If, like the Beetle, you are travelling in a Muslim
country, you should be aware that it is Ramadan, which started 5th
October. Ramadan is a special month of the year for over one billion
Muslims throughout the world. It is a time for inner reflection,
devotion to God, and self-control. Many Muslims regards Ramadan as a
kind of tune-up for their spiritual lives. Fasting in Ramadan is
obligatory for those who can do it, so people who are ill and pregnant
women for example are exempted from the fast but must make it up as
they are able.
The third “pillar” of (Sunni) Islam
is fasting and is believed to have many benefits including a means of
learning self-control and going without food and drink during the
daylight hours is felt to improve one’s spiritual nature, which becomes
a means of coming closer to God. Ramadan is also a time of intense
worship, reading the Quran, giving charity, purifying one’s behaviour,
and doing good deeds.
The daily period of fasting starts when the sun comes
up and ends when the sun sets. In between this time, Muslims do not
eat, drink, smoke or have sex. Many people to have a pre-fast meal
(suhoor) before dawn and a post-fast meal (iftar) after sunset. In
Brunei, where the Beetle has just finished working, working hours are
cut short, with people leaving at 3pm to allow the women to prepare the
evening meal. Many people have relatives and friends over during
Ramadan to share their evening meal.
The last ten days of Ramadan are a time of special
spiritual power as everyone tries to come closer to God through
devotions and good deeds. The night on which the Quran was revealed to
the Prophet, known as the Night of Power (Lailat ul-Qadr), is generally
taken to be the 27th night of the month. The Quran states that this
night is better than a thousand months. Many Muslims spend the entire
night in prayer. During the month, Muslims try to read as much of the
Quran as they can. Some spend part of their day listening to the
recitation of the Quran in a mosque. Some spend the last ten days of
Ramadan in a mosque devoting the whole ten days for worshipping God.
You should be respectful to those fasting during
Ramadan, and this includes not eating in front of a person who is
fasting or asking them to join you in food or drink during fasting
hours.