Azerbaijani people mark holy Ramadan Holiday

Today, Azerbaijan marks the Ramadan Holiday.
The sultan of eleven months, the holy and blessed month of Ramadan, is drawing to an end. Azerbaijani people will mark the holy Muslim holiday on August 8-9.

Chairman of Caucasus Muslims Office, Sheikhulislam Haji Allahshukur Pashazade has issued a congratulatory message on the occasion of the Holy Ramadan. He wished the Azerbaijani people health, happiness and for their dreams to come true.

Every year the Azerbaijani people as well as other Muslims around the world celebrate this holiday with great joy and happiness.

The fast is now over and every Muslim family in Azerbaijan, as part of the 1.5 billion Islamic world, celebrates this sacred holiday covering the table with dishes of the national cuisine.

The people who fasted during the month of Ramadan feel happy, blessed and morally appeased. The Muslims fast with great propensity for thirty days and thus they test their patience and ability to overcome temptations once again.

However, the Ramadan joy of the people is accompanied by a bit of sadness as well, because they regret that such a holy month which morally purifies the soul and body is over.

One of the main features of the holy Ramadan is that after this month Muslims of the world make a visit to holy sites. Visiting holy places is one of the great wishes of each Muslim.

The holy month of Ramadan and Ramadan holiday make people close to each other, bring them together around one table and teach the love for God, the love of life presented by God to each being and to share both material and moral wealth.

Generally, each prosperous Muslim who has fasted during the Ramadan must share 3 kg of food with needy Muslims a few days before the holiday. This Islamic tradition aims to help poor Muslims to set their festive table.

Muslims believe that their good actions bring a greater reward during this month than at any other time of the year, because this month has been blessed by God.

Azerbaijan, a predominantly Muslim country, has celebrated the Ramadan officially since 1993, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Azerbaijani Muslims did not stop fasting even during the Soviet period when all religious holidays were banned.

Azerbaijan has always been one of the historical and cultural centers of the Islamic world, and for centuries the Azerbaijani people have been committed to their religious, national and moral values.

The freedom of conscience and the freedom of religion are fully ensured in accordance with local legislation and international law, with favorable conditions created for the citizens to freely practice their religious rituals, conduct ceremonies, and celebrate holidays.

The month of Ramadan calls upon people for unity in the name of wonderful intentions and good deeds, inviting them to follow the path of peace, fraternity and equality.

During this month, Muslims get an opportunity to worthily fulfill their duty of conscience and obligations to God and religion, experience the joy of triumph, spiritual and moral perfection over temptations. Ramadan also promotes unity and humane ideas within the society, and strengthens love for God and Motherland.

During the blessed Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, Muslims spend the daylight hours in a complete fast and abstain from food, drinks and other needs. As a time to purify the soul, refocus attention on God and practice self-sacrifice, Ramadan is much more than just not eating and drinking, it is a time for inner reflection, devotion to God and self-control. Muslims are called upon to use this month to re-evaluate their lives in light of Islamic guidance.

The holy Koran was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad during this month. Thus, according to the Koran, Muhammad first received revelations during the lunar month of Ramadan. Therefore, the month of Ramadan is considered to be the most sacred month of the Islamic calendar. The actual night that the Koran was revealed is a night known as Lailat ul-Qadr (the night of power).

Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of the Islam religion and one of the main types of Islamic worship. It is a way of experiencing hunger and developing sympathy for the less fortunate, and learning thankfulness and appreciation for all of God's bounties.

Fasting is an act of compliance and obedience to God as well as amends for sins, faults and mistakes. During Ramadan, Muslims ask God for forgiveness for the sins made in the past, pray for guidance and assistance in abstaining from everyday troubles.

Therefore, fasting is not merely physical, but is rather the total commitment of the person's body and soul to the spirit of the fast. Ramadan is a time to practice self-restraint, to cleanse the body and soul from impurities and re-focus oneself on the worship of God.

Muslims start fasting when they reach puberty, so long as they are healthy, sane and have no disabilities or illnesses. Exemptions to fasting are travel, menstruation, severe illness, pregnancy, and breast-feeding.

Each day before dawn, Muslims observe a pre-fast meal called suhoor. After stopping a short time before dawn, Muslims begin the first prayer of the day, the Fajr prayer. At sunset, families hasten for the fast-breaking meal known as iftar. It is a time of fellowship with families, friends and surrounding communities.

Ramadan conveys the sense of emotional enthusiasm and religious eagerness among Muslims. Ramadan highlights Muslim brotherhood and customs and brings about a special feeling of closeness.

The whole month of Ramadan is a time of renewal and reflection. As the month winds to a close, we pray that the spirit of Ramadan and the lessons learned during it last for all of us throughout the year.

Azerbaijan has officially celebrated holy Ramadan holiday since 1993.