Issue 16

Explaining Sawm

Sawm (fasting in Ramadan)is the forth basic duty of a Muslim. From dawn to sunset every day in the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of Islamic calendar, a Muslim restrains from eating, drinking, smoking and conjugal relations. We find out when Ramadan will be held by the moon sighting in Mecca. The month starts two weeks earlier than in the Western Calendar. It is a means of achieving self control designed to raise a persons moral and spiritual standards above selfishness, greed, laxity, and other vices.

Now that the month of Ramadan has finished I, along with my other Muslim brothers and sisters will celebrate what we call Eid. This is like a Muslim's Christmas, however we do not exchange gifts and presents but our elders give us money so that we can enjoy a day out.

There are two celebrations (Eids) one of them which is after the month of Ramadan and this is called Eid-Ul-Fitr. The other is called Eid-Ul-Adha and this celebration is in memory of prophet Abraham when he was about to sacrifice this son and God saw that he was willing and miraculously changed his son into a goat. So every Eid- Ul-Adha we sacrifice a goat and a big meal is held.

by Kamal