What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is the most important month of the year, the month of the universal community of believers, the month of the soul. The arrival of this blessed month is greeted with joy, for in it the doors of heaven are opened further for the faithful and the Divine Compassion descends upon those who seek it. During Ramadan we deepen our tawba, the moment-by-moment repentance and renewal of life in the Real, the Most Ancient, seeking His mercy, forgiveness and protection. This is the month for reestablishing our commitment and cleaning our relationship with our Creator. For those on the Path, the knowers, it is a special time to be with Allah, to be with Him in everything -to be in the station of la ilaha illa-llah.

This month is set aside by Allah most High for the believers to fast from dawn to dusk. Because one abstains from eating, drinking, and sex during the day, more time is spent in special worship. Each evening during Ramadan, the daily fast is broken with a festive meal and much celebration and praise to the glory of God. The evening meals are followed by the special Tarawih prayers. Far from a difficult obligation or a penance, the fasting month is a special time when the Muslims of the planet draw together & drink from the special light of Allah, blessed is He.

The most sacred night of Ramadan and of the year is Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Power, which marks the descent of the Qur'an from the heavens into the earth and history. The true Night of Power is hidden and so we seek it in prayer and rememberence during the nights of the last ten days.

Beloved Rahma Trixie Bernhard has put together a splendid outline of Ramadan hadith, fiqh and teachings.

Every year the Shadhiliyya Spiritual Retreat Center in Pope Valley offers a special program for the last ten days of Ramadan, the most intense and sacred time for personal retreat.

During Ramadan we also fulfill the pillar of Zakah or paying alms in order to purify our wealth.

Click here to download an Outline on Ramadan

Click here to download Trixie Bernard's Ramadan Basics

Click here to download the Ahadith and Qur'anic references to Ramadan

Click here to download Ahadith on giving Zakat