Celebrating the spirit of Ramadan

Green path adorned with bright lights in the shapes of crescents, stars, and glowing lanterns at ‘Salam Ramadan’

• Muslims come together to observe the fast, share pre-dawn meals, and break their fast together at Iftar, reinforcing the community bond
•  Eid ul-Fitr falls on the first day of Shawwal in the Islamic calendar and is joyously celebrated by Muslims upon the sighting of the crescent moon

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed as a time for reflection and spiritual growth by Muslims worldwide. The month-long fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam when Muslims have to abstain from food, drink and sinful behaviour. It is a month-long training in self-discipline that allows a person to purify the individual’s mind, body and soul while fostering a deeper empathy for poverty and hardship. 

Muslims come together to observe the fast, share pre-dawn meals, and break their fast together at Iftar, reinforcing the community bond. Muslims dedicate time to reading the Qur’an, giving zakat (charity), engaging in Taraweeh (special night prayers) and other meritorious deeds during this sacred month. Many businesses and organizations run by Muslims around the world adjust their working hours during Ramadan to accommodate religious observances as well.  

It is believed that on Laylat al-Qadr, the sacred ‘Night of Power’ which falls on one of the last ten nights of Ramadan, usually the 27th night - God revealed the Qur’an to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) through Angel Gabriel as a ‘guidance for all mankind.’ The Qur’an describes this night as being “better than a thousand months” (Qur’an 97:3), and Muslims are encouraged to spend the night in prayer, seeking forgiveness, and engaging in good deeds. 

Festival of breaking the fast

The month-long dawn-to-dusk fasting of Ramadan ends with the  Eid ul-Fitr (festival of breaking the fast.)  Eid ul-Fitr falls on the first day of Shawwal in the Islamic calendar and is joyously celebrated by Muslims upon the sighting of the crescent moon. While Muslims are religiously obliged to fast during Ramadan, they eagerly anticipate their feasts and festivals at the end of the month. 

This significant day of  Eid ul-Fitr begins with the performance of a communal prayer just after sunrise. Muslim men and women gather at the mosque to pray in two separate sections, followed by a sermon. Afterward, they exchange Salaams (greetings) to one another for blessings.  Eid ul-Fitr is a time for receptions and visits among friends and family where gifts are exchanged and the graves of deceased relatives are visited to honour them. 

After a month of fasting, Muslims get to indulge in delicious treats on the festival day. The preparations typically begin either the night before or in the morning. In most Muslim homes, the spread includes samosas, patties, biriyani and a variety of sweetmeats like vattalappam, gulab jamun, jalebi, boondi and sooji, all arranged on a large, beautifully decorated table for everyone to enjoy, strengthening the family bond. These items are also distributed to the neighbouring houses, and children are often given gift bags filled with toys, candy, or money by close relatives. 

Until recent times, Sri Lankan Muslims did not typically engage in the same Ramadan festivities seen in other countries, particularly in the Arab world, where streets and shops are adorned with bright lights in the shapes of crescents, stars, and glowing lanterns. However, this influence has gradually reached Sri Lankan Muslim communities as we see families gathering at scenic locations like Galle Face Green and various parks to break their fast in a picnic-style setting. There has also been an increase in decorated stores, iftar programmes and events, such as the recent ‘Salam Ramadan’ cultural festival which showcased the traditions of the Moors, Memons, Malays, and Bohras, aimed to promote interfaith understanding and engagement.  

Ramadan is indeed a time of spiritual reflection, communal unity, and cultural celebration. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous and blessed  Eid ul-Fitr!