ramadan

Ramadan Target: What is important about Ramadan?

L/O Pupils will know what Muslims do at Ramadan.

Pupils will understand why Ramadan is so important to Muslims.

RECALL – What are the Five Pillars?

What Is It? • Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. The Month of Ramadan is also when it is believed the Holy Quran "was sent down from heaven, a guidance unto men, a declaration of direction, and a means of Salvation" • What do you think this mean?

The Ninth Month • It is during this month that Muslims fast. It is called the Fast of Ramadan and lasts the entire month. Ramadan is a time when Muslims concentrate on their faith and spend less time on the concerns of their everyday lives. It is a time of worship and contemplation

Rules • During the Fast of Ramadan strict restraints are placed on the daily lives of Muslims. They are: • Not allowed to eat or drink during the daylight hours.

• Smoking and sexual relations are also forbidden during fasting.

• Those who are too young, old, ill or pregnant are exempt from participating in the fast.

• At the end of the day the fast is broken with prayer and a meal called the iftar. In the evening following the iftar it is customary for Muslims to go out visiting family and friends. The fast is resumed the next morning.

According to the Holy Quran: One may eat and drink at any time during the night "until you can plainly distinguish a white thread from a black thread by the daylight: then keep the fast until night"

Ruining Ramadan • The good that is acquired through the fast can be destroyed by five things • • • • •

the telling of a lie slander denouncing someone behind his back a false oath greed or covetousness

The Mosque • During Ramadan, it is common for Muslims to go to the Masjid (Mosque) and spend several hours praying and studying the Quran. • In addition to the five daily prayers, during Ramadan Muslims recite a special prayer called the Taraweeh prayer (Night Prayer).

The length of this prayer is usually 2-3 times as long as the daily prayers. Some Muslims spend the entire night in prayer

Celebration • When the fast ends (the first day of the month of Shawwal) it is celebrated for three days in a holiday called Id-al-Fitr (the Feast of Fast Breaking). Gifts are exchanged. Friends and family gather to pray in congregation and for large meals. In some cities fairs are held to celebrate the end of the Fast of Ramadan.

What happens if I fail?

• Young children, pregnant women, the elderly and the sick are exempt from Ramadan.

• If you break your fast, you add the number of days broken to the end of Ramadan – This could mean missing Id! • Remember – There is no point cheating – Fasting during Ramadan fulfils one of the five pillars – If you break one, your religious structure and commitment are broken, no one else’s!

What do I get out of it? • A reminder that there are those less fortunate than you. (hungrier and poorer) • A reminder that we are all equal (We all suffer hunger whether we are rich or poor!) • A Muslim becomes stronger mentally having completed such a task.

• Ramadan takes place……………………….

• It is done because……………………………

• There are restrictions on diet.

You must not………

• You would ruin Ramadan if you………….

• eat between sunrise and sunset.

• it focuses Muslims minds on the poor and hungry.

• denounce someone.

• tell a lie.

• it reminds Muslims that they are all equal, regardless of wealth • in the ninth month • are greedy.

Activity 2 and Homework • Use the following gift cards to produce your own Ramadan greeting.

What do you know?

• I know what Ramadan is.

• I can give two reasons why Muslims complete Ramadan.

• I can explain how completing Ramadan makes a Muslim a kinder, considerate person. (I can use the word “focus” here)