Ramadan is a holy month for all Muslims of the world, during which a fast is observed. Its purpose is spiritual and physical purification, the education of self-discipline. In this article you will learn how to congratulate a Muslim on Ramadan and what to wish for, what can be presented as a gift, why this month is so important for the followers of the Islamic religion.
What does Ramadan mean?
The fasting is that in the daytime (from dawn to sunset), believers do not consume food and water, refrain from smoking and sex. Traditionally, these days, visits are made to relatives and friends, giving alms, reading the Qur'an, special holiday prayers in mosques and houses, thoughts about your life path and priorities. The meaning of fasting is the triumph of the spirit over the desires of the flesh.
Many people wonder if representatives of other religious faiths and atheists congratulate Muslims on Ramadan. Each person decides this question for himself. If there is such a desire, then we can congratulate you, because your Muslim friends will be very pleased to hear kind, sincere words in their holy month.
Fasting in Ramadan is so important for the followers of Islam because it promotes spiritual growth and strengthening faith, purifies the mind and thoughts, equalizes and unites the poor with the rich, arouses the desire to do good and improves relations between people. Therefore, believers are so happy about the onset of the month of Ramadan, as well as its completion, when the test of perseverance and faith was left behind, but new, higher feelings settled in the soul.
Congratulations
Greeting and congratulatory words can be said on any day of the holy month, but it is especially good to do this on the day of the beginning or end of the fast. The latter is widely celebrated by all Muslims and is called the Feast of Conversation (in the Turkic languages - Uraza Bairam, in Arabic - Eid al-Fitr).
If you want to figure out how to congratulate on Ramadan, then you will be interested to know how Muslims themselves do it. The classic phrase combining congratulations and greetings is “Eid Mubarak!”, Which literally translates as “Blessed is the holiday!”. It is customary for Russian Muslims to say these words on the day of the Feast of Conversation. And in many Islamic countries they say so in connection with any Muslim holiday.
You can congratulate and more specifically: “Ramadan Mubarak!” - which means, respectively, “Blessed Ramadan!”. But it can also translate as “Congratulations on the month of Ramadan!”.
In addition to traditional phrases, it is also appropriate to express sincere wishes for health, patience, mutual understanding in the family, strengthening faith, the nobility of thoughts and deeds. You can say (or write): "I wish you worthy to pass this post"; “May your prayers be accepted”; “I wish to live this great month righteously,” etc.
Gifts for Muslims
Now you know how to congratulate Ramadan. If there is a desire, then your good wishes and parting words can be accompanied by a gift. What is appropriate to present to a Muslim man? The most relevant gift is always the Qur'an. This can be a beautiful edition, or a convenient “marching” option in a leather cover and on a lock, or even an audiobook. You can also give accessories for prayer. This includes a rug, special clothing, a compass for determining the direction of prayer, decorative wooden coasters under the Quran.
You can pick up a souvenir in the department of Muslim goods. The choice is great: a calendar with photos of mosques or sayings from the Koran, a thematic bookmark for a book or a fridge magnet, audio recordings of an azan (chanting prayer), a silver ring, an embroidered skullcap, T-shirt with Islamic symbols, etc.
If you didn’t know how to congratulate a Muslim with Ramadan and what to give, then now you have a choice of several options, from simple souvenirs to serious gifts.
Gifts for Muslim women
And what can be presented to a woman on the occasion of the completion of the holy fast? A good gift would be clothes or decor items: prayer vestments, a beautiful hijab, tippet, scarf or shawl, bonnet (holds hair under a scarf), a picture or wall panel on Islamic themes, shamail (a sample of Arabic calligraphy in a frame). In honor of the great holiday, girls and women will always be pleased with jewelry and cosmetics: Arabic oil perfumes, high-quality antimony, gold pendants or earrings.
Do not forget about edible gifts for the celebration of the conversation of Uraza-Bairam. The followers of Islam care about health, so they gratefully accept black cumin oil or olive oil, as well as honey and a variety of sweets (halva, Turkish delight, baklava, etc.).
Although the youngest Muslims do not fast, they also receive gifts in honor of the holy month. Before congratulating the family on Ramadan, you need to make sure that all children receive gifts of equal value. You can’t offend anyone. Suitable gifts may include, for example, illustrated Quranic tales, stories of the prophets, and so on. If you wish, you can find a lot of children's literature on Islamic subjects. It is appropriate for a very small child to present a medallion or pendant with a crescent moon: silver for a boy and gold for a girl.
Now you know how to congratulate Ramadan correctly, what to wish in connection with the beginning of fasting and what to give to Muslims in honor of the end of their holy month.