The holy month of Ramadan reaches midway as Muslims around the wold complete 15 rozas (fasts) on Friday, July 3. The month of Ramadan is observed by fasting from dawn to dusk for 30 continuous days and then celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr after the sighting of the moon.
The glory of this month has been visible in Auckland. As the clock strikes 4 in the evening, the footfall at the local groceries goes up. Families get busy preparing Iftar, the mosques see followers towards 5 pm and at the call of Adhaan (call for prayer) people break their fast.
It is a wonderful view inside the mosque when you see scores of men sitting in a long line facing each other and/or in small circular groups and the food is served in the centre. Some silently recite the verses of Quran, some raise their hands in Dua, some chat and murmur with their friends sitting beside them, while others serve food to the visitors.
The virtue of Ramadan is that it gets families, friends, and strangers closer to each other and God. Most of the mosques in Auckland, in fact, all the Islamic Centres in the country have some Iftar arrangements made for the visitors who come for Salah (prayer), and generally everyone who would want to open their fast.
The view gets better when you see men coming with their small children to the mosque for Iftar and Salah in the evenings. Children dressed in kurta or thawb (ankle-length Arab garment, usually with long sleeves, similar to a robe) eat and pray alongside . Post Salah, one can see some children playing at one corner while elders mix and mingle .
The Iftar served at all the mosques are contributions of the visitors and preparations made by the mosque authorities. People volunteer and contribute not only by making donations but also getting groceries and devoting their time at the kitchen, cleaning and making the arrangements.
In the third part of Ramadan, there is a special night called Lailatul Qadr or ‘the night of decree’, a night which is better than 1,000 months (83 years and 4 months). On this night, a person is advised to say special prayers, ask for forgiveness for his past sins and pray for a better future, both in this world and hereafter.
Based on the sighting of the moon, Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated either on Saturday, July 18, or Sunday, July 19. Indian Weekender, in its next issue dated July 10,will publish a list of mosques and centres where the Eid-ul-Fitr Salah will be observed along with the timings and other details of the arrangements.