O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you¹—so perhaps you will become mindful ˹of Allah.

quran 2:183

The central act of Ramadan is fasting, which involves abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs from dawn until sunset. The fast is intended to foster self-discipline, spiritual growth, and empathy for those less fortunate.

Sahur is the pre-dawn meal consumed by Muslims before they begin their fast during the month of Ramadan. It is eaten early in the morning, before the Fajr (dawn) prayer, which marks the start of the daily fast. The purpose of sahur is to provide energy and hydration to sustain individuals throughout the day of fasting.

While there are no strict rules about what can be eaten during sahur, it is common to consume nutritious foods that are high in fiber, protein, and water content, as these help maintain energy levels and prevent dehydration. Common choices include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, yogurt, eggs, and water. Some people also include dates or other traditional foods, depending on their cultural practices.

Having sahur is considered highly recommended and encouraged in Islam, as it helps ease the fasting experience and is also a time of blessing, as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized the importance of partaking in this meal.

The fast is broken each day at sunset with a meal called iftar, and it typically begins with the eating of dates and drinking water.

During Ramadan, Muslims also engage in increased prayer and recitation of the Quran, and they strive to improve their personal conduct, focusing on virtues such as kindness, charity, and humility.

The last ten days of Ramadan are especially significant, with many Muslims seeking the “Night of Power” (Laylat al-Qadr), a night believed to be when the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Ramadan concludes with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, a festive holiday that marks the end of the fasting period and is a time for giving thanks, feasting, and sharing with loved ones and the less fortunate.

The post What is Ramadan? appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola made this declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, Daily Dates Nigeria reports.

He congratulated all Muslims both at home and in the Diaspora for witnessing this year’s occasion.

Aregbesola, in a statement signed by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Shuaib Belgore, admonished Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of love, patience, tolerance, and perseverance which are deep spiritual virtues that Prophet Muhammad exemplified.

He added that doing so would guarantee peace, security, and harmony in the country.

The statement read in part: “Ogbeni Aregbesola enjoins Nigerians, particularly Muslims, to refrain from violence, lawlessness and other acts of criminality.

“As the indisputable leader of our race, we must demonstrate responsible leadership in Africa.”

He urged Nigerians to be security conscious, asking them to report any suspicious persons or activities to the nearest security agency and through the N-Alert application on Android and IOS, saying “when you see something do N-Alert, as this would elicit a prompt response from security agents.”

The post FG Declares Monday As Public Holiday To Mark Maulud Nabiy appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

The Islamic calendar consists of 12 months and 354 or 355 days, it is approximately 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar. While the Muslim lunar calendar commences with Muharram, it ends with Dhul al-Hijjah.

The New Year has been observed by Muslims all over the world since 622 AD. It is believed that this is when Prophet Muhammad had migrated from Mecca to Medina to escape religious persecution. The new year is Hijri 1443 AH. It means that it has been 1443 years since Prophet Muhammad’s migration.

Islamic New Year is considered a time for prayer and reflection on the sacrifices that led to the beginning of the faith.

The post Islamic New Year 2021: Significance of Hijri New Year appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.