Durban man reflects on importance of Ramadan
Durban resident, Reza Mahomed speaks about what the month of Ramadan means to him.
EVERY year Muslims around the world observe the month of Ramadan.
Ramadan is Islam’s holiest month and is a time for reflection and growth.
Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset each day of the month and aim to grow closer to Allah (God) and their loved ones. The dates and duration of Ramadan are based on the lunar calendar. The first day of the month will be observed in South Africa on Saturday, April 2.
Durban resident, Reza Mahomed spoke about what the special month means to him.
“Ramadan is the month in which the first verses of the holy book, the Quran, were revealed to the prophet Muhammad. We begin our fast each day with a pre-dawn meal called sehri which is followed by one of our five-times-a-day prayer. After sunset we end the fast with the meal known as the iftar, which is often shared with family, friends and sometimes with members from the mosque.
Also Read: 5 things you didn’t know about Ramadan
“That is just a part of Ramadan though. For me and others members of the faith, this month is a reminder of our true purpose and being charitable to those in need. It is about unity and spiritual reflection. It is a reminder of how we should be living our lives as Muslims and the importance of doing good unto others and the environment,” he said.
Mahomed explained that fasting is one of the pillars of Islam and helped him connect on a deeper spiritual level to God.
“Another pillar of our faith is charity or zakat. During this month we are encouraged to give to those less fortunate and in doing so we form a closer bond with our community. While Ramadan is only one month of the year, our hope is that many of the lessons, good habits and the renewed sense of spirituality carries on into the rest of the year as well,” he said.
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