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RAMADAN

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Originally appearing in Volume V22, Page 872 of the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.
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RAMADAN , the See also:

month of the See also:Mahommedan See also:year in which See also:absolute See also:fasting from See also:dawn to sunset is required. The See also:law is laid down in See also:Koran ii. 179—184, and is as follows: A fast had always been a See also:part of See also:religion. In See also:Islam it was to fall in this month because in it the Koran was revealed, and it was holier than the others. It was to begin when the new See also:moon was actually seen, and last until sight of the next new moon; to extend each See also:day from the See also:time when a See also:white See also:thread could be distinguished from a See also:black one and until nightfall; to be absolute in that time as to See also:food, drink, See also:women. The daytime should be passed, by preference, in See also:retreat (i 'tikaf ) in the See also:mosque in pious exercises; during the See also:night all other-See also:wise lawful things to be lawful. The sick and those on a See also:journey might be excused, but should fast thereafter an See also:equivalent number of days. Unexcused breaking of the fast might be atoned for by feeding of the poor. The last ten days of the month are regarded as especially sacred; these See also:Mahomet himself used to pass in retreat. In the course of them falls the " Night of See also:Decree," or " of See also:Power " (Koran xc. I), but its exact date is not known. On it intercourse between See also:heaven and See also:earth is peculiarly open, and many wonders take See also:place.

Fasting in Ramadan is reckoned one of the five pillars, or absolute requirements, of Islam. It is followed by the Lesser Festival, the first three days of the month Shauwal (see See also:

BAIRAM). Naturally, during it all the activities of See also:life are reduced to a minimum, and those who can afford it turn night into day as much as possible. For details see See also:Hughes, See also:Dictionary of Islam, 533 ff. ; Sell, Faith of Islam, 279 ff. ; See also:Sprenger, Leben Mohammads, iii. 56 ff. ; Snouck Hurgronje, Mekka, 51, 77 ff.; Meakin, The See also:Moors, 247 ff.; Juynboll, De Mohammedaansche Wet, Io8 if. (D. B.

End of Article: RAMADAN

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