Ramadan 2024: What Is Roza? Here’s All You Need To Know

Ramadan 2024: As we all know, the sacred month of Ramadan is set to begin on March 11, 2024. These days are considered very important and pious, with a large number of Muslim people observing fasts or Roza for one month and offering prayers to Allah.

Every year, Muslims around the world celebrate Ramadan, the holiest month of the Islamic calendar. For approximately 30 days, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset and engage in nightly communal prayers leading up to Eid al-Fitr, the final day of Ramadan. So, if you're celebrating Ramadan for the first time this year or want to know more about this Holy month of Ramadan. The Islamic calendar follows the phases of the moon, commonly known as the lunar cycle. As a result, the Holy month of Ramadan falls approximately 10 days earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar.

When is Ramadan 2024 in India?

This year, Ramadan 2024 is set to begin on Sunday, March 10, 2024; however in India, the holy month will now start on March 11, following the sighting of the moon over Mecca. Lasting for 30 days, Ramadan will end on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, with the celebratory days of Eid al-Fitr starting on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, or Monday, April 11, 2024, depending on the moon sighting.

Ramadan 2024: What is Roza?

Ramadan is a sacred month in the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. The month of Ramadan is considered one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which are the foundation of a Muslim's faith and practice. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs during daylight hours. This fasting is called "Roza" in Urdu and is an essential part of the Ramadan observance.

The word "Roza" is derived from the Arabic word "sawm," which means "to abstain." Fasting during Ramadan is an act of worship and is believed to purify the soul and help Muslims develop self-discipline, self-control, and empathy for those less fortunate. Fasting is also an opportunity for Muslims to focus on their spiritual growth and strengthen their relationship with Allah.

The fast begins at dawn with a pre-dawn meal called "suhoor" and ends at sunset with the evening meal called "iftar." During the day, Muslims engage in additional prayers, recite the Quran, and engage in acts of charity and kindness. The fast is broken each evening with the iftar meal, which typically includes dates, water, and a variety of traditional dishes.

Ramadan is also a time for Muslims to come together as a community. Many mosques hold special prayers and events during Ramadan, and families often gather for iftar meals and other celebrations. The month of Ramadan concludes with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, a festive holiday that marks the end of the fasting period and the beginning of the next lunar month.

Roza is an essential aspect of Ramadan, a month-long period of fasting, prayer, and reflection observed by Muslims worldwide. Fasting during Ramadan is an act of worship that helps Muslims develop self-discipline, empathy, and spiritual growth. Ramadan is also a time for Muslims to come together as a community, engage in acts of charity, and strengthen their relationship with Allah.

There are several rules that Muslims are required to follow while observing Roza:

Rules for Observing Ramadan Fast:

• Sane and Healthy Individuals: If you are sane, healthy, and have reached puberty, you must hold the Ramadan fast.
• Traveling or Illness: If you are traveling during Ramadan or are sick, you should not observe the fast. However, it needs to be made up at a later date.
• Menstruating or Post-Childbirth Women: If you are a woman and are menstruating or experiencing post-childbirth bleeding, you should not fast for those days. You must compensate them at a later date.
• Old or Sick Individuals: If you are old or sick and cannot fast, you must perform fidiya, feeding a person for each day of missing the fast.
• Pregnant or Breastfeeding Women: Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and fear that observing Ramadan may weaken them or their child have an option of not observing the fast. However, after Ramadan ends, they must either fast or pay fidiya for each day of having missed Ramadan.

Invalidating the Fast:

• Eating or Drinking: If someone chooses to eat or drink during the fasting part of the day for any reason, the fast becomes invalid. However, if the person eats or drinks because he forgot about the fast, did it by mistake, or was coerced into doing so, the fast remains valid.
• Vomiting: If a person feels like vomiting, the fast still continues. However, if a person observing the fast chooses to vomit for any reason, his fast is considered as invalid.
• Sexual Intercourse: If one has sexual intercourse while observing his fast, he must perform kaffaarah, which means he must expiate the sin. For this, he must either fast for a continuous sixty days or feed sixty poor people.
• Menstruating or Post-Childbirth Women Observing Ramadan: If a woman who is menstruating or going through post-childbirth bleeding observes Ramadan, that day of her fast becomes invalid. These days need to be compensated later. Even if the menstruation begins just before sunset, the day’s fast becomes invalid.

Allowed Actions during Fasting:

• Rinsing Mouth and Nose: You are allowed to rinse your mouth and nose with limited water, such that you do not swallow it. If you do so, it invalidates your fast.
• Taking a Shower: You can take a shower during your fasting period as you may feel thirsty, dehydrated or heated. However, make sure that you do not swallow the water.
• Applying Kohl or Eye Drops: Women can apply kohl (kajal or eyeliner) or men/women can use eye drops or any other thing for the eyes. Many a times, the taste of the liquid poured into your eyes may travel to your throat but that is acceptable.
• Taking Injections: One can take injections if he needs them for medical or nutritional purposes. There is no evidence stating otherwise in any of the texts.
• Using Suppositories: One is also allowed to take suppositories, such as enemas or douches, for cleansing, laxative purposes or any other relaxation purposes. Use of such medicines in the private parts is allowed. There is no text that states otherwise.
• Accidentally Swallowing Saliva, Dust, or Sifted Flour: Accidentally swallowing your own saliva, dust, or let’s say sifted flour, is allowed and will not invalidate your fast.
• Tasting Food without Swallowing: If one simply tastes a food but does not swallow it and rinses it away, it is acceptable and his fast will still be valid.
• Hugging or Kissing Spouse: It is allowed for one to hug or kiss his spouse as long as they do not indulge in sexual intercourse.
• Not in State of Janaba: One must not be in a state of janaba while observing his fast. Janaba refers to the state of ritual impurity due to sexual intercourse or seminal discharge. A bath needs to be taken and a ghusl needs to be performed in order to be able to observe the fast for the day before the fajr, or dawn.

Recommendations for Observing Ramadan Fast:

• Suhuur: Have suhuur, which refers to the pre-dawn meal, and try to have it just before the dawn.
• Breaking Fast: Try to break your fast by having an odd number of fresh or dry dates. If they are not immediately available, have a glass of water.
• Recitation of Quran: Another recommendation for the Ramadan is that one must increase his recitation, loud or mental, or study of the Qu’ran.
• Use of Miswaak: It is recommended that one uses Miswaak, which refers to a piece of the root of tree Araak found in Hijaaz region in Arabian Peninsula, for cleaning the teeth.

Note: Dates/timings may be subject to change; details mentioned here are as per the information available.

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