Eid Mubarak from The Wrekin Housing Group
Wrekin would like to wish Eid Mubarak to everyone celebrating today.
What is Ramadan?
Every year approximately 2 billion Muslims refrain from food or drink from dawn to sunset for 30 days. This is the month of Ramadan – the 9th month of the Islamic lunar Calendar. Following a lunar rather than solar time cycle means that in the span of around 3 decades, Ramadan will have fallen in all four seasons: winter, spring, summer and autumn. Their fast lasting from dawn until sunset means that Summer fasting can be often the most difficult – due to the longer days. Because of the difficulty of fasting, only healthy adults are required to participate. For others, such as pregnant women and the unwell, it is prohibited entirely. At sunset, Muslims break their fast by dining with family, friends and loved ones, enjoying music and sharing lively conversation into the night during a meal called Iftar.
What is the significance of Ramadan?
Ramadan commemorates the month in which the Quran is believed to have been revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). During Ramadan, Muslims are encouraged to abandon bad habits and to pursue purer and more virtuous behaviours. It is a time for reflection and improvement – including improvement of one’s self, one’s relationships with others and one’s relationship with the divine. The act of fasting itself requires great discipline and self-control. Denying temptation and experiencing thirst and hunger is way for Muslims to display their humility – humbling themselves before the divine and sharing in the worldly suffering of those less fortunate than themselves. By becoming aware of their own privileges in this way, they are able to encourage more charity on the behalf of those in need and prevent themselves from taking their means for granted. With this understanding it becomes clear that fasting requires one to not only to overcome their physical demands but also to relinquish their ego and pride, in order to submit themselves to a higher purpose. In summary, Ramadan is a time of self-sacrifice, generosity and peace.
What is the significance of Hari Raya?
Hari Raya (Eid al Fitr) is celebrated to pay respect to Allah for providing the strength and endurance needed to fast throughout Ramadan. A communal prayer (salat) is held at daybreak – marking the end of Ramadan and a return to regular life. Eid al Fitr is also known as the Festival of Breaking the Fast and as such, is characterised by great feasts of all kinds of foods and drink. It is a time for home-coming, family, the exchanging of gifts and visiting the graves of relatives passed. There is an obligation for all Muslims to give something extra to charity on this day and like any celebration there is, of course, plenty of music, singing and dancing to be enjoyed. Many families in different cultures may hold open-house events, in which all people, Muslim or otherwise, are invited to enter their home to share food, music and conversation. Muslims will share in their joviality and there is a general atmosphere of inclusion and good will. Animosity and ill intention are meant to be cast aside for at least this one day.
13th May 2021