ISLAM 267
The direction of Mecca from any location is
determined using the Great Circle method—in
other words, the shortest route (over one of the Poles
if necessary). Calculating this was a preoccupation
of Muslim scientists during the
Golden Age of Islamic
scholarship, from the
8th to the 13th
centuries.Muslims receive comes to them
from God’s sovereign blessing,
then it is only right for them to
give to those who have received
less. With this in mind, almsgiving
is not considered an act of charity
for Muslims, but a duty they
perform on behalf of those who
require and deserve assistance.
According to the Qur’an, worthy
recipients of alms are the poor,
orphans, and widows, as well
as causes that aim to eliminate
slavery, to help those who are in
debt, and to spread Islam.
Observance of Ramadan
The fourth pillar of Islam is
sawm (fasting), and in particular,
the fast of Ramadan. This is the
name for the ninth month in the
Islamic lunar calendar. The
penultimate night of this
monthlong fast commemorates the
time when Muhammad received
the first revelation of the Qur’an
from the angel Jibrail. Pious
Muslims may pray for the entire
evening, hoping that their prayers
will be answered. In general during
Ramadan, all Muslims who are
physically able abstain from food,
drink, and sexual relations during
daylight hours. Instead, they use
this time for purifying themselves
by reflecting upon their spiritual
condition, considering any wrong
committed, remembering God’s
great mercy, and contemplating the
needs of their communities.
Each morning before daybreak,
families gather for a small meal
that must sustain them throughout
the day. In the evening, after dark,
families visit one another and take
part in a larger meal that often
includes special foods, such as
dates, which Muhammad is
believed to have eaten in order
to break his fast.
Many Muslims go to their local
mosque for evening prayer during
Ramadan and recite a specialprayer said only during the month
of fasting. Likewise, some Muslims
use Ramadan for acts of piety, such
as reciting the entire Qur’an.
Ramadan ends with a special
feast, known as ‘Id al-Fitr, which
breaks the month of fasting. The
feast is obligatory and is an ❯❯Righteous are those
who...give the zakat.
Sura 2:177The direction of Mecca, or Qibla, is
commonly shown in public buildings in
the Muslim world for purposes of prayer.