Ramadan 2024 will begin on Thursday 23/3/2023, according to astronomical calculations. For the year 2024, The night of doubt will take place on Wednesday 22/3. It is based on an astronomical calculation.
Another "night of doubt" is observed at the end of the month to define the last of the month of fasting. Even if in recent years astrological calculation has gradually replaced the sight of the crescent moon.
Ramadan does not fall at the same time each year, because the Islamic calendar is based on cycles lunar, unlike the Gregorian calendar (in force in the West) where the number of days per month is fixed. It is for this reason that each year the beginning of Ramadhan goes back from 10 to 11 days and Ramadan wanders between the seasons.
The fast of the month of Ramadan 2024 (ninth month of the Hijirian calendar) is one of the five pillars of the Muslim religion, it is the month on most sacred of the Islamic year. Muslims began to fast from the second year of Hijr. Ramadhan is the month of fasting, when Muslims refrain from eating, drinking and having sex from dawn (Chourouk) until dusk (Maghreb).
It was during Ramadan that the Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Muslims are encouraged to share their food with friends, family and neighbors, and to reach out to those fasting alone to share their experiences.
Abu Huraira reports that the Prophet (Sala Lahou Alyhi Wa Salem) said: "Almighty God declares:" All the acts of man are done for his own person except the fast which is for me and for I am the reward. "Reports Imam El Boukhari.
Fasting plays an important role in many major world religions and is featured in all Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. In Islam, Muslims, who are able to do so, must fast during the month of Ramadan, and fasting at other times of the year is also recommended.
Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam . A key goal of rapidly increasing Taqwa (closeness to God) and generating a sense of gratitude, self-discipline and personal development, at the individual and community level, which Muslims should all continue throughout the year.
At the individual level, fasting encourages us to feel an affinity with the poor around the world, while for our own body, scientific studies have shown that fasting offers several health benefits (cell regeneration, increased immunity, etc.) and forms of intermittent fasting have been incorporated into various diets.
At the community level, breaking the fast (iftar) at sunset encourages families and communities to share their meals together, while community charities tend to multiply during Ramadan.
According to Sahl ibn Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet (Allah bless him and peace be upon him) said: In Heaven there is a gate, called "Ar- Rayyân ", through which the fasts will enter. , on the day of resurrection and no one but them will enter. We will say, "Where are those who are fasting?" And these come in. As soon as the last of them passes, that door will close and no one else will enter.
Imsak is the time when a Muslim can no longer eat. It starts at dawn. The Prophet said, “Eat the food before dawn (Sehour) because it contains blessings. Even if you only drink a glass of water. In Spain and depending on the origins, Sehour can go from a normal café au lait to a real meal. Leftovers from yesterday's dinner are often recycled for the Sehour.
For the Ftour (breaking the fast), it is preferable to eat just after the Adhan du Maghreb. The prophet said, “People will not cease to be righteous as long as they are quick to break their fast. ".
Everyone has their own ways to break the little ones: a glass of milk, dates, a hrira or a chorba. As a rule, the starter is a soup, followed by a hearty plate, ending with an often very sweet dessert.
Young children, the elderly, the sick, travelers, and women who are breastfeeding or menstruating are examples of people exempt from fasting. If the exemption is temporary (pregnant woman, temporary illness), the musuman must make up for the days of non-fasting after the end of Ramdan.
If the impossibility is lasting, the Muslim should give money (Zakat) for each non-holiday or feed a poor person for each unobserved day.
Very young children want to fast during ramzan. Children must be accompanied by their parents to train them in this practice, generally from the age of 10. It is advisable to seek the advice of your doctor for advice on the possibility of fasting for your child and the risks to his health.
The greatest risk for a child is hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level), because the child's liver is not yet mature and the fat stores are not sufficient for a fast. 16 hours and more.
If your child has a sudden low energy level accompanied by nervousness, tremors, food cravings or other symptoms; You should stop your fast immediately and give sugar urgently.
Do not forget that fasting is compulsory from puberty, i.e. 13 years for boys (onset of the first beard or pubic hair) and 11 years for girls. (year of start of menstruation).