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XX.—RAMAZA′N, OR THE MONTH OF
FASTING.
The Ramazán[1] is the ninth month of the Muhammadan year, which is observed as a strict fast from the dawn of day to sunset of each day in the month. The excellence of this month was much extolled by Muhammad, who said that during Ramazán "the gates of Paradise are open, and the gates of hell are shut, and the devils are chained by the leg"; and that "only those who observe it will be permitted to enter by the gate of heaven called Rayyán." Those who keep the fast ‘"will be pardoned all their past venial sins."[2] In the
- ↑ The word Ramazán is derived from Ramz, to burn. The month is said to have been so called either because it used (before the change of the calendar) to occur in the hot season, or because the month's fast is supposed to burn away the sins of men. (See Ghyás-ul-Loghát.)
- ↑ Mishkát-ul-Musábih, bk. vii. chap. i. sect. 1.
