DUSHANBE, August 9, 2009, Asia-Plus — President Emomali Rahmon has made a televised appeal to the people of Tajikistan on occasion of the beginning of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, according to presidential press service.
In his appeal, Rahmon congratulated Tajik people on the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan and wish them peace and wellbeing.
“I am sure Tajik Muslims will provide financial assistance to orphan children, disabled and vulnerable people and bolster up their courage and do everything for development and prosperity of Tajikistan,” the president said.
Reminding that every Muslim carries out good works during Ramadan, the Tajik leader noted that rise in food product prices during the holy month of Ramadan contravenes the canons of Islam and called on local entrepreneurs to refrain from this negative action.
Reminding the global financial and economic crisis, Emomali Rahmon also called on the Tajik people to be economic with money.
We will recall that this year, Islamic holy month of Ramadan begins in Tajikistan on August 11. In the Muslim calendar, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Muslims will celebrate Ramadan on the sunset of August 10.
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.
