Roza begins from Tuesday

KATHMANDU, Aug 2: Beginning Tuesday, the Muslim community across the country will observe month-long fasting known as Roza that culminates into Eid-ul-Fitr at the end of the fasting month. The fasting is observed in the holy month of Ramadan, the ninth month according to Islamic calendar, Hijri.



According to Mohammed Sanaullah Nadvi, Imam of Nepali Jame Masjid, Kathmandu, Muslims, who observe fasting during Ramadan, abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk. They break fast in the evening and the meal taken to break the fast is called Iftar. [break]



Ramadan is believed to be the holy month for Muslims for the revelation of Allah to human beings -- the first verses of the Qur´an were revealed to the last prophet in Islam, Muhammad, in this very month.



"The daily routine of Muslims changes in Ramadan as they devote more time to prayers, reciting the verses of holy Qur´an and performing other religious activities," added Nadvi.



According to Nadvi, it is mandatory for Muslims to observe fast when they reach puberty, so long as they are healthy sane, and have no disabilities or illnesses.



The elderly, the chronically ill, and the mentally ill are excused from fasting although the first two groups must endeavor to feed the poor in place of their missed fasting.



Similarly, pregnant women, if they believe that fasting would be harmful to them or to the unborn baby, women during menstruation, and women nursing their newborns are excused from observing the fast.

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