devotion to God.
Muslims pray 5 times a day, at Fajr before sunrise,
Dhur in the afternoon, Asr
late afternoon, Magrib at sunset
and Isha after sunset that is late
evening.
During the month Muslims also
recite the holy Qur'an, listen to the
Qur’an being recited in their homes
and at the Mosque. Through reflection Muslims
also pray for the poor and needy, and for those
of have passed away through the world.

‘Night of Power’
It is believed that one of the last
few odd-numbered nights of the
fasting month is Laylat-ul-Qadr,
the &quot;Night of Power&quot; or &quot;Night of
Destiny.&quot; It is the holiest night of
the holiest month.
This is a time for especially devoted prayer, and
the rewards and blessings associated with such
are manifold. The Qur’an reveals that praying
throughout this one night is better than a
thousand months of prayer. No one knows
exactly which night it is; it is one of God's
mysteries.
[/purple]
[i]contd:[/i]

Edited by: studyingislamuk on Friday, September 12, 2008 11:35 PM[/quote]

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