Muslims in month of Ramadan

Religion Reporter

THE Muslim’s Holy month of Ramadan began last Wednesday and according to the Muslim lunar calendar, it will run until July 18.

Sheikh Abdullah Sikacha of the Council of Islamic Scholars in Zimbabwe said they sighted the moon last Wednesday night, this signifies its commencement.

Ramadan is synonymous with fasting and mass gathering by the Muslims.

“Muslims around the country have started their fasting today (last Wednesday) and we are breaking at 5:32pm. People will congregate at 5:30pm but the service will start two hours later. That will be around 7:30pm.

“This is a month of intense and compulsory prayer from morning to evening, fasting and having nightly feasts,” Sheikh Sikacha said.

During Ramadan, observant Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset for the entire month and a single sip of water is considered enough to invalidate the fast. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with the Muslim declaration of faith and daily prayer.

Children, the elderly, the sick, women who are pregnant or menstruating and people travelling are not obligated to fast.

“The fast is intended to bring the faithful closer to God and to remind them of the suffering of those less fortunate. Our mosques around the country’s communities of Mbare, Kuwadzana, Mufakose among others will be hosting these prayers,” Sheikh Sikacha said.