RAMADAN Vocabulary (Especially for New Muslims)

RAMADAN Vocabulary (Especially for New Muslims)
by Sheikh Bilal Danoun :

1. Ramadan: Name of the 9th Islamic month that Muslims fast for 29 or 30 days

2. Siyaam/Sawm: Fasting from all forms of nutrition between break of dawn (Fajr/Subuh) and Sunset (Maghrib)

3. Suhoor: The pre-dawn meal shortly before the commencement of the break of dawn (Fajr/Subuh)

4. Iftaar: Time of breaking the fast or the name of the meal itself that one will break their fast on

5. Fidyah: The compensation due for not fasting

6. Rayyaan: The gate in Paradise exclusive to those who fasted

7. Taraaweeh/Qiyaam: Optional and very rewarding night prayers prayed after the 5th prayer (Ishaa). They are generally prayed at the mosque but may also be prayed at home

8. Laylat-ul Qodr: The night in which the Qur’an was revealed. It is the night before (eve) of the odd days during the last 10 days of Ramadan. A Muslim spends the entire night engaging in various acts of worship until the break of dawn. The reward for this one night of worship is better than 1,000 months of worship (83.3 years)

9. I’tikaaf: Spending the entire day and night at the mosque engaging in various acts of worship. This is mainly done in during the last 10 nights of Ramadan

10. Zakaat-ul Fitr/Sadaqat-ul Fitr: Certain amount of food given to the poor towards the end of Ramadan and before the Eid prayer. It is a compulsory charity payable by or on behalf of all members of a household young and old. It purifies those who fasted from wrong doings committed during Ramadan.