I truly feel sad that these people have to fast for an entire month, especially during the hot days of summer in a desert-like area. To me, this was a way to control people. I realize many Muslims would disagree with me, but this is the way I see it. A week of fasting would have been enough.
Akram Belkaid
The origins of the word 'Ramadan'
Economic activity is at its lowest levels during the month of Ramadan [Getty]
Date of publication: 19 June, 2016
Comment: Akram Belkaid explains where the word 'Ramadan' originally derived from and what this holy month means for Muslims.
The word 'Ramadan' originally meant the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar, also known as "Hegira". The starting point of this calendar, that’s to say the founding date of the Muslim era, marks the emigration – Hijri or Hegira – of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina, on September 13, 622.
The month of Ramadan, which began this year on June 6, 2016, begins with the appearance of the crescent moon, and is that of the year 1437.
A semantic shift means that the word is now also used to refer to the month of fasting that accompanies it. This has led to expressions such as "doing Ramadan", meaning "observing the fast of Ramadan".
This is something that applies to many Arabic speakers, especially in North Africa where the word’s implicit meaning is to fast. Anecdotally, in North Africa "fasting for Lent" is still sometimes said to mean fasting during Ramadan.
Continue reading at:
The origins of the word 'Ramadan'
Akram Belkaid
The origins of the word 'Ramadan'
Economic activity is at its lowest levels during the month of Ramadan [Getty]
Date of publication: 19 June, 2016
Comment: Akram Belkaid explains where the word 'Ramadan' originally derived from and what this holy month means for Muslims.
The word 'Ramadan' originally meant the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar, also known as "Hegira". The starting point of this calendar, that’s to say the founding date of the Muslim era, marks the emigration – Hijri or Hegira – of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina, on September 13, 622.
The month of Ramadan, which began this year on June 6, 2016, begins with the appearance of the crescent moon, and is that of the year 1437.
A semantic shift means that the word is now also used to refer to the month of fasting that accompanies it. This has led to expressions such as "doing Ramadan", meaning "observing the fast of Ramadan".
This is something that applies to many Arabic speakers, especially in North Africa where the word’s implicit meaning is to fast. Anecdotally, in North Africa "fasting for Lent" is still sometimes said to mean fasting during Ramadan.
Continue reading at:
The origins of the word 'Ramadan'