19 September 2009, 23:00
Moslems of Northern Caucasus celebrate Uraza-Bairam
This year, the Uraza-Bairam ('Id al-Fitr) holiday that marks the end of the Moslem sacred fasting month of Ramadan falls on Sunday, September 20. The authorities of the republics of Northern Caucasus have declared days-off for the time of the holiday.
The European Council on Fatwas and Researches (ECFR) reports, with reference to astronomic calculations, that Saturday, September 19, is the last day of Ramadan, and Sunday, September 20, is the first day of the Id, writes the website "Islam for All!"
Earlier, the Islamic Crescent Observation Project (ICOP) and the Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) also stated that the Id would start on September 20.
Khalid Khazrat Sendekov, representative of the Council of Muftis of Russia, has noted, in his conversation with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent about peculiarities of the Muslim fasting (Ramadan) in different republics of the Caucasus, that distinctions can be only in the date to begin the fasting, while there are no other canonical or national peculiarities - "this is a universal ceremony for all Moslems."
The fundamental provision of the Ramadan is abstention from meals, drinks and sex in the daytime. The observance of Ramadan is one of five main pillars of Islam.
Ramadan ends with the holiday of fast-break - 'Id al-Fitr (Uraza-Bairam) - one of the main Moslem holidays.
On the day of Uraza-Bairam, a Moslem should be joyful and cheerful; he or she should welcome the believers, congratulate them on the holiday and wish them acceptance of their fasting by the Lord, pay visits to relatives, neighbours and friends, other Moslems and to accept guests. Also, it is necessary to hold the rite of zakat (poor-due) (possibly with grain, or in money) in favour of orphans or needy people.
