DUSHANBE, June 11, 2015, Asia-Plus — This year, the holy Islamic month of Ramadan will start in Tajikistan on June 18, an official source at the Council of Ulamo (an Islamic council that issues fatwas and religious guidance to Islamic religious organizations in Tajikistan), told Asia-Plus in an interview.
Tarawih will be performed on the night of June 17-18.
Tarawih refers to extra prayers performed by Sunni Muslims at night in the Islamic month of Ramadan. Contrary to popular belief, they are not compulsory. However, many Muslims pray these prayers in the night during Ramadan.
Tarawih prayers are prayed in pairs of two and can be prayed in at least 20 rakat (a rakat consists of the prescribed movements and words followed by Muslims while offering prayers to God) according to two schools, Hanafis
and Shafi’i
, of Sunni Islam. Some believe that 8, 12 or 20 can be read. A break is taken after every 4 rakat. This prayer is performed only during Ramadan of the Islamic calendar after the night prayer.
The fourth pillar of Islam, which is fasting, is practiced during the month of Ramadan. Ramadan is derived from an Arabic word for intense heat and sun-scorched ground. It is the ninth month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar, established in the year 638 CE. It is considered the most venerated, blessed and spiritually-beneficial month of the Islamic year. Prayers, fasting, charity, and self-accountability are especially stressed at this time; religious observances associated with Ramadan are kept throughout the month.
The most prominent event of this month is the fasting practiced by observant Muslims. Every day during the month of Ramadan, Muslims around the world get up before dawn to eat the Suhoor meal (the pre dawn meal) and perform their fajr prayer. They break their fast when the fourth prayer of the day, Maghrib (sunset), is due.
During Ramadan, Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam and to avoid obscene and irreligious sights and sounds. Purity of both thought and action is important. The fast is intended to be an exacting act of deep personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised level of closeness to God Almighty. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. Properly observing the fast is supposed to induce a comfortable feeling of peace and calm. It also allows Muslims to practice self-discipline, sacrifice, and sympathy for those who are less fortunate, intended to make Muslims more generous and charitable. Muslims can eat after the sun has set. Pregnant women, the elderly, the ill, travelers and children who have not reached puberty are all exempt from fasting as lack of food and liquid in these situations could be detrimental to health.
