Ramadan

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In the Muslim calendar, the ninth month of the year. Ramadan follows a lunar year and occurs 11 days earlier each solar year. Throughout Ramadan a strict fast (sawm) is observed during the hours of daylight. On the Night of Power (Lailat al-Qadr), which falls during the last ten days of the month, the Koran states that a Muslim who prays throughout the night will receive the benefits of praying for a thousand nights. For Muslims, this prayer vigil commemorates the night when Muhammad first received his revelations from the angel Jibra'el (Gabriel).

For the month of Ramadan, tarawith prayers are said after the fifth salat of the day. The reading of the whole Koran is encouraged. Most Muslims go to a mosque for the duration of the Night of Power. A Muslim may also spend some of the last days of Ramadan in total seclusion, sometimes in a mosque.

Ramadan ends with the feast of Eid ul-Fitr, and thanks to God for giving both the strength to complete the fast, and for giving the Koran.

The points of the star represent the first seven verses of the Koran. Red, black, white, and green became the pan-Arab colours. Effective date: 16 April 1928. >>