Ramadan Begins Today

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 to 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating and drinking during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and submissiveness to God.

The website for Islamic Association of Greater Hartford, located at 1781 Wilbur Cross Highway, across from the Berlin Batting Cages and near Bishops' Curve has a brief announcement about the beginning of Ramadan.

The site says: 

"In the Name of Allah Most Gracious, Most Merciful"

“O you who believe, fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may (learn) self-restraint."

Qur’an 2: 183

The first of Ramadan will be on Monday, August 1, 2011, insha-Allah.

There are no sighting of the new moon this evening here or in the middle East. This is confirmation with the Fiqh Council of North America.

 Taraweeh prayers will start tomorrow, Sunday at 10 pm after Isha prayer..

Please note that the Mosque's Ramadan fund raiser will be insha-Allah Saturday August 20 at 6 pm before the Iftar. It will be catered hosted by a member of the Masjid family. May Allah (swt) keep us on the right path, and accept our fasting and prayers. Ameen. Jazakum Allah Khayrun.

Muslims fast for the sake of God and to offer more prayer than usual.

 Compared to the solar calendar, the dates of Ramadan vary, moving backwards by about eleven days each year depending on the moon; thus, a person will have fasted every day of the calendar year in 34 years' time.

Muslims believe Ramadan to be an auspicious month for the revelations of God to humankind, being the month in which the first verses of the Qur'anwere revealed to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad.