A Ramadan calendar is a paper based calendar used by Muslims during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It has a small flap for each day of the month, similar to an Advent calendar. One flap is opened each day, and there may be a small piece of chocolate, a sweet or a toy behind each flap. Origins of the Ramadan calendar
An Advent calendar is used as a countdown towards a specific Advent, for example a Christmas Advent Calendar counts down the days starting from December 1 and ending on December 24 - Christmas Eve, the night before the Advent of Christmas, which celebrates the birth of Jesus.
Similar to that, the Ramadan calendar is used to count down the days of the month of Ramadan in the Islamic calendar, which can be either 1 to 29, or to 30 days. As the Islamic calendar is lunar-based the length of the Ramadan month depends on changes of the moon during the specific year.
Ramadan calendar in social integration
The month of Ramadan is a time for fasting from sunrise to sunset, spiritual reflection, prayer, doing good deeds and spending time with family and friends. It is of key importance for Mum to teach her childen the principles of the Islamic faith from an early age and to help them fast for longer and longer periods every day until, by the time they reach maturity (puberty) they are able to fast for the entire day. Whilst most children are eager to learn and participate it is not easy and every bit of encouragement is welcome.
The Ramadan calendar was developed in order to help parents teach and encourage their children about the religious beliefs and practices of the Islamic faith in a way which is easy and appealing to children. It consists of 29/30 windows or little doors behind which is a small chocolate and sometimes also a Good Deed Suggestion. At sunset, or after the child has fasted for the prescribed time, or he/she has done a good deed, the child opens the door for the correct day of Ramadan, to enjoy the chocolate reward and read the good deed which he/ she should do the next day. Thus the calendar acts as a motivational tool as well as helping to keep track of the number of days that the child has fasted and done a good deed during the month of Ramadan. It is an instrument, both inspirational and practical in nature, for instilling religious beliefs and creating long lasting traditions. It teaches children in a fun and easy way the traditions and beauty of Islam, whilst creating family moments between parent and child.
It goes a long way to meet the words of the Quran: “He who provides a fasting person something with which to break his fasting, or he who equips a ‘fighter’ with the means to motivate and maintain his fast, will earn the same reward as the one doing it” (At Tirmidhi, authenticated by Shaikh Al-Albani In Sahih At-Targhib, no. 1072)
In the past, many Mums have created their own home-made calendars for their children. The very first commercialized Ramadan Calendars specifically for the Middle East / Arab region were made available for Ramadan in 2011. Produced by a company based in United Arab Emirates, they are manufactured to meet the strict Islamic regulations.
The original concept of the calendars was for children however this has been extended and the first production of Adult Ramadan Calendars was introduced in 2011 to be used for gifting between colleagues in the work place, neighbours and family.
References
1. ^ "The history of Islam". HISTORY.com (USA: HISTORY.com). http://www.history.com/content/ramadan. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
2. ^ "Islam". BBC (UK: BBC). http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/religion/islam/ramadan.shtml. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
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