Ramadan is among the pillars of Islam, it is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It lasts twenty-nine to thirty days, from one visual sighting of the crescent moon to the next. And also it begins at the last night of the month of Sha’ban and it ends at the last night of the month of Ramadan.
Fasting is obligatory for adult Muslims, except those who cannot fulfill it for health reasons, pregnancy, long travel, old age, breastfeeding and the like. The pre-dawn meal is referred to as Suhur and the meal at sunset that breaks the fast is called Iftar which some people referred to it as Ramadan dinner.
Spiritual rewards are supposed to come in abundance during the month of Ramadan. Therefore, believers devote themselves in prayers (Salat), reading the Qur’an and doing charitable activities.
Ramadan also teaches Muslims how to better self-disciplining themselves, self-control, sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate; thus, encouraging actions of generosity and compulsory charity (Zakat).
Charity is very important in Islam especially during the month of Ramadan. Zakat (benevolence) is obligatory as one of the pillars of Islam; a fixed percentage of the person’s savings is required to be given to the poor at the end of Ramadan. Sadaqah is voluntary charity that a Muslim offers beyond what is required of him to the needy.
All good activities in Islam are more handsomely rewarded during Ramadan than in any other month of the year. Therefore, many use this month to give a larger portion of sadaqah in order to maximize the reward that will await them at the last judgment.
Ramadan in Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, Ramadan has always been marked by brotherhood and sisterhood among Muslims and Christians. In fact, Islam has a long and unique history in Ethiopia. During Prophet Mohammed’s initial years of prophecy, and when oppression against Muslims augmented in Mecca, he instructed a group of them in about 615 AD to escape persecution in Mecca and to seek protection in Abyssinia, a Christian country known today to be in Ethiopia, which had been ruled by a Christian king, Armah, who stood for justice. The king welcomed the Muslim refugees and settled them in Tigray state, north of Wukro, Negash.
In Islamic history and tradition, Ethiopia is known as the “Haven of the First Migration or Hijra.” This was the start of a long and strong linked history of Muslims and Christians in Ethiopia.
Muslims and Christians have lived as one single and linked community ever since Islam arrived in Ethiopia. There is no exclusion in Ethiopia among the people. This culture of harmonious relationship is much stronger and visible during Ramadan. In Ramadan, social gatherings are frequent at Iftar.
In many parts of the country, Christianity followers join their Muslim brothers and sisters during the evening fast-breaking meal, Iftar. Abel Belay, 28, is an exemplary for this. Beginning from childhood, he joins his neighboring Muslims during Iftar.
The writer of this article met Abel at his neighbor’s home in Addis Ababa, Kolfe Keranyo Sub-city. Mohammed, owner of the house, said he is always happy when joined by his Christian neighbors. Abel too says: “I am Orthodox Christianity Follower. Every year, as Ramadan comes, I miss the soup.”
Muslims engage in increased voluntary charity (Sadaqah) during Ramadan. Mohammed Ali stated, “Many Muslims call the people to join them during Iftar ceremony because, this increases spiritual rewards from Allah.”
He said the Christianity followers help the Muslims during Ramadan in many things. Especially, in rural parts of the country the Christians help Muslims during Ramadan by lending a hand at farmlands. “This is our culture for many years.”
In many parts of the country, not only in the month of Ramadan, Muslims and Christians help one another not only in the month of Ramadan but also in other months as well.
The Ethiopian Herald, May 31/2019
BY ABDUREZAK MOHAMMED
