Observances. Ramadan and Other. Chapter. Day by Day. In This Chapter

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1 Chapter Ramadan and Other Observances In This Chapter Learn about dailv Muslim observances Find out about important requiremens and u adiüons that affect non-muslims attending services Get the kev facts about Ramadan Learn about other important Islamic holy days In this chapter, you find out about daily worship rituals, the settings for Muslim worship, and Ramadan, the holy ninth month of the Muslim calendar. You also learn about a number of other significant annual observances within Islam. Day by Day Sunni.Muslims pray five prayers, "ith prayer rituals connected to particular dines a day: before dawn, just after noon, midafternoon, just after sunset, and in the evening. Shia Muslims perform five prayer rituals

2 with the same names and the same durations as their Sunni counterparts, but do so within three daily time slots: before dawn, just after noon, and just after sunset. Although these prayers, which are typically not more than ten minutes in duration, may be undertaken in a mosque,they are considered valid when offered in other settings. Additional prayers bring additional merit. Muslims believe there is more reward for prayers offered as part of a group than for prayers offered as an individual. What's It Mean? Although there are some exceptions in practice made A mosque is a building for travelers and sick persons, these prayers must be used by Muslims for worship and rendered faithfully and with full attention, regardless prayer. The mosque features a of one's physicallocation.those engaging in the niche or other central point that prayer must be ritually clean. The worshipper reorients the worshipper toward moves his or her shoes and performs a cleansing ritthe qibla, or direction toward ual, called the wudhu, for the hands, face, mouth, and Mecca. feet. This literal physical cleansing reflects a symbolic spiritual purification. Intricate detail is a hallmark ofislamicreligiousart and design. At noon on Friday, the Islamic sabbath day, the Islamic community gathers in the mosque for a service of prayer lasting 30 minutes to an hour. Shoes are not worn in the mosque, and men and women pray separately so as not to distract each other (local arrangements for this differ from place to place). The Friday gathering is an important time of coming together for the local community,a time to renew relationships and share community concerns. For males, attendance at the Friday prayers is compulsory. Skipping services without cause is regarded as a sin.

3 Chapter 16: Ramadan and Other Observances 141 Bet YOU Didn't Know Within the mosque, representations of Allah, or of any human, plant, or animal, are strictly forbidden. Muslims consider such images idolatry and an unlawful imitation of the creative power of God Many mosques feature abstract decorative elements of extraordinary beauty and detail. The great mosques, such as that of Suleiman I in Istanbul, are among humanity's supreme architectural accomplishments. Repeated linear decorative forms called arabesques combine geometry and art in a symbol of divine unity and a sublime expression of faith Once the wudhu is complete, believers face Mecca and begin a series of rituals that involve bowing, prostration, and the recitation of established prayers. The number of prayers will depend on the point in the day at which the prayers take place. Muslim prayer makes use of memorized recitations. Those who have recently joined the faith take part in group prayer and proceed under the guidance of a member of the clergy until the appropriate prayers are committed to memory. If you are not a practicing Muslim, you should not attempt to join the prayer line. There will usually be a separate area in the mosque for non-muslim guests who wish to observe prayer services. Important Islamic Life Rituals Islamic prayer involves a repeated sequence of bowing and standing postures. Each such sequence begins with the recitation of the first Surah of the Qur'an. No prayer delivered without the recitation of this Surah is valid. Like most other major religions, Islam has special observances for major life events. Following is a brief summary of some of the most important customs. Welcoming Ritual The birth ceremony is known as an akikah. This informal observance can take many forms, depending on the nation or culture in which the family lives. (Many Muslims do not celebrate any form of akikah because birthdays are not celebrated in the Islamic system.)

4 142 Part 4: Islam Initiation Initiation, or shabada, marks a young Muslin* formal entry into the faith. There is no set age for this rite; it commonly takes place during one's middle teens. The ceremony must by witnessed by a prescribed number of adult Muslims. During the shahada, the individual making his or her formal proclamation of faith repeats, in Arabic, the sentence "There is no God but God; Muhammad is the Prophet of God." The ceremony is held either in a private home or in a mosque. It may follow a regularly scheduled prayer service. During prayers, Muslims always orient themselves toward the holy shrine of Mecca. (It is important to remember, however, that their prayers are directed to God and not to any physical structure.) In the United States, Muslim worshippers turn toward Mecca during prayers by facing to the northeast. Watch It! Non-Muslim women attending religious services in mosques should respect Islamic custom by wearing a headscarf. For reasons of modesty, Muslim girls and women cover their hair and neck. And although there are no hard-and-fast rules on the subiect, it is best to remember that less jewelry is definitely more in this setting. Be especially careful to avoid jewelry that incorporates people, animals, Jewish or Christian religious imagery, astrological symbols, or other potentially offensive depictions. (This goes for men as well as women.) The Marriage Ritual This ceremony, seen as a sacred contract between the parties, takes place in the mosque's main sanctuary. By Western standards, the Islamic wedding rite may seem brisk and even lacking in formality. Witnesses simply observe the groom's formal offer of marriage and the bride's formal acceptance of it. An officiant will offer a sermon on the subject of marriage. There is no elaborate ceremony associated with the event. After the marriage comes the waleemah, or reception. This can take place virtually anywhere, including the mosque where the marriage occurred. There may be music and dancing, but needless to say, there will be no alcohol. Funerals and Mourning Periods An Islamic funeral service, like the marriage ritual, is straightforward. It may incorporate a service at a funeral home, and it will include the recitation of janazah, prayers for the dead, at the gravesite. Islamic practice does not sanction cremation, and burial takes place within 24 hours. Islam limits the official period of mourning of the death of a family member to 40 days. No other rules are laid down regarding how long the bereaved should mourn. In practice, Muslims can be expected

5 Chapter 16: Ramadan dnd Other 143 to assume regular work duties a few days after the funeral. When in doubt, call the family directly. Most female Muslims do not engage in social activities for 40 days following the death of an immediate family member. Males may follow less stringent guidelines. Ramadan The holy festival of Ramadan occupies the whole of the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. (Since this calendar is lunar, the corresponding Ramadan dates in the solar Western calendar system change from year to year.) During Ramadan, which is the name of both a month of the year and a period of religious observance, adults embark on a rigidly observed period of abstention, reflection, and purification. Between sunrise and sunset during Ramadan, adult Muslims do not smoke, eat, drink, or have sex. They are encouraged to read the Qur'an from beginning to end during the holy month, which celebrates the first revelation of the Islamic scriptures. The holy month of Ramadan, which falls in no fixed season because of the lunar Muslim calendar, is a time of daily repentance and fasting. Muslims are expected to forgo ali indulgences, to reflect on their past misdeeds, to reinforce basic personal discipline, and to express gratitude to Allah for his continued direction and daily presence in the life of the believer. The very young, those Who are physically ill, and members of certain specially designoted groups (such as soldiers) are excused from Ramadan obligations. Other Important Islamic uoly Days Ramadan is the most widely known observance in Islam, but other holy days are also celebrated. Each of the following is reckoned according to the lunar Islamic calendar, so Western calendar dates cannot be given. Lailat UI-Qadr Lailat ul-qadr is celebrated on a night falling during the final ten days of Ramadan. During this period, Muslims commemorate Muhammad's first experience of divine revelation, which is The night of Muhammad's first revelation is known as the "Night of Power.

6 Part 4: Islam regarded as having occurred on a single night sometime during the final ten days of the month. The actual date of the Prophet's first revelation is not known. Muslims may spend most of their time in a mosque during this final portion of Ramadan. Id al-fitr Id al-fitr is the feast period that follows the conclusion of the month-long fast. It takes place at the end of Ramadan and lasts for three days. It is typically observed with banquets and the exchange of gifts. Id al-fitr is also the time when alms are given, as mandated under Islamic law. Id ul-adha Id ul-adha, in which animals are slaughtered to benefit the impoverished, takes place two to three months after Ramadan. It celebrates the faithfulness and obedience of the patriarch Abraham. Al-Isra Wal Miraj Al-Isra Wal Miraj is celebrated on the twenty-seventh day of the seventh month of the Islamic calendar, Rajab. It marks Muhammadk divinely supported journey from Mecca to the discipline of daily prayer observed by Muslims ever since. Maulid al-nabi Maulid al-nabi celebrates the birth of Muhammad the Prophet and is held on the twelfth day of the third month (Rabi awwad). It is a very popular festival, with evening festivities beginning a week or two before and ending on the day of the feast. The Least You Need to Know The daily life of a Muslim incorporates regular prayer to Allah. A mosque is a building used by Muslims for worship and prayer. prayer may take place in any setting, but the person praying must be physically oriented toward Mecca if possible. The holy month of Ramadan, which falls in no fixed season because of the lunar Muslim calendar, is a time of daily repentance and fasting. Between sunrise and sunset during Ramadan, adult Muslims do not smoke, eat, drink, or have sex.