Islam

Basic requirements for believers

The five pillars of Islam are:

• fivefold daily prayer (namaz),
• recognition that there is no God except Allah (shahad),
• month of mandatory fast (Ramadan),
• pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj) * annual tax (zakat).

Calendar

Ramadan - fasting month

Ramadan is a month of compulsory Muslim fasting.

The Muslim calendar is based on the lunar calendar, so each year the timing of the beginning and end of Ramadan changes.

Fasting in Islam is one of the strictest of all world religions. The main ban provides for the refusal to eat food and even water in the daytime. To be more precise, it is impossible to drink from sukhur to iftar.

Sukhur is the first meal. Breakfast is advisable until the first signs of dawn, when the morning dawn is not yet visible. It is generally accepted that sukhur should be performed as early as possible, then Allah will reward the believer.

Iftar is the second and last meal. Dinner follows evening prayers as the sun lurks beyond the horizon.

The most obvious ban during the month of Ramadan is associated with the refusal of food and water, but, in addition, Muslims are prohibited during daylight hours:

• smoking or sniffing tobacco, including smoking hookah;
• swallow any sputum that has entered the mouth, as it is already considered a drink;
• specifically provoke vomiting.

At the same time, Muslims are allowed to post:

• take medicines through injections (including getting vaccinated);
• bathing (provided that water does not enter the mouth);
• kissing (but nothing more);
• brush your teeth (you cannot swallow water, of course);
• swallowing saliva;
• donate blood.

It is not considered a violation of fasting accidental ingress of food or water into the mouth.

During the holy month, it is especially sinful to violate the basic prohibitions of religion. Islam does not accept the use of alcohol and pork, regardless of whether it is done during the day or at night.

At sunset on the night after the end of the month of Ramadan, believers celebrate the holiday of conversation - Uraza Bayram.

Eid al-Fitr

Muslims celebrate Uraza Bayram (Arabic: Eid al-Fitr), marking the end of the month of Ramadan. Muslims believe that Uraza Bayram offered to celebrate the prophet Muhammad. This happened in 622, when the prophet Muhammad moved from Mecca to Medina.

Since then, the celebration of Uraza Bayram as the end of the holy month of Ramadan has become an important part of Islamic culture. The traditions of the holiday may differ slightly depending on the country.

In Uraza Bayram, believers are obliged to report for the past post, as well as begin to serve their sentences for its violations. Before the holiday, you need to forgive each other's grievances, try to visit your relatives and acquaintances, asking them for forgiveness.

On the eve of Uraza Bairam, Muslims pay alms of conversation - zakat al-fitra. It is mandatory for every Muslim who has property that exceeds his basic needs. Alms are passed on to the poor directly or through Islamic charities.

On the day of the holiday, it is considered for the benefit of getting up early in the morning, bathing, dressing neatly and smartly, using incense, being friendly with everyone.

In Uraza Bairam, Muslims perform a festive prayer - id-namaz. After it, believers celebrate Uraza Bayram with their families, visit the graves of loved ones, and visit relatives.

During the holidays, the special generosity and attention of the head of the family to his spouse, children and other family members is encouraged. In Uraza Bairam, you cannot do household chores (except cooking), hard physical labor, quarrel, allow bad thoughts, slander.

Gifts are a mandatory attribute of the holiday. As a rule, they give the Koran, religious objects, dishes, home decor, sweets, dried fruits and desserts.

Special attention is paid to young children. They organize different entertainment for them, give gifts. This is due to the Muslim belief that the joy of the child brings the believer closer to Allah.

See also

• Religion in Russia