What is Ramazan or Ramadan or Ramzan?

Ramzan is the ninth month according to Islamic Lunar calendar. Ramzan (written as Ramadan) is derived from the Arabic root word 'ramida' or 'arramad' that means intense scorching heat and dryness, especially of the ground. Ramadan is so called to indicate the heating sensation in the stomach as a result of thirst. Others said it is so called because Ramadan scorches out the sins as it burns the ground. Some said it is so called because the hearts and souls are more readily receptive to the admonition and remembrance of Allah during Ramadan, as the sand and stones are receptive to the sun's heat.

Ramadan begins after the month of Shaban, after the new moon has been sighted. In case new moon is not sighted then after 30 days of Shaban, Ramadan begins. The month of Ramadan lasts for 29 or 30 days depending on the sighting of the moon. If the moon is sighted on the night of 29th fast then the month of Shawwal begins from tomorrow and Ramadan is over. The 1st of Shawwal is the Eid also know as Eid-ul-fitr to distinguish it from Eid-ul-azha (Bakri Eid).

Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed. The Quran clearly says "O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you many learn piety and rightousness" - Al Baqarah, 2:183. Fasting is to be done by all able bodied men and women and children who have reached puberty. If a person is sick or has some medical reason or if a women is pregnant then they are waived from fasting.

During Ramadan the people who fast are not allowed to eat or drink anything (including water) from dawn to after sunset. Also one has to restrain other body parts, which may render the fast worthless despite the main factor of hunger and thirst; so the tongue, for instance, must avoid backbiting, slander, and lies; the eyes should avoid looking into things considered by the Lawgiver as unlawful; the ears must stop from listening to conversation, words, songs, and lyrics that spoil the spirit of fasting; and finally restraining of the heart, and mind from indulging, themselves in other things besides zikr or Allah (remembrance of Allah).

Islamic Calendar

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

In the Holy Quran we read:

"They ask thee about the new moons. Say, These are means for measuring time for people's affairs and for the Pilgrimage" (Holy Quran, Ch. 2 V. 190)

Islam has made use of both the lunar and solar system of measuring times. Where worship is to be performed in different parts of the day the solar system of reckoning time is used as in the five daily Prayers or for the beginning and breaking of the fast, and where worship is to be completed within a particular month or part thereof, the lunar system is used, as in the determination of the month or part thereof, the lunar system is used, as in the determination of the month of fasting or fixing the time of Hajj or other festivals.

To calculate conversions from one calendar year to the other the following formula is used:

G = H - ( (3 * H) / 100 ) + 622

H = G + ( ( G - 622) / 32 ) - 622

Where G = Gregorian year (AD)

H = Hijra year (AH)

Thus 2000 AD is 1421 AH

Islamic calendar consists of twelve lunar months. Each month may be of 29 or 30 days depending on the sighting of the new moon.

An lunar year has, on average, 355 days. This is 10 days less than the solar year. Hence an Islamic year is moved ahead 10 days each year in solar calendar year.

Following are the names of the Islamic months:

1. Muharram ul Haram

2. Safar

3. Rabi-ul-Awwal

4. Rab-ul-Akhir

5. Jamadi-ul-Awwal

6. Jamadi-ul-Akhir

7. Rajab

8. Sha'aban

9. Ramadhan

10. Shawwal

11. Dhul Qadah

12. Dhul Hijja

The Holy Quran states:

"The number of months with Allah has been twelve months by Allah's ordinance since the day He created the heavens and the earth. Of these four are known as sacred" (Holy Quran, ch., v 36)Muharram, Rajab, Dhul Qadah and Dhul Hijja are considered to be sacred months. Fighting during these sacred months is considered to be a sin.

The Islamic months

The Islamic months are also 12 months. and they are

1. Muharram ul Haram

2. Safar

3. Rabi-ul-Awwal

4. Rab-ul-Akhir

5. Jamadi-ul-Awwal

6. Jamadi-ul-Akhir

7. Rajab

8. Sha'aban

9. Ramadhan

10. Shawwal

11. Dhul Qadah

12. Dhul Hijja

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Islamic Calendar

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

In the Holy Quran we read:

"They ask thee about the new moons. Say, These are means for measuring time for people's affairs and for the Pilgrimage" (Holy Quran, Ch. 2 V. 190)

Islam has made use of both the lunar and solar system of measuring times. Where worship is to be performed in different parts of the day the solar system of reckoning time is used as in the five daily Prayers or for the beginning and breaking of the fast, and where worship is to be completed within a particular month or part thereof, the lunar system is used, as in the determination of the month or part thereof, the lunar system is used, as in the determination of the month of fasting or fixing the time of Hajj or other festivals.

To calculate conversions from one calendar year to the other the following formula is used:

G = H - ( (3 * H) / 100 ) + 622

H = G + ( ( G - 622) / 32 ) - 622

Where G = Gregorian year (AD)

H = Hijra year (AH)

Thus 2000 AD is 1421 AH

Islamic calendar consists of twelve lunar months. Each month may be of 29 or 30 days depending on the sighting of the new moon.

An lunar year has, on average, 355 days. This is 10 days less than the solar year. Hence an Islamic year is moved ahead 10 days each year in solar calendar year.

Following are the names of the Islamic months:

1. Muharram ul Haram

2. Safar

3. Rabi-ul-Awwal

4. Rab-ul-Akhir

5. Jamadi-ul-Awwal

6. Jamadi-ul-Akhir

7. Rajab

8. Sha'aban

9. Ramadhan

10. Shawwal

11. Dhul Qadah

12. Dhul Hijja

The Holy Quran states:

"The number of months with Allah has been twelve months by Allah's ordinance since the day He created the heavens and the earth. Of these four are known as sacred" (Holy Quran, ch., v 36)Muharram, Rajab, Dhul Qadah and Dhul Hijja are considered to be sacred months. Fighting during these sacred months is considered to be a sin.