This Friday, April 21, 2023 marks, for Muslims around the world, and those in Madagascar, Eid El-Fitr or the end of Ramadan. Who is it ?
Ramadan is one of the months of the Islamic calendar. Every year, Muslims anticipate the sighting of the new crescent moon which marks the official first day of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and the holiest month in Islamic culture. The start of Ramadan fluctuates each year as the Islamic calendar follows the phases of the moon.
Ramadan was also already part of the ancient Arab calendars. The name Ramadan comes from the Arabic root “ar-ramad” meaning “scorching heat”.
According to tradition, in the year 610, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Prophet Muhammad on the 27th night of the month of Ramadan, to reveal to him the Koran, the Islamic holy book. This revelation, Laylat Al Qadar -the “Night of Destiny”- took place during Ramadan. Since then, Muslims around the world have been fasting this month to commemorate the revelation of the Quran.
Throughout the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast, abstain from drinking and having sex between sunrise and sunset. Fasting is obligatory for all Muslims except the sick, pregnant women, travellers, the elderly or during menstruation. Missed fast days can be made up during the rest of the year, either all at once or a day here and there.
For this year 2023, Ramadan 2023 began on the evening of Wednesday March 22 and ends this Friday April 21 with the celebrations of Eid El-Fitr.
It’s three days of celebration during which Muslims gather to pray, eat, exchange gifts and pay homage to their deceased relatives.
The ritual of Ramadan is one of the 5 pillars of Islam which are:
SAOUM or SWAM : Fast from dawn until dusk during Ramadan.
CHAHADA : Believing that there is no other God except Allah who is the One and Unique and that Muhammad is his last prophet sent to Humanity.
ZAKAT : Legal alms. Every Muslim is required to calculate this amount every lunar year and give it to the needy.
SALAT (Assalat) : Pray five times a day.
HAJJ (Great ritual pilgrimage to Mecca): If possible, at least once in their life, every Muslim should make the pilgrimage to Meccaa city located in Saudi Arabia, where the Masjid al-Haram -Sacred Mosque- surrounding the Kaaba -or Kaba-, a cubic structure covered with fabric constituting the holiest shrine in Islam.
Text by Jeannot RAMAMBAZAFY
Illustrative photos taken by Andry RAKOTONIRAINY during the beginning of the celebration of Eid El-Fitr, this Friday, April 21, 2023, in an Islamic community at 67 ha, Antananarivo