It's the last week of Ramadan. Al-Hamdulillah! (Praise God!) During the last 10 days, Muslims celebrate the Laylat-al-Qadr (Night of Power). It is believed that on this night the Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Holy Qur'an. Some Muslims spend the last 10 nights in solid devotion and retreat to the mosque to read the Qur'an. Ramadan is forecasted to end on Sunday, 20 September 2009, which will depend on the sighting of the new moon. The end of the fasting period is celebrated for three days in a holiday called Eid-al-Fitr (Feast of Fast-Breaking), more commonly referred to as "Eid". During Eid, parents (or charitable benefactors) give children gifts (money and new clothes), and friends and family gather for large meals and congregational prayers (analogous to our Christmas). This year's Ramadan has been more physically challenging than usual. This was the first Ramadan in 33 years that was held in the summer. The next several years will continue to be challenging, as Ramadan is observed in the sweltering heat. Ramadan moves ahead each year by 11 days contingent upon the sighting of the new moon. As the upcoming 4-day holiday weekend approaches in celebration of Eid, I'll be celebrating it exploring archaeological sites in Athens, Greece.... Inshallah! (God Willing!)
Monday, September 14, 2009
Countdown to Eid
It's the last week of Ramadan. Al-Hamdulillah! (Praise God!) During the last 10 days, Muslims celebrate the Laylat-al-Qadr (Night of Power). It is believed that on this night the Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Holy Qur'an. Some Muslims spend the last 10 nights in solid devotion and retreat to the mosque to read the Qur'an. Ramadan is forecasted to end on Sunday, 20 September 2009, which will depend on the sighting of the new moon. The end of the fasting period is celebrated for three days in a holiday called Eid-al-Fitr (Feast of Fast-Breaking), more commonly referred to as "Eid". During Eid, parents (or charitable benefactors) give children gifts (money and new clothes), and friends and family gather for large meals and congregational prayers (analogous to our Christmas). This year's Ramadan has been more physically challenging than usual. This was the first Ramadan in 33 years that was held in the summer. The next several years will continue to be challenging, as Ramadan is observed in the sweltering heat. Ramadan moves ahead each year by 11 days contingent upon the sighting of the new moon. As the upcoming 4-day holiday weekend approaches in celebration of Eid, I'll be celebrating it exploring archaeological sites in Athens, Greece.... Inshallah! (God Willing!)
