Ramadan Guide 2018? The Positive Wider Effects Of Ramadan in Britain:

By Staff Writer,

Manchester: Ramadan Guide, 2018: The countdown for the last 13 days (approx) to the blessed month of Ramadan has already begun. So what is a Ramadan guide? Ramadan is an annual period in the Muslim calendar. This year in 2018 it will fall in high summer during May & June. Ramadan is a holy month for millions of Muslims worldwide.

In Britain three years ago in 2015 during the Ramadan period many stores such as supermarkets were able to analyse their sales. Many found that sales had dramatically increased with an estimated turnover of £100m in sales. This helped boost turnover for many supermarkets and food traders. This was also a welcome increase in the British economy. Big name supermarkets ran advertisements across many of their stores and even allocated marketing time to community channels who displayed adverts on TV. As Muslim numbers increase (Census, 2011) in the UK the wider sector is becoming aware of the vast potential opportunities available to provide products for this well-proportioned niche market. In April, 2018 the Guardian published an article about the Ramadan economy which is worth £200 million. A Ramadan guide is important in helping showcase the value Ramadan brings with it.

Sainsbury’s supermarket stores saw colossal sales on rice going up 100% each year approximately. Morrison’s was able to monopolise on the sales of date fruits selling 80,000 boxes. Bicester Village sales increased by a staggering 276% in comparison to the seasonal average. This was in the main due to Middle Eastern spenders who flock to the village for holiday breaks seasonally and spend a lot during the Eid holiday. The Ramadan period has seen Halal Travel companies emerge creating holiday packages for Muslim tourists. Many British companies and stores have benefited with the extra business brought in by Muslim tourists visiting the UK particularly during Ramadan.

The holy month of Ramadan in the UK is also a period where UK businesses orientated towards the Halal & Muslim sectors have their busiest periods in the year. Other companies and businesses such as supermarkets have also been developing special sales periods to target this month. Foremost in British supermarkets who undertake Ramadan promotions was Tesco last year. The supermarket will be stocking dates, Halal foods and meats. Tesco was estimated to make around £30 million in sales through last year’s Ramadan promotion.

Currently many young Muslims ie Generation M feel they are being underserved in various sectors such as fashion, clothing, products and lifestyle amongst other areas. Islamic orientated entrepreneurs and start-ups have started to produce companies, products and services themselves to plug this gap & are also expected to experience high levels of sales particularly during Ramadan. Muslim entrepreneurs are producing a vast variety of products in areas such as modest fashion, cosmetics, foods and health products.

A Ramadan guide can show why Ramadan is a period which helps boost spirituality and religious adherence. The holy month also goes beyond this and is helping increase prosperity and economic development in the UK. The British Muslim community is estimated to have a combined spending power of £20 Billion, with around 10,000 Millionaires. This is undoubtedly an important part of the economic make up of British society and Muslim communities continue to contribute to the prosperity of the UK in contemporary society.

Ramadan Guide 2018

Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and is a period of reflection, enhancing spirituality and increasing charitable acts.

It’s celebrated in the ninth month of the Islamic Hijri calendar, when it is believed the Quran was first revealed.

When is Ramadan in 2018?

Quick answer: May 15 through June 15, 2018

Every year the start of Ramadan changes as it is based on the lunar calendar & is determined by the sighting of a new moon. For 2018, it’s expected to begin May 15; however, this date can vary by a few days based on region and how the moon is interpreted.

What Do Observers Do?

Many people practice these traditions during the month-long celebration of Ramadan:

Pray, visit mosques and read verses of the Quran (some people read the whole Quran from cover to cover during this month)
Refrain from eating or drinking (even water) daily from sunrise to sunset
Wake up early for “Suhur” to eat a power meal before fasting begins (such as meat, flatbreads, dates and salads)
Celebrate “Iftar”, the breaking of the fast at sundown (by gathering with family, friends and neighbours for large feasts)
Give money, food and time to charity and people in need

Learn Some Arabic Ramadan Greetings

Ramadan mubarak = Blessed Ramadan

Iftar shahy = Have a good Iftar

Mabarak aleik al shahr = May you get the blessings of the month

Kull aam wa inta fee kheir = May each year pass and you be well

Ramadan kareem = Happy/generous Ramadan

Traditions Around the World

Children in Egypt are given “fanus” (decorative lanterns) in the evening for walks with family and friends

Some regions signal the sunrise and sunset by firing a cannon.

In some countries, people drum and sing in the streets to wake people for their final meal before fasting begins.

Do Non-Muslims Celebrate?

Yes! In many regions around the world, Iftar and Suhoor events are set up as a way to bring the community together.

Fun Facts

Did you know that Islam is the world’s second largest religion and more than 1.6 BILLION people celebrate Ramadan?

Ramadan is celebrated all around the world. Some of the countries with the biggest Muslim populations include:

Indonesia
Pakistan
Bangladesh
Morocco
Nigeria
Egypt
China
Mauritania
Tunisia
Algeria
Somalia
Saudi Arabia
Turkey
Iran
Oman
Bahrain
Kuwait
Iraq
India
Afghanistan

When Ramadan Ends, Eid Al-Fitr Begins!

Eid al-Fitr is the festival of the breaking of the fast. It lasts up to three days in some countries and is a time to:

Pray and volunteer in the community
Eat special foods
Enjoy Halal entertainment
Decorate homes with lights
Donate money to people in need and give gifts to family and friends

Popular Gifts to Give During Eid Al-Fitr

Toys for kids
Perfume and beauty items
Jewellery and watches
Purses and handbags
TVs, cell phones, gaming systems and other electronics
New clothing and shoes for the whole family

Ramadan Mubarak!!

15 Tips For A Ramadan Guide & What Do Muslims Do During Ramadan?

Ramadan is the Muslim holy month which takes place annually and last for either 29 or 30 days depending on the moon cycle.
During Ramadan Muslims do not eat food or drink water during daylight hours, normally starting from dawn till dusk.
Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam that every Muslim who is aged above 12 should adhere to. In Arabic Ramadan is referred to as Sawm. There are some exemptions to this such as people who are ill, very young children, pregnant women, people on long distance journeys etc.
During Ramadan Muslims fast where they restrain themselves from normal activities such as eating and drinking, sexual relations during fasting hours etc. This holy month allows Muslims to better focus on prayer, reflection and self discovery. Muslims can also put themselves in the shoes of people living in poverty and hunger for example as this is a potent reminder about valuing what you have and being thankful to Allah(God) swt.
Each day, before dawn, Muslims observe a pre-fast meal called the suhur. After stopping a short time before dawn, Muslims begin the first prayer of the day called fajr.
At sunset, families hasten for the fast-breaking meal known as iftar followed by the fourth prayer of the day called Maghrib.
After Muslims open their fasts they may eat something and then around an hour later attend the mosque for special prayers known as Taraweeh This prayer lasts for a little longer than one hour and the Imam recites verses and chapters from the Holy Quran.
The Muslims read the Holy Quran which they believe is literally the word of God.
During the last third of Ramadan the Muslims believe during one of these odd nights, the ‘night of power’ took place, known in Arabic as ‘Laylat Al Qadr’. This commemorates when the Holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Mohammed for the first time with the word Iqra meaning to read.
Ramadan in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar known as the Hijri
The word Ramadan comes from the Arabic root ramiḍaor ar-ramaḍ, which means scorching heat or dryness.
During Ramadan spiritual rewards are increased many fold for acts of worship carried out by individuals.
During Ramadan Muslims often to increase the amount of money they give to charities and charitable causes in order to receive greater blessings and rewards from God.
The holiday of Eid al-Fitrmarks the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the next lunar month,
Eid al-Fitr is a time when families and friends come together, share food and gifts and retell old stories or have some Halal entertainment.

A Ramadan Guide & How Does It Boost Charitable Donations

Figures received by the Charity Commission showcase how British Muslims have given approximately £100 million to charity during Ramadan two years ago in 2016. A Ramadan guide can showcase why charity is important to Muslims.

This is a large amount of money which has been kindly distributed by British Muslims and often not highlighted in mainstream media. Part of the question what is Ramadan can be answered through the giving of charity to help others. Charity is important in the Islamic faith and Muslims often living in socially and economically deprived communities try their best to give back.

Muslim run charities have worked in different parts of the world such as Syria, Africa, the sub continent and other parts of the world. As well as this ore and more Muslim orientated charities have been supporting causes closer to home in Britain. The National Zakat Foundation have supported a variety of causes in the UK, see some of their achievements in 2017:

– £3.6m of Zakat distributed to 3,728 recipients; almost £8m [8,226 recipients] since inception.

– Worked at the forefront of the response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, issuing cash grants to both Muslims (£128,000 Zakat) and other residents/families affected (£44,000 Sadaqah).

– Selected by the Evening Standard’s Dispossessed Fund to distribute a further £105,000 of cash grants.

– Grenfell Muslim Response Unit established to assist with the medium and long-term needs of survivors and transitioned to being operated by NZF.

– Pride of Britain award for Zain Miah, Project Manager of Grenfell Muslim Response Unit.

– Muslim Leaders Development Fund launched to support emerging leaders within the community in maximising the impact of their efforts.

– Over 10,000 Zakat payers entrusted their Zakat to NZF, adding up to Zakat income of £3.1m in the year, up from £2.5m in 2016.

Source: National Zakat Foundation Website

A Ramadan Guide? Istanbul’s Ramadan Rituals

A Ramadan Guide From the East? Istanbul Is The Place To Be!

It’s that time of the day and preparations have begun: Soup has been poured into decorated bowls; olives and dates are placed across the table in abundance & water jugs have been brought out with empty glasses suddenly brimming full of clear water. The guests, family members & relatives and even on occasion strangers wait in anticipation peering over to the wall with the clock dangling down. Within minutes a loud but beautiful voice echoes, first one, then two then, multiple calls to prayer (Azaan) can be heard all over the city. Twelve months have passed and Ramadan has returned, one of the most anticipated parts of the year.

Ramadan forms up one of the five major pllars of Islam. Other pillars revolve around prayer, the declaration of faith, Zakat (charity) and the hajj pilgrimage. Ramadan occurs during the ninth month the lunar Islamic calendar. Muslims who observe Ramadan normally fast from dusk till dawn. The fasting day can vary in length depending on which part of the world you are located. Ramadan allows individuals to experience how poor people feel and develop their spirituality.

Daily Sabah: Istanbul, one of the greatest cities in the world, is definitely a spiritual place. However, Ramadan in Istanbul is surely a different experience. The land of minarets offers a unique and spiritual journey to its residents and guests throughout Ramadan.

There are certain things that most Istanbulites do every Ramadan. Although they sound like clichés, they are the things that keep up the Ramadan spirit all over the city.

Ramadan is the month of special meals. The whole family gets together and eats to break their fast, in a meal called iftar. The Spice Bazaar in Istanbul assumes a new identity during Ramadan. People visit here to pick up the best spices for their delicious meals as well as snacks and dessert for the rest of the evening. If you want to experience the full Ramadan dinning table spirit, you should definitely head there during this month.

Sultanahmet, located in the Historical Peninsula, is one of the most visited places during Ramadan in Istanbul. The place where you can find both the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia hosts hundreds, even thousands of Muslims, as well as tourists during this holy month. The Blue Mosque, which is adorned with blue, green and white İznik tiles, is a place that you can experience spiritual guidance at its best. During Ramadan, people pack their picnic bags and break their fast in the gardens of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia or on the lawns. People share their food with each other and talk among themselves even if they do not know each other. Moreover, theology professor Nihat Hatipoğlu, who hosts a Ramadan TV special, hosts the show live from Sultanahmet every year so you can join the crowd and listen to him in person.

Eyüp Sultan Mosque is another place that draws quite a lot of visitors during Ramadan. Built upon the orders of the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror in 1458 around the tomb of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, the mosque features a madrasah, a public bath and a fountain. The mosque hosts various events specially programed for Ramadan, and thousands of people around Istanbul spend the night in the garden of the mosque. People make “sahur” in the garden and perform their morning prayers in the mosque. Most come to the mosque after “iftar” and spend time with their loved ones until dawn. Last year, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality cleaned the entire courtyard of the mosque as well as the interior with rosewater, and announced that municipality workers would do the same every day during Ramadan. If you want to get into the Ramadan spirit, Eyüp Sultan Mosque might be the right place for you.

During Ramadan, people play and make wishes for themselves and their loved ones. The Oruç Baba Tomb in Istanbul is one of the most frequently visited places in Istanbul. Oruç Baba is rumored to be a pasha in the army of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. People pay a visit to the tomb of Oruç Baba and break their fast. They later pray for this historic figure and make wishes. The tomb is always crowded during Ramadan, so if you want to break your fast in this location, you have to get there early.

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality also organizes a number of Ramadan events that are suited for the spiritual atmosphere of the month. Last year, Yenikapı was the center of the Ramadan events. Additionally, other events such as a concert of Sufi music, poetry readings, whirling dervish shows, shadow puppet shows and stage plays were organized in Sultanahmet, on the Maltepe Coast, as well as Feshane.

Ramadan Guide 2018: 15 Tips To Better Understand What Muslims Do During Ramadan