COVID -19 Vs EID 2020: How to Celebrate Ramazan 2020?

Ramadan 2020

Ramadan; the holy month of Islamic calendar. Ramadan can also be renamed as Ramzan, Ramathan etc. It has different names in different regions of the world. This holy month is referred as ninth month of Islamic calendar. The holy month “Ramadan” came into existence when the holy book “The Quran” was revealed. The book was revealed in the ninth month of Islamic Calender. Muslims believe that this holy book “Quran” was the message sent by God(Allah). They believe that thus holy book was revealed by Angel Gabriel to Prophet Muhammad in 610CE. Prophet Muhammad was a religious person. He is the founder of Islam. He was a prophet ;sent to preach the paganism teaching who originated from Arab.

How will Ramadan be in 2020 ?

Ramadan, the holy and most sacred months of muslims. As people undergo various religious performances like prayers, fasting and various good deeds.This month is most adorable and grateful time for muslim community all over the world as it brings joy and happiness in all the category of muslim to celebrate.

This year, 2020, has become a worldwide disaster because of the well-known COVID-19 outbreak. It is been a very difficult time for muslims, to carryout many religious events of the Eid. For instance, the prayer at the night held at the mosques, i.e., Taraweeh , where muslims gather in large number. Taraweeh is performed every night in order to seek forgiveness for sins done. And many other events have been stopped due to the current situation.

In such scenario all followers of Allah, pray in their Home by Maintaining Social Distancing. Muslims follow the rules and regulation forwarded by Indian Government, and have cancelled the performances all over the country by following social distancing.

The Holy Month- Ramzan:

“Ramadan” is the religious month, where Muslims purely follow the religious rules. They believe that, the Eid begins with the visibility of the moon, during the last days of the previous month. According to the religious calendar, they believe Ramzan begins with the phases of the moon and lasts for 30 long days. The beginning and ending of the Eid is based on the gesture of the moon.

Muslims eagerly wait to spot the moon at the early period of 9^th month. The birth of the moon at the primary stage is very tiny i.e., nail like structure (also called crescent shape) which is very difficult to spot in a naked eye. Muslims wait for the arrival of the moon with the positive mindset and enthusiastic, since it is most auspicious moment to begin the Ramzan and is termed as holy tradition. Once the moon is sighted, the Ramzan begins and a special celebration is made called “Chand Raat”(beginning of Eid).

This phase of observing the moon is followed by the Muslims all over the world.

After the night, the very next day the custom of SAWM (fasting) is followed. The word SAWM is also known as “ROZAH”.  This holy month is also called as the “Month of Fasting”. During ROZAH, Muslims follow fasting which is fard  (compulsory). All Muslim people  who are physically or mentally ill, who are travelling, eldery, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, diabetic and menstruating women etc, do not follow the SAWM.

All people are physically and mentally fit and strong have to follow the tradition of SAWM as the spiritual belief and devotion.

Ramdan Fasting 2020?

It has been practiced not only muslims but also other religions such as Christianity, Judaism, confucainism, Hinduism, Taoism. In Quran the practice of fasting is mentioned.

 It is stated in the Quran that Allah says “O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may develop God-consciousness” (Quran 2:183).

“Firstly fasting is primarily an exercise, for a given period of time, in order to form spiritual discipline and self control”.

Fasting is regarded as one of the “5 pillars of Islam”.

During the period of ROZAH, one must avoid eating and drinking from fajr or sehri  (dawn) maghrib (dusk). It is considered that the fasting must begin before the sun rise and end at the darkness of the night.

How to Start ROZAH :

Prayer before starting the fast:

“Nawaietu Un Asooma Ghadan Lillahi

Ta’aalaa Min Faradi Ramadaanaa Haazaa”.

  { Meaning: I intended for the sake of Allah , that I will observe obligatory fast of this Ramadan tomorrow.}

Muslims start the period of fasting, by having the pre-dawn meal called suhur or sehri or sahari, which is the meal consumed early in the morning before the morning prayer (fajr prayer or adhan). There is no restricting in the morning meal as they can eat anything which is full of fiber and heavy nutritious food which keeps them strong throughout the day. After the sehri, muslims pray and hence no food intake must be consumed.

Niyat or Niyyah

Niyat , which means determination or intention to fast. It is very important for muslims to have determination to begin the sawm and complete it successfully. There is custom of saying the word Niyat after consuming the food in sehri{dawn}. It is just not saying the word,but muslims sincerily pray with emphatic devotion to be actually blessed. It is said duing the sehri prayer, they ask God(Allah) to grant them to have a good day and have good health for the rest of the fasting hours till iftari(dusk) .

It is also said, during the iftari, before breaking the fasting as the token of “thank you” to Allah for helping to complete the sawm.

Do/Don’t During Ramadan 2020 Fasting

• During the duration of fasting , muslims should avoid eating, drinking and having sexual intercourse (Janaba) or get intimate with their partner etc.
• In addition to this, mulims must avoid ignorant and indescent speech, giving bad words, arguing or fighting, having lustful thoughts etc.
• Without respecting the above deeds, sawm leans to be useless and can be resulted as an act of being undernourished.
• According to Quran, fasting is permitted only to healthy adults, youngsters, and not permitted to one who’s life is potentially dangerous.
• If the fasting is broken intentionally, it must be made up by fidyah  (religious donation) of money or food which is helpful for the fasting people who requires financial help.
• If fasting is broken unintentionally, they can continue fasting for the rest of day. In case of menstruating, she can complete the remaining swam’s whenever she can before the next coming month or after the Eid.

COVID -19 Vs  EID 2020: How to Celebrate Ramazan 2020?

Helping Needy : During the holy month of Ramzan, helping the needy and charity to poor is one of the most godliness worships.

Breaking the oath: If anyone breaks the oath deliberately, one must offer kaffara (expiration of sin) by being a slave or by offering clothing or by feeding 10 and more needy people. If not done, fasting for 3 more extra days is prescribed instead.

End of Rozah : When breaking the fast:

“Allah umma laka sumtu wa’ala

Rizqika aftartu”

 {Meaning: O Allah, for you I’ve been fasting and with your permission I have broken my fast}

At the end of the day, before breaking the swam i.e, after maghrib (dusk) , the meal is consumed. It is traditionally called as iftar. Before the breaking swam, the prophets in the mosque announces to break the Rozah . These sehri and maghrib prayer time have their own astronomical definations, as mentioned in hadith{in Islam it refers to what muslims believe to be record of words, actions, as the approval of Islamic prophet Muhammad}.  

Benefits of fasting In Ramadan 2020:

Fasting is one of the most constant practice in Islam and it is very much beneficial to the health of a person. Muslims believe, swam as the method of purification. Any sins done , wantedly or unwantedly, can be purified by successfully completing the 30days fasting.

During these 30days, muslims keep away all the luxurious and comfort lives apart and follow the path of Allah. Muslims believe;

1) by fasting, the person gains sympathy and achieves growth in his life by fasting .

2) by fasting, the person learns discipline, patience, overcome anger issues, etc and other good values.

       In other way, Muslims encourage themselves to read the holy book “Quran” and get it completed in a 30days, as it believed as the most treasured way to show the devotion.

They even perform special ritual prayers called as Tarawih in the Mosques, the religious holy centers. This prayer is held every night of the holy month. The prayer involves reading one Juz’, and usually is 8 to 10 raka’at, lasting well over an hour in total.

On the day of Ramzan Eid , there will be special prayer in the mosques all over world. People wear new clothes and go to prayer in the morning. Muslims hug  and wish each other. In their homes, delicious food like rich biryanis ,curry etc and sweets like sheerkhurma ,phirni etc is being prepared.  They invite friends and family for the daawat (lunch). Even sweets made of dates, dryfruits are made and shared and eaten The grand celebration of the Eid is due to the blessings gained by God Allah, as they have been fasting for the month .It is day of celebration and thanksgiving. 

   Many people celebrate Eid in their own traditional way and some follow the modern customs. They wish their family and friends through phone calls and also through many social networks and chatting sites online. They send “EID MUBARAK” to family and friends. Muslims even decorate their homes with home decors and make their houses beautiful with lights and flowers. They invite their beloved and plan for a party. People enjoy this day by spending time with friends and family.