Ramadan in 2011 will start on Monday, the 1st of August and will continue for 30 days until Tuesday, the 30th of August.
Note: that in the Muslim calander, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Muslims will celebrate ramadan on the sunset of Sunday, the 31st of July.
Although ramadan is always on the same day of the Islamic calendar, the date on the Gregorian calendar varies from year to year, since the Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar and the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar. This difference means ramadan moves in the Gregorian calendar approximately 11 days every year. The date of ramadan may also vary from country to country depending on whether the moon has been sighted or not.
The dates provided here are based on the dates adopted by the Fiqh Council of North America for the celebration of Ramadan. Note that these dates are based on astronomical calculations to affirm each date, and not on the actual sighting of the moon with the naked eyes. This approach is accepted by many, but is still being hotly debated
Ramadan 2011 will begin at 1 August 2011. It will continue for 30 days. Ramadan 2011 is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar
Moreover, in this holy month, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) received the first revelation of Al-Qur'an (in one of the last ten odd nights of Ramadan 2011).
Referring to the Muslim calendar, saying that the month of Ramadan is that of 2011 is a misnomer. Islamically speaking, it would be better to say that this is the month of Ramadan 1432.
Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, with the profession of faith, prayer, almsgiving and pilgrimage.
Muslims consider this month as a blessed month. They fast (Sawm) throughout the month and make special prayers at night. These night prayers, Taraweeh prayers is nicknamed, are performed after the fifth prayer of the day. According to the mosque and the imam, the salat (prayer) usually last 20 to several tens of minutes.
Ramadan is the month of 2011 celebrating the month as well as discipline and self-control. Muslims use this time to multiply the gifts and good deeds for charity.
Many Muslims also take advantage of the Ramadan month to quit smoking. Indeed, during Ramadan, it is absolutely forbidden to fasting, that is to say the ideal time to stop smoking the drug.
Ramadan 2011 will be a busy month for mosques
The month of Ramadan is a period rich in events for the French Muslim community. That's why Find Your Mosque cover the news of the mosques during the month of Ramadan 2011.
Find Your Mosque offers the ability to view prayer times according to the municipalities and cities in France. Prayer times vary depending on geographic location. Indeed, for example the Maghreb (sunset prayer) in Brest can take place an hour earlier than in Strasbourg. It is very important for every Muslim to learn the prayer time every day. So, be sure to look under hours of prayer!
The Ramadan period is characterized by its fast course from sunrise to sunset but also by the prayers of Taraweeh being addressed a little higher.
Charity during the month of Ramadan
Charity is very important in Islam. Ramadan is often called the month of giving, the month of generosity and sharing of the month. The mosques often reflect that generosity. They organize during the month of Ramadan (we will see during the Tour de France mosques Ramadan 2011) meals for those who want it. Generally, people who are alone or can not afford a meal a meal shared with the followers of the mosque.
Families organize themselves in turn to organize every night of Ramadan meal for some one hundred people.
The Iftar meal becomes a mixture where the needy and those who wish to share a meal. The Grand Mosque of Lyon will host for the month of Ramadan 2011, a new edition of the Heart Chorba, a meal every evening during Ramadan 2011.
The month of Ramadan, a month of spirituality
But what is the prayer of Taraweeh?
These are voluntary prayers, in other words, they are not mandatory but highly recommended and praiseworthy. This religious rite is Sunnah, a prophetic tradition, which takes place in 11 or 20 ra'kâ.
Ramadan is also punctuated by reading the Holy Koran that can be spelled Qur'an. He must read the entire Qur'an by the end of Ramadan. It is possible to get internet on different timing or planning to organize the reading of the Holy Qur'an total. Often listening to the Koran for hours, a method that may help to remember more easily the Holy Qur'an.
Ramadan in 2012 will be held from July 20 to August 19, 2012
Ramadan in 2013 will be held from July 9 to August 8, 2013
Ramadan in 2014 will be held from June 28 to July 28, 2014
Ramadan in 2015 will be held from June 18 to July 17, 2015
