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1. This is reliable. It has true information, and it is a reliable website.
2. This article talks about Ramadan and what it's about.
3. The purpose is to explain what Ramadan is.

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Ramadan, Arabic Ramaḍān, in Islam, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar and the holy month of fasting. It begins and ends with the appearance of the crescent moon. Because the Muslim calendar year is shorter than the Gregorian calendar year, Ramadan begins 10-12 days earlier each year, allowing it to fall in every season throughout a 33-year cycle.

Islamic tradition states that it was during Ramadan, on the "Night of Power" ( Laylat al-Qadr)-commemorated on one of the last 10 nights of Ramadan, usually the 27th night-that God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad the Qurʾān, Islam's holy book, "as a guidance for the people." For Muslims, Ramadan is a period of introspection, communal prayer ( ṣalāt) in the mosque, and reading of the Qurʾān. God forgives the past sins of those who observe the holy month with fasting, prayer, and faithful intention.

Ramadan, however, is less a period of atonement than it is a time for Muslims to practice self-restraint, in keeping with ṣawm (Arabic: "to refrain"), one of the pillars of Islam (the five basic tenets of the Muslim religion). Although ṣawm is most commonly understood as the obligation to fast during Ramadan, it is more broadly interpreted as the obligation to refrain between dawn and dusk from food, drink, sexual activity, and all forms of immoral behaviour, including impure or unkind thoughts. Thus, false words or bad deeds or intentions are as destructive of a fast as is eating or drinking.

After the sunset prayer, Muslims gather in their homes or mosques to break their fast with a meal called ifṭār that is often shared with friends and extended family. The ifṭār usually begins with dates, as was the custom of Muhammad, or apricots and water or sweetened milk. There are additional prayers offered at night called the tawarīḥ prayers, preferably performed in congregation at the mosque. During these prayers, the entire Qurʾān may be recited over the course of the month of Ramadan. To accommodate such acts of worship in the evening, work hours are adjusted during the day and sometimes reduced in some Muslim-majority countries. The Qurʾān indicates that eating and drinking are permissible only until the "white thread of light becomes distinguishable from the dark thread of night at dawn." Thus, Muslims in some communities sound drums or ring bells in the predawn hours to remind others that it is time for the meal before dawn, called the suḥūr.

Ṣawm can be invalidated by eating or drinking at the wrong time, but the lost day can be made up with an extra day of fasting. For anyone who becomes ill during the month or for whom travel is required, extra fasting days may be substituted after Ramadan ends. Volunteering, performing righteous works, or feeding the poor can be substituted for fasting if necessary. Able-bodied adults and older children fast during the daylight hours from dawn to dusk. Pregnant or nursing women, children, the old, the weak, travelers on long journeys, and the mentally ill are all exempt from the requirement of fasting.

The end of the Ramadan fast is celebrated as Eid al-Fitr, the "Feast of Fast-Breaking," which is one of the two major religious holidays of the Muslim calendar (the other, Eid al-Adha, marks the end of the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca that all Muslims are expected to perform at least once in their lives if they are financially and physically able). In some communities Eid al-Fitr is quite elaborate: children wear new clothes, special pastries are baked, gifts are exchanged, the graves of relatives are visited, and people gather for family meals and to pray in mosques.

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Ramadan, in Islam, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar and the holy month of fasting. It begins and ends with the appearance of the crescent moon. Islamic tradition states that it was during Ramadan that the Prophet Muhammad received the first revelations of the Quran.

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1. This is reliable source.
2. This article talks about the significance of praying.
3. The purpose is to explain how we pray.

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Prayer is one of the five pillars of Islam. This article by Dr Amjad Hussain explains common features of Islamic prayer, such as the call to prayer, daily timings and the direction of prayer. He also explores the linguistic, geographic and sectarian diversity of prayer in Islam.

In Islam, prayer, supplication, purification and most ritual actions are considered acts of worship ( ʽibadat). The most well-known, and an obligatory, act in Islam is the performance of the five daily prayers, which in Arabic is known as salah (often written salat). In the Qur'an, the Arabic word salah means to demonstrate servitude to God by means of certain actions. The same term is used in many languages throughout contemporary Muslim-majority countries, such as in Malay and Swahili. In other languages, such as Persian, Urdu and Turkish, the term that is commonly used for the ritual prayer is namaz. However, regardless of the term used, the ritual prayer and most other worship is always performed in Arabic throughout the Muslim world and is nearly identical with only slight variations. Different terms reflect the geographical and linguistic diversity of the Muslim world, but the Arabic language unifies them.

Prayer Book from Ghana

This is a finely scribed and illuminated West African copy of the Dalāʾil al-Khayrāt, a popular prayer book by the Moroccan author Muḥammad Ibn Sulaymān al-Jazūlī.

Usage terms

Public Domain in most countries other than the UK.

Prayer book from Aceh

' Inilah doa talqin ', prayer to be read for the dead, from a prayer-book from Aceh, Sumatra, 19th century. If the person is buried on land, then the reader of the prayer should sit by the head of the body, but if the person has died at sea, the prayer can be recited at an appropriate location.

Usage terms

Public Domain in most countries other than the UK.

What does ritual prayer mean in Islam?

By performing this ritual prayer five times a day, Muslims remember their Lord, express their love and respect for Him and invoke and strive to express their gratitude towards Him. The notion is that this activity brings the individual face to face with God and since it is both done in congregation and individually it also emphasises group solidarity as well as being in the presence of God. Whereas the salah is a highly structured form of prayer consisting of facing a distinctive direction, performing specific physical movements and recitations at certain times of the day, there are other prayers such as invocations, supplications and diverse Sufi acts of worship that are much more casual and informal. This article will attempt to offer the reader a general introduction to all of these forms of prayers found within the faith of Islam.

What is the adhan?

Although a Muslim may perform their ritual prayers at the prescribed times wherever he or she may be, it is seen as preferable to pray with a congregation in the mosque. For this specific reason, in the second year of the Hijrah (623-24 CE), i.e. the beginning of Islam in the 7th century, the concept of a call to prayer ( adhan) was introduced by the Prophet Muhammad. This call to prayer was designed to congregate worshippers and remind them that it is time to pray. It is always recited in a loud voice by a person who is generally given the title of muezzin ( muʽadhin). Originally, during the Prophet's time, this call took place in the streets and from the rooftop of the highest houses or the mosque of Medina. Over time the mosques evolved and acquired tall towers called minarets, which are now a renowned symbol of Muslim worship. From there the muezzin used to recite the adhan five times a day; however, nowdays, it is often recited from within the mosque and broadcast by loudspeakers.

How should Muslims prepare for prayer?

In Islam the rules of cleanliness are a matter of sanctity, not just hygiene; for Muslims to perform ritual prayers it is necessary to wash away impurity through ablution. There are mainly two types of impurities according to Islamic law: najasah, which is related to material impurities whereby a person is in proximity to forbidden or unclean things such as bodily substances and alcohol, and hadath, which are personal impurities that are divided into the major and minor. Both najasah and hadath prevent a person from performing acts of worship. The najasah is removed by simply cleaning, generally with water, the impure surface or material. The minor hadath is caused by flatulence, sleeping, going to the toilet and intoxication of any kind and must be removed by performing the minor ablution called wuduʽ.This involves cleansing of the hands, the mouth, the nostrils, the face, the arms, the head, the ears and the feet in a specified way with water. The major hadath is caused by such things as seminal emission, sexual intercourse and menstruation; to deal with major hadath Muslims must perform the major ablution, which consists of a complete bath or shower called ghusl. The notion of ablution emphasises the sanctity related to both the physical and spiritual aspects of life. Once ablution has been performed, the Muslim is ready to commence the ritual prayer.

When should Muslims pray?

According to Islamic law the five ritual prayers are obligatory upon every sane and pubescent Muslim man and woman, and should be performed within their prescribed time periods. The five ritual prayers are prescribed in the Qur'an, but it is the hadiths that specify their times. It is interesting to note that the names of the ritual prayers are related to the times of the day that they are prescribed within,which are: Fajr or Subuh (dawn), Zuhr (afternoon), ʽAsr (late afternoon), Maghrib (just after sunset) and Isha (night). Each salah may be performed by the individual alone or in a group, from the beginning of its time period until the beginning of the period of the following salah, except for Fajr (dawn), which begins at daybreak. On Friday there is also an exception regarding the Zuhr (afternoon) ritual prayer. On Friday the Zuhr salah is known as Jummah, and it is obligatory for men, and recommended for women, to perform this salah with the congregation at the mosque. Nevertheless, there are legitimate reasons for why someone may miss Jummah. Historically, all of the time periods for the ritual prayers, for the whole year, were published in various calendars and almanacs. Today, they are readily accessible on the web and via numerous apps.

An Ottoman Ruzname

The Ruzname was probably produced in Istanbul, modern-day Turkey, in the mid-19th century. It is an almanac for the Hijri year 1225 (1810-11) and includes information about prayer times for each day of the year for the Istanbul region; the days and months of the Islamic calendar; and astrological information. It was created later than the year it refers to, and was probably intended as a souvenir rather than an actual calendar.

How does the qiblah relate to prayer?

When performing the salah all Muslims are obliged to face towards the direction of the Ka'bah in Mecca; this is commonly known as the qiblah (also spelt kiblah).

17th-century depiction of the Holy Shrine of Mecca

The Haram at Mecca with the Kaʻbah in the centre, from a manuscript of Futūḥ al-Ḥaramayn, a poetical description of the holy shrines of Mecca and Medina and the rites of pilgrimage by Muḥyī Lārī.

Usage terms

Public Domain in most countries other than the UK.

All purpose-built mosques are therefore built facing the direction of Mecca with a niche ( mihrab) indicating the direction of the qiblah. In the event that Muslims must perform their ritual prayers elsewhere, they use their prayer rugs in order to assure that they are praying in a clean area. In these cases they have to estimate the direction of the qiblah. Nowadays, Muslims may use a prayer compass or a qiblah app to do this. Historically, detailed qiblah tables were found published alongside works on cosmology.

How do Muslims perform and express reverence in the ritual prayer?

All of the ritual prayers in Islam consist of units or cycles ( rak'ah). The shortest ritual prayer consists of two units and the longest of four units. These units are either farḍ (obligatory) or sunnah (only recommended, but generally done). While standing and facing the qiblah the worshipper makes an intention to perform the salah; this is carried out by stating which prayer is to be performed, how many units ( rak'ah) and intending full-heartedly to perform that worship for the sake of God. If he or she is in a congregation following the imam then this is also specified in the intention. The intention may be articulated in any language but the rest of the prayer must be performed in Arabic. Straight after the intention, the worshipper raises his or her hands beside their head while saying Allahu Akbar ('God is the most great'). The worshipper lowers his or her hands and puts their right hand over the left hand at either the level of the chest or the navel.

This is followed by further words of praise to God, the recitation of al-Fatihah (the first chapter of the Qur'an) and another section of her or his choice from the Qur'an. The rest of the prayer is concluded with various prescribed movements such as bows, prostrations and sitting. The whole ritual prayer ends with the worshipper first turning his head to the right and then to the left, saying 'peace be upon you and the mercy of God'.

How is the Friday congregational prayer different?

The Friday ritual prayer ( Jummah) is performed during the afternoon instead of the normal afternoon prayer, behind an imam in a congregation; it also includes a sermon ( khutbah). The khutbah normally consists of quotations from the Qur'an and the Prophet, the praising of God, supplication for the Prophet and his ummah (Muslims) and normally a topic relating to Islam. Once the sermon is completed the two farḍ rak'ah are performed behind the imam. In Islam, Friday is not commonly recognised by Muslims as a resting day like the Sabbath is in Christianity and Judaism, and in most cases once the Jummah prayer is completed the usual business of the day is resumed.

In what other ways do Muslims reflect on God through worship?

At the end of a prayer the invocation ( dua') is read, following Prophetic tradition ( Sunnah). The dua' consists of raising one's hands, praising God, sending blessings upon the Prophet(s) and then supplicating and asking God for whatever is required; it is traditional to end the invocation by wiping the face with both hands. Many of the supplications are recorded Prophetic supplications, but the dua' is not restricted to only Prophetic supplications. The dua' may also be said at any time (not just as a conclusion to prayer) and ablution is not a requirement. The same applies to the tasbih, which is a form of dhikr (remembrance of God) at any time; it generally consists of repeating the names of God and phrases that praise and exalt God. The reciting of this is traditionally carried out on prayer beads that commonly consist of ninety-nine beads which represent the ninety-nine names of God. These beads are also known as tasbih or misbaha. Based upon Sunnah, it is common for Muslims to repeat thirty-three times three separate praises and exaltations of God on a prayer bead after the completion of the ritual prayer.

Diversity of practice

Although the ritual prayers with ablution, supplication and tasbih are the general structure of a Muslim's worship, there are also other types of prayers, mostly connected with Sufism. Most Sufis, both individually and in gatherings, use the prayer bead ( misbaha) to recite litanies ( wird), invocations and other remembrances of God ( dhikr). In fact, the praising of the Prophet Muhammad and sending peace and blessings upon him, which is also a part of the salah, dua' and the Friday sermon, was further developed by Sufi mystics throughout Islamic history.

Depiction of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina

A devotional prayer-book, Dala'il al-khayrat (Guide to Goodness), a compilation of blessings on the Prophet. Featured here are prayers to be recited on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, respectively.

The Dala'il al-khayrat ('Guide to Goodness') is a compilation of such prayers and litanies of peace and blessings upon the Prophet. Other works such as the book Mawlid sharaf al-anam ('The Birth of the Noblest of Mankind') celebrate the nativity of the Prophet Muhammad and praise him as the final Messenger of God.

Live recording of a kasida (Arabic. Qaṣīdah) forming part of a maulidi performance. Maulidi ( Mawlid) is the observance of the birthday of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad and is normally performed during the month of his birth, the third month in the Islamic calendar. This performance, by the Kilimani Madarasa, was recorded during wedding celebrations in Haji Tumbo in Zanzibar. The kasida begins in Hindi after an introduction by a teacher regarding the diversity of Islamic cultures. During the various stages of the performance, women in the audience show their delight by ululating, and at the end shouts of "More! More!" are heard. Explore this item further.

Written by Amjad M Hussain

Amjad M. Hussain is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Divinity at Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey. Previous to this post, Hussain worked as a Lecturer in Religious Studies at Trinity University College, Carmarthen and later as a Senior Lecturer in Islamic Studies at Trinity Saint David, University of Wales. His published works include, A Social History of Education in the Muslim World: From the Prophetic Era to Ottoman Times (2013), The Study of Religions: An Introduction (2015), The Muslim Creed: A Contemporary Theological Study (2016) and Islam for New Muslims: An Educational Guide (2018).

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Prayer is one of the five pillars of Islam. This article by Dr Amjad Hussain explains common features of Islamic prayer, such as the call to prayer, daily timings and the direction of prayer. He also explores the linguistic, geographic and sectarian diversity of prayer in Islam.

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1. This is a reliable source, it shows real holidays.
2. This article talks about holidays in Islam.
3. The purpose is to explain holidays in our religion.

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Islamic Holidays and Observances

Halal restrictions apply: Islamic dietary laws which apply throughout the year. These restrictions include alcohol and pork.

Note that all holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the date given.

Al-Hijra - Islamic New Year. Marks the end of Mohammad's journey from Mecca to Medina.

Eid ul-Adha - Festival of Sacrifice. This is a four day holiday marking the sacrifice of Abraham. It also highlights the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, called Hajj. Prayer are held at the mosque followed by an evening feast.

Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines on these days. Employees may ask to take a vacation day.

Eid ul-Fitr - End of Muslim Month of Fasting (Ramadan). A celebratory meal on the evening of this day. It is a three day celebration and many will attend early morning prayers, affecting attendance.

Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on the first day.

Prophet's Birthday -- Celebration of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. Celebrations, communal meals and discussions on Islam usually take place on this day.

Ramadan - Muslim Month of Fasting. Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset with the last ten days reserved for possible all night prayer vigils. Attendance should not be affected.

Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities, if possible, on the first day of Ramadan. Be aware that students and employees will be fasting during the day for 30 days.

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LibGuides: Holidays and Observances: Islam

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Islamic Holidays and Observances Halal restrictions apply: Islamic dietary laws which apply throughout the year. These restrictions include alcohol and pork. Note that all holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the date given. Al-Hijra - Islamic New Year. Marks the end of Mohammad's journey from Mecca to Medina.

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Muslims have two major religious observances each year, Ramadan and the Hajj, and several holidays connected with each one. All Islamic holidays are observed according to the lunar-based Islamic calendar.

Each year, corresponding with the ninth month of the lunar calendar, Muslims spend a month in daytime fasting. This observance is called Ramadan. From dawn to sunset during this month, Muslims abstain from food, liquids, smoking, and sex. This fast is an extremely important aspect of the Muslim faith: in fact, it is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

Toward the end of Ramadan, Muslims observe the "Night of Power" in commemoration of the time when the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed to Muhammad.

At the end of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate the "Festival of Fast-Breaking." On the day of Eid, fasting is prohibited. The end of Ramadan is generally celebrated by a ceremonial fast-breaking, as well as the performance of the Eid prayer in an open, outdoor area or mosque.

Each year during the 12th month of the Islamic calendar, millions of Muslims make an annual pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Muhammad. This pilgrimage is known as the Hajj.

During the ninth day of the Hajj, the holiest day in Islam, pilgrims gather at the Plain of Arafat to seek God's mercy, and Muslims elsewhere fast for the day. Muslims around the world gather at mosques for a solidarity prayer.

At the end of the annual pilgrimage, Muslims celebrate the "Festival of Sacrifice." It includes a ritual sacrifice of a sheep, camel, or goat, an action meant to commemorate the trials of the Prophet Abraham.

Other Muslim Holy Days

Other than these two major observances and their corresponding celebrations, there are no other universally observed Islamic holidays. Some Muslims acknowledge other events from Islamic history, which are considered holidays by some but not all Muslims:

Islamic New Year: 1 Muharram

Al-Hijra, the first day of Muharram, marks the beginning of the Islamic New Year. The date was chosen to commemorate Muhammad's hijra to Medina, a key moment in Islamic theological history.

The Ashura marks the anniversary of the death of Husein, the grandson of Muhammad. Celebrated mainly by Shi'ite Muslims, the date is commemorated by fasting, blood donation, and performances.

Mawlid an-Nabi: 12 Rabia' Awal

Mawlid al-Nabim, celebrated on the 12th of Rabiulawal, marks the birth of Muhammad in A.D. 570. The holy day is celebrated in different ways by different Islamic sects. Some Muslims choose to commemorate Muhammad's birth with gift-giving and feasts, while others condemn this behavior for being idolatrous.

Some Muslims commemorate Muhammad's journey from Mecca to Jerusalem, followed by his ascent to heaven and return to Mecca, on the two holy nights of Isra' and Mi'raj. They celebrate this holiday by offering prayers.

Holiday Dates for 2019 and 2020

Islamic dates are based on a lunar calendar, so corresponding Gregorian dates may vary by one or two days from what is listed here.

Isra' & Mi'raj:

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Sunday, March 22, 2020

Ramadan:

Wednesday, June 5 to Friday, July 5, 2019

Friday, April 24 to Sunday, May 24, 2020

Eid al-Fitr

Friday, July 5, 2019

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Hajj:

Friday, August 9 to Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Tuesday, July 28 to Sunday, August 2, 2020

Day of Arafat:

Saturday, August 10, 2019

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Eid al-Adha:

Saturday, August 10 to Sunday, August 11, 2019

Thursday, July 30 to Friday, July 31, 2020

Islamic New Year 1438 AH.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Ashura:

Monday, September 9, 2019

Friday, August 28, 2020

Mawlid an-Nabi:

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

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Muslims have two major religious observances each year, Ramadan and the Hajj, and several holidays connected with each one. All Islamic holidays are observed according to the lunar-based Islamic calendar. Each year, corresponding with the ninth month of the lunar calendar, Muslims spend a month in daytime fasting.

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