Islam's rules allow combat during fasting month

15 Nov, 2001 06:32 PM3 mins to read

CAIRO - The Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, which starts today or tomorrow depending on the sighting of the new moon, presents a challenge to the United States-led coalition's efforts to rout the Taleban and hunt down Osama bin Laden.

Underscoring that the Taleban may still be a force to be reckoned with, Washington has kept up its military assault and must now consider the possible repercussions of having its attacks continue into Ramadan.

Despite widespread warnings of Muslim anger, Washington would not break any Islamic taboo if it carried the war into the holy month.

But analysts say that waging war in Ramadan could pose a public relations dilemma by reinforcing stereotypes that present the campaign as a Christian attack on Islam.

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is a holy month during which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset.

Fasting primarily involves abstaining from all food and drink, smoking and sexual relations.

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars which form the basis of Islam. The others are professing there is no god but God and that Mohammed is his Prophet, praying, giving money to the poor and performing the Haj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca at least once in one's lifetime.

Fasting is restricted to able-bodied adults of sound mind who are not travelling. Adults who are required to perform critical tasks, such as surgeons or soldiers, do not need to fast lest it impair their judgment or performance.

When is Ramadan?

This year, Ramadan is due to start today or tomorrow. Because Muslims use a lunar calendar, Ramadan moves forward by 11 days every year.

Ramadan ends about 30 days later, at the next new moon. The holy month is followed by the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, the feast of breaking the fast.

What is the purpose of Ramadan?

Ramadan is a time of reflection and deep personal worship which emphasises the values of humility and self-control while increasing sensitivity to the suffering of the needy. The fast is an act of self-purification that is considered spiritually rewarding.

Warfare in Ramadan

Islamic law forbids warfare in four months of the year, but Ramadan is not one of them.

Some Muslims believe there is no better time to fight for a just cause than in Ramadan, and some warriors believe it is a blessing to die as a "martyr" then.

Religious scholars and political analysts say battles during Ramadan have been common throughout the ages. They point to the first major victory of Islam at Badr in 624 AD and the conquest of Mecca, both conducted during the holy month.

Egypt and Syria launched the 1973 war against Israel in Ramadan, and Iran and Iraq did not stop fighting during Ramadan in their 1980-88 war.

Violence in Algeria, which has led to the deaths of more than 100,000 people, tends to accelerate during Ramadan.

- REUTERS

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