2015 RAMADAN STARTS TOMORROW IF ...

Muslims the world over would begin the observance of the holy month of Ramadan on Wednesday (June 17, 2015) but that would be subject to the sighting of the Ramadan moon (i.e. Hilal) tonight.

Today (June 16) per the Islamic (Hijri) calendar is the 29^th day of Sha'ban (the month that precedes Ramadan). According to Islamic tradition, Muslims are supposed to look out for the new moon on the night of the 29^th. If it is sighted, the next day marks the first of Ramadan.

In case the moon is not seen on 29^th, Muslims are to complete the month of Sha'ban with the 30^th day (i.e. tomorrow June 17) in which case Ramadan automatically kicks in the next day; Thursday June 18, 2015

The 29 or 30 days calculation of Islamic dates is as a result of the calendar being lunar, as compared to the Gregorian which is solar and with fixed days. The start and completion of an Islamic month is dependent on the sighting of a new moon.

In the past, the Office of the National Chief Imam (ONCI) constituted a body of scholars (the Hilal Committee) to give directions on when Muslims in Ghana should commence their fast; their communiqué in some part, helped to project when Ramadan ends because of the statutory holiday that follows the period (Eidul Fitr)

Unfortunately for this year, nothing has been heard of the Committee being instituted or any such communication from the Chief Imam's office. What most Muslims can bet on, is to monitor the news and expect a communication from the Chief Imam as has usually been the case over the past years.

What is Ramadan?

It is the ninth month of the Hijri calendar, during which period Muslims are expected to abstain from food, drink, marital relations and any act that could vitiate the validity of their fast.

Fasting is also the fourth pillar of the religion, coming behind the testimony of faith, the establishment of prayer and the giving of poor due. The fifth pillar is the pilgrimage to Makkah which is observed in the eleventh and twelfth months of the hijri calendar.

The typical Ramadan day starts with Muslims waking up early to take their pre dawn meal (suhoor), they go the whole day observing all rules of the period and increasing in acts of worship and prayer till sunset when they break their fasts with the iftaar.

At the end of 29 or 30 days of fasting, the period is crowned with the 'Eid ul Fitr' or Fast Breaking Feast, during which times prayers are said and a lot of merry is made to commemorate the completion of the fast.

Shaban Abdur Rahman Alfa

29th Sha'ban 1436 = 16th June, 2015

Tuesday

Ramadan1436 Quiz #14

1. Which prophet in history could possibly have fasted half a year?

(a) Prophet Dawud

(b) Prophet Ayoob

2. A person who intentionally breaks his fast in Ramadan attracts penalty termed?

(a) Kaffaara

(b) Kabaa’ir

3. The first option of pardon in question 2 is?

(a) Feed sixty people at a go

(b) Fast for 60 days consecutively

4. The penalty option that can hardly be applied in our time is?

(a) undertake the jihad against enemies of Islam

(b) buy and release a slave

Yaa Allah forgive, aid, guide, guard and protect us and grant us entry to jannah through Ar Rayyaan.

Ramadan1436 Quiz #13

1. Yawmu Shaqq means ‘day of doubt’ over which matter is this doubt?

(a) whether Ramadan has started or has ended.

(b) whether your fast has been invalidated or not

2. If a person mistakenly eats during fasting, it is presumed that….?

(a) the angels have blessed him

(b) Allah Almighty has fed him

3. The last ten days of Ramadan is famous for one particular incident

(a) Freedom from hell

(b) Lailatul Qadr

4. Lailatul Qadr is equal to a 1000 months. TRUE/ FALSE

5. How many years can be gotten from 1000 months (estimate)

(a) 80 years

(b) 83 years

May Allah accept and reward our very feeble attempts at obeying HIS very easy dictates but for our weaknesses. Yaa Allah, forgive us our trespasses. Ameen

Ramadan1436 Quiz #12

1. The three days after eidul adha are known as?

(a) Ay-yaam Tashreeq

(b) Ay-yaam al Beed

2. A Muslim is permitted to single out Fridays for fasting? TRUE/ FALSE

3. A Muslim cannot single out only Saturday for fasting. TRUE/ FALSE

4. A married woman can only perform an optional fast on one condition; what is this?

Yaa Allahu Yaa Muqeet (Keeper of accounts) grant us the strength to know, do, spread and act upon truth. Accept our fast yaa Rabb!

Wa bil Laahi Tawfeeq!

Ramadan1436 Quiz #11

Complete the Hadith:

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Allah the Exalted said: Every (i) ............ of the son of Adam is for him except (ii) ............, for it is done for My sake and I will (iii) ............. it .”

The Prophet added, “By Allah in whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad, the breath of a fasting person is (iv) ............ to Allah than the fragrance of (v) .............”

Sahih Muslim

2. Which Sahabi related this hadith?

3. What is miswak n what are two benefits of it?

As you fill these blanks, may Allah fill our book of deeds with hasanaat n ajzaa. Trekking on tracks to jannah via HIS rahma. Wa bil Laahi Tawfeeq!

Ramadan1436 Quiz #10

1. [Al-Baqarah 2:185]

“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the (a) ................., a guidance for (b) ................. and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights the  (c) ................. of the month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at

his home), he must observe Sawm (fasts) that month…”

(Answers: mankind, Qur’an, crescent)

2. From al-Saheehayn, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are (a) .............. and the gates of (b) ............ are closed, and the (c) ................ are chained up.”

3. Which companion of the prophet related the above?

4. What is the saheehayn?

May Allah grant us beneficial ilm n save us from ilm without benefit. Y a Allahu yaa Allah!

Wa bil Laahi Tawfeeq!

Ramadan1436 Quiz #9

1. Fasting is not compulsory for the ff, give their English equivalent

A. Majnoon =

B. Aajiz =

C. Haarim =

2. Give the Arabic equivalent of these class of people NOT supposed to fast

A. Disbeliever =

B. Immature =

3. Feeding as a substitute for fasting is known as?

(a) Twa’aam

(b) It’aam

4. The Arabic term for repayment of missed fasts is?

(a) Dainun

(b) Qadaa’u

Allahu Al Aleemul Khabeer; the All Knowing n All Aware grant us ilmul Islam with baraka as we go about our harakah. To know and to do. Ameen

Ramadan1436 Quiz #8

1. With what did Rasool break his fast. Rate in order of the most important. 1 - 3

(a) dried dates

(b) water

(c) wet dates

2. What is the reward for someone who feeds a feeding person at iftaar?

(a) He will never lack anything till the next Ramadan

(b) He will get same reward as the fasting person got

3. The highly recommended but optional prayers said after Ishae salaat in

Ramadan is called?

(a) Taraaweeh

(b) Salaat Asham

4. Ramadan was made for Ummatu Rasul

TRUE/FALSE explain briefly

May Allah be our aid, guide, guard and protector now till, during and after Ramadan. Ameen.

Ramadan1436 Quiz #7

1. What volume of Qur'an read daily can help a person complete the Qur'an

in Ramadan?

(a) Juz’i

(b) Hizb

2. The door through which people who fasted shall enter jannah is?

(a) Ar Raihaan

(b) Ar Rayyaan

3. Which of the following cannot intercede for man on the day of judgment?

(a) Qur'an

(b) Ramadan

(c) Zakaat

4. What advice did Rasool give to a fasting person if another angers him whilst fasting?

(a) I won’t mind you insha Allah

(b) I am fasting, I am fasting

May our fasts be accepted by Allah and my we be duly rewarded for our feeble efforts. Ameen

Ramadan1436 Quiz #6

Which announcement heralds the start and completion of every daily fast?

(a) Adhan

(b) As salaatu

2. Rasool said whoever fasts with two things shall have all his sins forgiven. What are these?

(a) faith and hope of forgiveness

(b) faith and hope of reward

3. An important aspect of fast is “niyyah,” what's its meaning?

(a) intention to fast

(b) ability to fast

4. Ramadan is referred to in Suratu Baqara 185 as the month of ............

(a) Abstinence

(b) Quran

Yaa Allah! Grant us the goodness of Ramadan long before it comes and long after it is gone. Ameen

Ramadan1436 Quiz #5

1. The pre dawn meal is referred to as?

(a) Safoor

(b) Suhuur

2. The fast breaking meal is also known as?

(a) It’aam

(b) Iftaar

3. What did Rasool say about pre dawn meal? He said we should take it because in it is .............

(a) strength (quw-wa)

(b) blessings (barakah)

4. According to Hadith Qudsi: “… the faster experiences two enjoyments: when he breaks his fast and ………………………………………” (Muslim)

(a) when he meets Allah

(b) when Eid ul Fitr approaches

5. Hadith: Rasool said; “Satan runs in the circulatory system of the son of Adam in the same way ………… circulates in our system; so tighten the passage with ……………. (Bukhari/Muslim)

(a) water, thirst

(b) blood, hunger

May Allah grant us shield from satan everyday forever insha Allah

Ramadan1436 Quiz #4

1. Which verse in the Qur'an speaks about Ramadan?

(a) Suratul Baqara 182

(b) Suratul Baqara 183

2. The word "qu-ti-ba" in the verse means?

(a) made compulsory

(b) made easy

3. Taqwa the main benefit of fasting means?

(a) Fear of sin

(b) Fear of Allah

4. Who records the rewards of fasting for a servant?

(a) Ateed and Raqeed

(b) Allah SWT

5. Cite portion of relevant hadith.

May we be of they who hear Allah and Rasool and obey! Ameen

Ramadan1436 Quiz #3

1. The fasting person is referred to as?

(a) swaa-ma

(b) swaa-im

2. The moon sighted for commencement of Ramadan is?

(a) Hilal

(b) Qamar

3. The month preceding Ramadan is called?

(a) Sha’ban

(b) Shaw’wal

4. Hadith: Narrated by Abu Hurairah; Rasool said: “He who does not desist from obscene …….. and ………., Allah has no need that he did not eat or drink (Bukhari Muslim)

(a) language and speeches

(b) language and actions

May Allah protect us from the evil of ourselves. Ameen

Ramadan1436 Quiz #2

1. Who in the Quran was asked to perform ‘sawm’ (abstinence)?

(a) Naana Aasiyah

(b) Naana Maryam

2. What action was she abstaining from?

(a) Eating

(b) Speaking

3. Where in the Quran was this episode related?

(a) Quran 19: 20

(b) Quran 19: 26

4. Who instructed her to abstain from the action in question 2?

(a) Angel Jibril

(b) Allah SWT

Allah ya nuna mana Ramadan

Ramadan1436 Quiz #1

1. Which pillar of Islam is Ramadan?

(a) fourth

(b) third

2. The main act expected of a fasting person is?

(a) abstinence

(b) sustenance

3. The Arabic term for fasting is?

(a) swiyaam

(b) swi’aam

4. The root word for fasting is?

(a) swaa-ma

(b) sa-wa-ma

May Allah strengthen us in Islam and grant us the honor of experiencing Ramadan. Ameen