• Understand the concept of worship in Islam. Belief in One God; Belief in Prophets. Place of Abraham in Islam, Christianity, Judaism.
• Thus, if Ramadan begins on August 20 in one year, next year it will begin on August 9. In this way, the length of the day, and thus the fasting period, varies in length from place to place over the years. Every Muslim, no matter where he or she lives, will see an average Ramadan day of.

History of Ramadan

History of Ramadan

Excellence of fasting in Ramadan. By Shaikh Saleem al-Hilaalee and Shaikh Alee Hasan Alee Abdul-Hameed. Forgiveness of sins THE Prophet (sallallahu alayhe wa sallam) urged that one fasts in Ramadan, explaining its excellence and high station, such that if the fasting person had sins as many as the foam upon the sea, then they would be forgiven for him through this pure and blessed act of worship.

Ramadan - the ninth month in the Islamic calendar when Muslims fast from dawn to dusk and engage in the spiritual reflection of God - is one of the most easily identifiable aspects of the religion. Fasting, which is typically the avoidance of food and/or drink, is part of most world religions. But fasting in Ramadan is a special part of the Islamic faith, one of its five pillars, and a time when rewards for fasting and worship are bountiful.

A companion once asked the Prophet Muhammad what deed he could do to attain entrance to paradise. The prophet advised him to fast. But this hadith (verified saying of the Prophet Muhammad) goes on to say that just hunger and thirst alone will not yield spiritual enlightenment and reward. The act of sincere prayer and worship must accompany it. With this in mind, here are ten prayers one can recite during Ramadan to become closer to God.

Note: All Arabic prayers are written in transliteration for easy reading.

The Prayer of Fasting Intention

The Prayer of Fasting Intention

With most things in Islam, like going for the spiritual pilgrimage of Hajj or even praying the five daily prayers, fasting starts with making a du’a, or prayer, for intending to fast, which is called the niyyat. This prayer serves as a notice to God that you intend with your heart and soul to fast during Ramadan for His pleasure. It can be done once before the month begins, or it is recommended to be done every morning at suhoor, the pre-dawn meal before fasting begins.

You basically just state to yourself (as God is your witness) your intention to fast, in whatever language you speak. For example, you can say to yourself, “Oh Allah, I intend to fast today in accordance with your laws and for your benefit. Please accept my fast, forgive my faults, and bring me closer to you.”

Source: “Fasting Rules from Islamic Laws” by Ayatullah Seestani and “Lectures on Fiqh” by Maulana Sadiq Hasan

The Prayer for Breaking the Fast

The Prayer for Breaking the Fast

Ramadan Fastball Islamic Content In One Place Crossword

One of the first prayers I ever learned was the one all Muslims recite when they break their fast. I was barely four (and of course not fasting) when I learned it. And it was my job at iftaar (the fast-breaking meal at sunset) to recite this out loud, after which the fasting members of my family would break their fast with a date. Fasting does not end unless this prayer is recited:

“Allahuma inni laka sumtu wa bika aamantu wa ‘alayka tawakkaltu wa ‘ala rizq-ika aftarthu.”

Oh Allah! I fasted for You and I believe in You [and I put my trust in You] and I break my fast with your sustenance.”

Prayer for Forgiveness

Prayer for Forgiveness

Ramadan is a time when Muslims are told through the Qur’an and in hadiths that God will absolve them of their sins if they engage in sincere worship and repentance. The following prayer is a good one to recite during Ramadan to ask for Allah’s forgiveness:

“Allahumma inni as’aluka birahmatika al-lati wasi’at kulli shay’in an taghfira li.”

Oh Allah, I ask You by Your mercy which envelopes all things, that You forgive me.

This is a prayer that Abdullah ibn Amar, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad, used to recite as he was breaking his fast, as reported by Ibn abi Mulaykah.

Taraweeh Prayers

Taraweeh Prayers

There are infinite prayers that Muslims recite during Ramadan--ones from the Qur’an, ones from hadiths, and others that companions of the Prophets and Islamic scholars recited. But a special type of prayer exclusive to the month of Ramadan are taraweeh prayers, which are special prayers said at night after breaking fast with physical movements akin to those Muslims do during their five daily prayers.

In taraweeh prayers, a hafiz, or one who has memorized the Qur’an, recites one chapter of the Qur’an each night while followers stand behind and pray along. Over the course of Ramadan, the Qur’an is recited in its entirety, one chapter at a time. As reading the Qur’an (and finishing it, if you can), is highly recommended during Ramadan, attending taraweeh prayers is a great way to absorb the virtues of the Qur’an in a congregational setting.

Prayers of Zikr

Prayers of Zikr

Zikr, or prayers recited over and over again in the remembrance of God, is often thought to be part of the Sufi Islamic tradition, when in fact it is an integral part of all Muslims’ lives and especially important during Ramadan. A great way to connect with God while doing all the mundane chores of daily life (driving, waiting in line, preparing the evening meal), is to recite over and over these short phrases:

Subhan’allah, an expression used by Muslims to express strong feelings of joy or relief and recalls how everything Muslims have is thanks to Allah.

Alhamdulillah, or 'Praise be to God!' (It is a Qur'anic exclamation with a similar meaning as hallelujah.)

Astaghfirullah, which means 'I seek forgiveness from God.'

AllahuAkbar, or 'God is the Greatest.'

Prayer for the First 10 Days of Ramadan

Prayer for the First 10 Days of Ramadan

Muslims scholars agree that Ramadan is such a holy month that any sort of prayer, whether it is a personal one from your heart or one from the Qur’an or other Islamic sacred texts, will surely be received by Allah and the rewards for those prayers will be numerous. But the Prophet Muhammad did recommend Muslims to recite certain du’as at particular times during Ramadan. For example, during the first 10 days of the months, reciting the following prayer provides extra benefits:

“Rabbigh fir war hum wa anta khair ur rahimeen.”

Oh my Lord and Sustainer please forgive me and be merciful to me. You are the best amongst those who show mercy.

Source: Reported from the Prophet Muhammad from hadith.

Prayer for Second 10 Days of Ramadan

Prayer for Second 10 Days of Ramadan

This prayer, which is from the Qur’an, was recommended by the Prophet Muhammad to be recited as much as possible during the second 10 days of Ramadan for maximum rewards and forgiveness of sins. This prayer is special for me, as my father advised me to recite it during the first Ramadan I shared with my husband after our marriage, when I was pregnant with our first child, on bed rest, and unable to attend taraweeh prayers at our mosque in New York City.

“Allahumma innaka afuwun tuhibbul afuwa faafu anna.”

Oh Allah indeed you are the greatest pardoner and you like the act of pardoning. Hence, please forgive us.