What is Ramzan?
Ramzan, also known as Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is one of the holiest months for Muslims. It marks the month when the Holy Qur’an is believed to have been revealed from heaven “as guidance for people, a declaration of direction, and a way to salvation.”
During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, abstaining from food and drink, including water, during daylight hours. This fasting is a personal act of worship aimed at getting closer to God, practicing spiritual discipline, and empathizing with those in need.
Ramzan or Ramdan?
Ramzan or Ramadan? This is a fascinating discussion. In Persian and Urdu, where the word was borrowed centuries ago, the original pronunciation changed, replacing the ‘d’ sound with a ‘z,’ and it became ‘Ramzan’. Such pronunciation shifts are common in many languages. For instance, in Hindi, the letter ष from Sanskrit is now pronounced like श.
Here’s an interesting paragraph I read somewhere, that helps explain this concept and could be aptly quoted here.
“Ramadhaan hi kehna chahiye, hamara dhameer (zameer) gavaara nahi karta ke hum Ramadhaan na kahein, khuda ne bari fadheelat (fazeelat) rakhi hai isme, aur bohat faidh (faiz) pohanchta hai logon ko, mareedh (mareez) bhi sehtmand ho jaate hain, har maradh (maraz) ki dawa hai ye, charaghon me jaise dhiyaa (ziya) chamakti hai waise hi iski raatein chamakti hain. Sab namazi masjidon me haadhir (hazir) hote hain aur wudhu (wazu) karte hain.
Kyun hudhoor (huzoor)!! Sahi keh raha hun na main.”
This is what it sounds like if you try to speak Urdu as if it were Arabic.
If someone is speaking Arabic, it should be pronounced as ‘Ramdan’ but in Urdu, the letter ض is pronounced as ‘z’ so it’s ‘Ramzan’.
When a word is adopted into another language, the pronunciation of that language should be used. Otherwise, you would have to say ‘al jabr’ instead of algebra or ‘jamal’ instead of camel, since these words are also derived from Arabic.
Ramzan 2025
In 2025, the month of Ramzan began on Sunday, March 2 in India. The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle, so these dates may vary depending on local moon sightings. Some Muslims rely on calculations, others on moon sightings, and some use both, depending on their beliefs, background, or family traditions.
During Ramzan, fasting involves refraining from eating or drinking, even water, from sunrise to sunset each day. After sunset, Muslims break their fast with a meal known as “iftar” in Arabic. Iftar is often a communal event, where family and friends gather to share the meal. After iftar, eating and drinking is permitted until the next day’s dawn.
Muslims typically engage in additional night prayers and other religious activities during both the day and night when they can. They also wake up early or stay up late for “suhur,” (sehri), a meal eaten before dawn.
Fasting for the Sick?
Islam teaches that people who are sick should not fast during Ramadan if it would make their condition worse. They are allowed to make up for the missed days later when they feel better. This is because Islam does not want to cause difficulties for those who are unwell. In some cases, people with chronic illnesses who are unable to fast can give ‘Fidyah’ (a charitable donation) as an alternative.
Eid 2025
This year the month of fasting is expected to end on Monday, March 31, with the celebration of Eid ul-Fitr, marking the end of Ramzan. Eid-ul-Fitr, often referred to as “Ramzan Eid,” is a joyous occasion celebrated as the conclusion of a month-long fast. The exact date of Eid varies each year, depending on the lunar calendar and the sighting of the new moon. In India, Eid-ul-Fitr is expected to fall on Monday, March 31, 2025, though this is subject to confirmation based on moon sighting.
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