Ramada

n
Ramadan--the ninth month in the
Islamic calendar when Muslims fast
from dawn to dusk and engage in
the spiritual reflection of God--is
one of the most easily identifiable
aspects of the religion. Fasting,
which is typically the avoidance of
food and/or drink, is part of most
world religions. But fasting in
Ramadan is a special part of the
Islamic faith, one of its five pillars,
and a time when rewards for
fasting and worship are bountiful.

Ramadan Pictures:

PRAYER:
Allahumma inni asaluka birahmatika
al-lati wasiat kulli shayin an taghfira
li.

Oh Allah, I ask You by Your

mercy which envelopes all
things, that You forgive me.

Dear Allah, I hope that on the next

Ramadan, youll help us all
Muslims, to be able to do what we
are supposed to do on our mercy,
Amen

Eid al-Fitr

Eid al-Fitr falls on the first day of Shawwal,

the month which follows Ramadan in the
Islamic calendar. It is a time to give in
charity to those in need, and celebrate
with family and friends the completion of
a month of blessings and joy.
+
Before the day of Eid, during the last few
days of Ramadan, each Muslim family
gives a determined amount as a donation
to the poor. This donation is of actual food
-- rice, barley, dates, rice, etc. -- to ensure
that the needy can have a holiday meal
and participate in the celebration. This

donation is known as sadaqah al-fitr

(charity of fast-breaking).

EId Al-Fitr Pictures:

PRAYER:

Dear Allah, I pray, for this Eid al-Fitr

that we have done our mission. I
thank you for giving this
opportunity, Thank you. Amen.

Prayer for Forgiveness

Ramadan is a time when Muslims are told through the Quran and in
hadiths that God will absolve them of their sins if they engage in
sincere worship and repentance. The following prayer is a good one to
recite during Ramadan to ask for Allahs forgiveness:

Allahumma inni asaluka birahmatika al-lati wasiat kulli shayin an

taghfira li.
Oh Allah, I ask You by Your mercy which envelopes all things, that You
forgive me.
This is a prayer that Abdullah ibn Amar, a companion of the Prophet
Muhammad, used to recite as he was breaking his fast,

Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr (Arabic: d al-Fir, IPA: [id al fitr], "festival of
breaking of the fast"), also called Feast of Breaking the Fast, the Sugar
Feast, Bayram (Bajram), the Sweet Festival[2] and the Lesser Eid, is an
important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that
marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting (sawm).
The religious Eid is a single day during which Muslims are not
permitted to fast. The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30
days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan.
The day of Eid, therefore, falls on the first day of the month of
Shawwal. This is a day when Muslims around the world show a
common goal of unity. The date for the start of any lunar Hijri month
varies based on the observation of new moon by local religious
authorities, so the exact day of celebration varies by locality. However,
in most countries, it is generally celebrated on the same day as Saudi
Arabia.
Eid al-Fitr has a particular Salat (Islamic prayer) consisting of two
Rakats (units) and generally offered in an open field or large hall. [3] It
may be performed only in congregation (Jamaat) and, has an
additional extra six Takbirs (raising of the hands to the ears while
saying "Allhu Akbar", literally "God is greatest"), three of them in the
beginning of the first raka'ah and three of them just before Ruku' in the
second raka'ah in the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam. [4] Other Sunni
schools usually have twelve Takbirs, seven in the first, and five at the
beginning of the second raka'ah. This Eid al-Fitr salat is, depending on
which juristic opinion is followed, Fard (obligatory), Mustahabb
(strongly recommended, just short of obligatory) or mandoob
(preferable).
Muslims believe that they are commanded by Allah, as mentioned in
the Quran, to continue their fast until the last day of Ramadan [5] and
pay the Zakat and fitra before offering the Eid prayers.
Waqf Al Arafa Hajj
The Day of Arafah (Arabic: ) is an Islamic Holy Day, in which the
verse of the Qur'an was revealed which explained that is said that the
religion had been perfected. The Day falls on the 9th day of Dhul Hijja (
) of the lunar Islamic Calendar. This happens to be approximately
70 days after the end of the month of Ramadan. It is the second day of
the Hajj pilgrimage and the day after is the first day of the major
Islamic Holiday of Eid ul-Adha. At dawn of this day, Muslim pilgrims will
make their way from Mina to a nearby hillside and plain called Mount
Arafat and the Plain of `Arafah. It was from this site that Muhammad
gave his famous Farewell Sermon in his final year of life.
There are numerous virtues claimed for the 9th of Dhu l-Hijjah which is
known as yawm al-Arafah. This is the day where the pilgrims assemble

on the plain of Arafah to complete one of the essential rituals of the

Hajj.
It is claimed that this is the day the religion was perfected and the
blessings of Allah were complete. The following verse was revealed to
Muhammad on the day of Arafah: Allah says: Today, I have perfected
your religion for you, and have completed My blessing upon you, and
chosen Islam as Dn (religion and a way of life) for you. (Al Maidah:
V3)
The completion of Allahs blessing refers to forgiveness for ones sins by
Allah, as without it the blessings of Allah cannot be complete. This
brings to light the importance of being forgiven by Allah.
Those not performing pilgrimage are permitted to fast on Arafah day, it
is expected that Allah will expiate the sins committed the previous
year.
Prayer for Forgiveness
Ramadan is a time when Muslims are told through the Quran and in
hadiths that God will absolve them of their sins if they engage in
sincere worship and repentance. The following prayer is a good one to
recite during Ramadan to ask for Allahs forgiveness:

Allahumma inni asaluka birahmatika al-lati wasiat kulli shayin an

taghfira li.

Oh Allah, I ask You by Your mercy which envelopes all things, that You
forgive me.

This is a prayer that Abdullah ibn Amar, a companion of the Prophet

Muhammad, used to recite as he was breaking his fast, as reported by
Ibn abi Mulaykah.

Ramadhan
Ramadhan
Ramadan--the ninth month in the Islamic calendar when Muslims fast
from dawn to dusk and engage in the spiritual reflection of God--is one
of the most easily identifiable aspects of the religion. Fasting, which is
typically the avoidance of food and/or drink, is part of most world
religions. But fasting in Ramadan is a special part of the Islamic faith,
one of its five pillars, and a time when rewards for fasting and worship
are bountiful.

A companion once asked the Prophet Muhammad what deed he could

do to attain entrance to paradise. The prophet advised him to fast. But
this hadith (verified saying of the Prophet Muhammad) goes on to say
that just hunger and thirst alone will not yield spiritual enlightenment
and reward. The act of sincere prayer and worship must accompany it.
With this in mind, here are ten prayers one can recite during Ramadan
to become closer to God.
Prayer for Forgiveness
Ramadan is a time when Muslims are told through the Quran and in
hadiths that God will absolve them of their sins if they engage in
sincere worship and repentance. The following prayer is a good one to
recite during Ramadan to ask for Allahs forgiveness:

Allahumma inni asaluka birahmatika al-lati wasiat kulli shayin an

taghfira li.

Oh Allah, I ask You by Your mercy which envelopes all things, that You
forgive me.

Reference:
http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Islam/2009/08/Ten-Prayers-forRamadan.aspx

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/02/our-common-rituals-lentenseason-and-ramadhan/