Ramadan is an Islamic festival celebrated by all Muslims every year. The people observe a one-month fasting period as a sacred time for self-enhancement with utmost devotion towards Allah. And it is believed that during this holy month, the gates of heaven are opened and hells are supposedly closed. Laylat-al-qadr in Arabic which translates to the ‘night of power/destiny’ is believed to be the night when the holy Quran was brought to the world and Allah had revealed the first verses to Prophet Mohammed. Ramadan (fasting) is also said to be one of the 5 pillars of Islam, while the other four are: shahadah (faith) salat, (five daily prayers), zakat (charity), and hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).
Fasting in Ramadan relates to a lot more things than just the historic expressions. There are some aspects that remind us that one is dependent on God for survival and susceptibility. It is to make one realize that even if one is hungry, one should feel a need to help the unfortunate. It also insists on serving the needy, like a duty. It is said that following these ideals helps one keep calm and away from all the distractions so that one can develop a better connection with the almighty.
Fasting
The fasting process is the same for shia and sunni Muslims. All Muslims, except the ones who are pregnant, ill, or are children, are required to do this one-month fast from dawn to dusk. Any kind of food or liquids is strictly prohibited during this period.
Iftar: This is the time of ‘breaking the daily fast’ at sunset. People offer their evening prayers and break their fasts, mostly with a snack or small meal.
Sahoor or Sehri: Before dawn, people who are fasting have to consume a heavy meal. It is often eaten before the Fajr Namaz (first prayer).
Instead of eating 3 times a day, people are allowed to eat only during these two times.
So, if you’re fasting this Ramadan, here are the things you should know:
Do’s
Don’ts
Eid-ul-Fitr marks the official ‘breaking of fast’ on the last day of this holy month. Eid is all about great food, a celebration with friends, family, and happiness all around. We’re going to be back soon with scoops and interesting recipes for Eid too. Stay tuned!
Till then, Ramadan Mubarak! :)
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor is the most celebrated face of Indian cuisine. He is Chef extraordinaire, runs a successful TV Channel FoodFood, hosted Khana Khazana cookery show on television for more than 17 years, author of 150+ best selling cookbooks, restaurateur and winner of several culinary awards. He is living his dream of making Indian cuisine the number one in the world and empowering women through power of cooking to become self sufficient. His recipe portal www.sanjeevkapoor.com is a complete cookery manual with a compendium of more than 10,000 tried & tested recipes, videos, articles, tips & trivia and a wealth of information on the art and craft of cooking in both English and Hindi.
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