COTABATO CITY – Obligatory fasting among the estimated 1.2-billion Muslims worldwide in the month of Ramadan will start tomorrow and end on June 4, authorities announced yesterday.
The schedule is tentative as the actual date is contingent on the sighting of the moon of Ramadan 2019, the ninth month in the 1140 Hijra (lunar) calendar, according to the Darul iftas (houses of Islamic opinions) in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the globe.
Ramadan fast is one of the five pillars of Islam. It was mandated on all adult Muslims during the second year of Hijri (migration from Makkah to Madinah of Muslims). The only people exempted are those travelling, aged, pregnant, diabetic, chronically ill, and menstruating or breast feeding.
But fasting in later equivalent number of days they missed is required for people who were on traveler or menstrual time during Ramadan.
Muslims fast the whole month as it teaches them the true meaning of perseverance and tolerance.
During Ramadan, they are required not only to refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk but also to curb all negative emotions like anger and prove themselves to be the perfect Muslim.
Ramadan is considered one of the most blessed months in Islam. The revelation of the Holy Quran was completed in this month.
It culminates with the festive occasion of Eid ul Fitr as Muslims thank Allah (s.w.t.), celebrating the festival with religious fervor.
This month is full of celebration and festivity as the Muslims immerse themselves in reading the Quran and Duas and spending maximum time doing dhikr (praising remembrance) for Allah (s.w.t.). (Ali Macabalang)
