Today’s Enlightening Entertainment will be presented in Arabic, Indonesian, and English, with subtitles in Arabic, Aulacese (Vietnamese), Chinese, English, French, German, Hebrew, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Thai.

Greetings respected viewers. We are entering the holy and joyful month of Ramadan, observed by millions of Muslims around the world. It is the special month when the Holy Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

In the Qu’ran, Chapter 2, verse 185, it says: “Ramadan is the month during which the Qu’ran was revealed, providing guidance for the people, clear teachings, and the statute book. Those of you who witness this month shall fast therein.” Ramadan is rich with multiple meanings, as explained by our Muslim friends from Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

The fasting month is the one in which its first part is for mercy. The second is for forgiveness. And the third is for getting free from hell.

In the name of God, blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of God. Ramadan is the only month in the year that has good deeds and blessings. The role of the Muslim is in the “night getting up” and fasting. That is, fasting during the day, getting up at night and reading the Qur’an.

To many Muslims, Ramadan is a time for the whole family to be reunited again, to renew their spiritual fortitude together. We asked some members of Muslim families to share about their feelings and their roles during this once-in-a-year experience.

The man's role in the family is in arranging the family, changing the whole year in the month of Ramadan. That is, changing conditions of the family radically. And this radical change Means to accustom children or get them used to certain things as fasting all the day long and end fasting. Second, get them used to reading the Qur’an. Third, get them used to “night getting up.”

At the home of our Muslim friends in Indonesia, the family comes together to pray. The parents lovingly teach the children how to read the Qur’an in Arabic, its original language as it was revealed to the Prophet.

What’s your name, son?

My name is Simfoni.

During this Ramadan month, do you fast or not?

I do.

How do you eat during fasting month?

In suhoor (dawn) time, maghrib (sunset) time.

How is your feeling when observing this fast?

We as Muslims, we always welcome the coming of Ramadan. It’s very... it’s a noble observance during that month. For activities, we teach our children to learn five times prayer, and also to pray together in the evening at the mosque. Besides that, we teach our children to recite Qur’an.

Reading the Qur’an is very much highlighted during Ramadan, going hand in hand with fasting. In fact, Ramadan is sometimes called the “month of the Qur’an.” Every night, the family holds Taraweeh prayers. In these prayers, as much as one-thirtieth of the Qur’an may be recited. Muslims recite with concentration, humility, and devotion. Ramadan is a time to become close to teachings’ essence as possible.

We do “Al Taraweeh” prayer, God willing. We pray “Al Taraweeh” completely and do “night getting up” as well. We persevere in prayers constantly and keep on reading and finishing the Holy Qur’an, God willing.

In Islam, fasting is called “Sawm” and literally means “to abstain.” From dawn until dusk, Muslims are required to abstain from drinking and eating, smoking, and anything which is not of a good and pure nature. Sawm during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

The other four Pillars of Islam, or duties that Muslim fulfill, are: Shahadah (profession of faith), Salah (prayers), Zakat (giving of alms during Ramadan), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). Following the noble example of the Prophet Muhammad and showing compassion toward animals, most of the food traditionally served at Ramadan is vegetarian, and some households will eat only vegetarian foods during this holy month.

Many Muslims traditionally end their daily fasts in Ramadan with water or dates, as was the recorded practice of Prophet Muhammad.

As a father, I bring food from the market. Then my wife cooks it and the family members gather together, my wife, sons and daughters, to end the fast with each other in one place, And we thank God to Whom be ascribed all perfection and majesty for this day that we fasted and continuing the sequence of the 30 days, God willing, the Great Lord.

Mothers of Muslim households busy themselves to prepare delicious foods that are also very nutritious. Thus, the health of the family is always maintained, and even enhanced during this period of following a simpler regime.

For the menu, we usually prepare it before ending the fast. We have dates, sweet compote, if not, well then... fruit juices, which can maintain the children’s immunity from dawn until evening. Moreover, we also prepare a vegetable meal which is nutritious, such as mixed vegetables with grated coconut, that can also help enhance the immunity of the children during the fasting period.

When we return, we’ll find out about other important aspects of Ramadan, such as charity and prayer. Furthermore, Supreme Master Ching Hai reveals a new insight about the origin of Ramadan. Please stay tuned to Supreme Master Television.

Welcome back to Enlightening Entertainment and our program in celebration of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting in Islam.

How do you feel when observing the fasting month?

Well, about how it feels, perhaps it’s normal as a Muslim to feel really happy being able to observe this fasting, being able to experience the fasting month again, so one can achieve more in a spiritual level, higher, unwavering. This fasting month teaches us, especially myself, to experience more the condition of hunger. Oh, actually, those who were never faced with a lack of food can feel such condition. So, I can have my empathy for people with an unfortunate situation.

During Ramadan, Muslims are especially reminded of the preciousness of doing good deeds towards fellow human beings. One’s sensations of hunger naturally make one think of their less fortunate neighbors who may be in want and suffering. Noble acts of generosity can be seen everywhere in the greater community especially during Ramadan.

Ramadan is a month of worship, full of charity, for poor people…

Humans have to fulfill their role in bringing all the requirements of Ramadan, to be able to host a number of people, especially the poor and needy, to feed them and then end their fasting.

In fact, the spiritual and moral dimension of fasting is considered to be of much greater importance than the physical one. Not only are outer acts of love emphasized in this month, but inner focus on God-consciousness is also intensified. As the head of the household, Muslim fathers encourage their family members to be introverted, cultivate their virtues, and thus derive the most benefit possible from the Ramadan period.

This month is a holy month, because it is the month of goodness, the month of Qur’an. And every Muslim has to persevere in staying committed to this holy month, because , the best month for God, to Whom be ascribed all perfection and majesty, is the month of holy Ramadan.

The end of Ramadan is marked with a special festival called Eid al-Fitr, which means a Day of Feasting. Families and friends unite and rejoice together for having completed the commandment of Allah by successful abstinence and by remembrance of Allah throughout the entire time. After a light meal, the family gathers for prayers, then enjoys time with relatives and friends in joy and unity. New clothes or one’s finest clothes may be worn as a reflection of one’s renewed self after Ramadan.

In addition, gifts may be exchanged as a token of the giving spirit one has cultivated over the past month. Regardless of where Muslims live, they observe the tradition of Ramadan. And the experience of Ramadan stays with them for a long time to come.

Worshipping increases after the month of Ramadan. Before the month of Ramadan, one may be used to 11 months by a particular system with regard to eating, drinking, etc. But after Ramadan he finds himself gotten used to fasting, charity, Zakat (almsgiving), and many things. So, one feels the spirituality and a very strong faith.

During an international gathering with our Association members in December 2008, Supreme Master Ching Hai revealed insight about the traditions of Ramadan.

Ramadan means the birthday of Rama, perhaps the Prophet Muhammad has learned with Rama at that time; he's a big Master, Rama. And on his birthday, thousands of people gather to celebrate. And then, of course, in such a big gathering, they have to hide. They cannot openly cook in the daytime and go shopping and all that, and spread everything out like this. So only eat at night. At night is safer, and all day they can meditate or listen to discourses in quietness.

Master, I learn so much from you just now because I came from a Muslim family and for the longest time, I didn't know Ramadan was the birthday of Rama. “Dan” means birthday. And we have days of fasting and we eat at night.

And we eat nothing during the day. Of course. All day long. Yes. I didn't know that.

Oh, I'm glad. Now I learned.

You see, during the time of Prophet Muhammad, of course he was such a humble Master, so he would just celebrate his Master’s birthday since he learned in India.

This is wonderful.

Wishing all our Muslim viewers around the world a most uplifting Ramadan ever! Thank you for joining us on today’s program. Coming up is Words of Wisdom, after Noteworthy News. Please stay tuned to Supreme Master Television for more constructive programs. May the peace and blessings of remembering Allah stay with you.