Ramadan
Ramadan holds profound significance in Islam as the month in which the Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). It is a time of fasting, spiritual reflection, increased devotion, and communal worship for Muslims worldwide.
Allah, the Exalted, says in His Noble Book:
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
“The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur’an was sent down as guidance for mankind, with Clear Signs containing guidance and discrimination. Any of you who are resident for the month should fast it. But any of you who are ill or on a journey should fast a number of other days. Allah desires ease for you; He does not desire difficulty for you. You should complete the number of days and proclaim Allah’s greatness for the guidance He has given you so that hopefully you will be thankful.”
Qur’an, Surah al-Baqarah 2:185 (translation: Aisha Bewley)
For the Community of the Jumu’a Mosque of Cape Town, Ramadan represents a unique opportunity to deepen our connection to Allah, strengthen the bonds of the Jama’at, and honour this blessed month with collective prayer, study, and the daily breaking of fast together.
Tarawih Prayer Program
The focus of our Ramadan program centres on the Tarawih prayers — the special congregational night prayers performed after Isha, bringing together the entire community in unified worship.
Tarawih begins immediately after the Isha prayer each evening throughout Ramadan. Each night, 20 raka’ats are performed in congregation, with pauses for rest between groups.
The recitation follows the riwayat (transmission) of Warsh ‘an Nafi’ — one of the authentic preserved recitations of the Qur’an.
The immense merit of standing in night prayer during Ramadan is established in the authentic Sunnah:
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ حُمَيدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ: “مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ.”
Narrated Abu Hurayrah: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever stands in prayer during the nights of Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping for the reward of Allah, all his past sins will be forgiven.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 37
Khatam: Complete Recitation of the Qur’an
Over the 29 or 30 nights of Ramadan, the entire Qur’an is recited in full during the Tarawih prayers — a practice grounded in the Maliki school of jurisprudence. Imam Malik ibn Anas endorsed the practice of reciting the entire Qur’an in congregation during Ramadan (Al-Muwatta), and the Maliki scholars affirm that Tarawih with extended recitation strengthens the bonds of the community and honours the revelation of the Qur’an.
Our Recitation Team
The leadership of our Tarawih program is carried by three accomplished Haafithos (memorisers of the Qur’an), each having committed all 30 juzz to memory:
| Haafith | Juzz Memorised | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Haafith Sabeegh Philander | 30 | Primary Reciter |
| Haafith Abdirahman Mohamed | 30 | Assisting Reciter |
| Haafith Naeem Abdol | 30 | Assisting Reciter |
These dedicated servants bring their memorisation and devotion to lead the congregation through the miraculous words of Allah’s final revelation, night after night, for the duration of the blessed month.
Nightly Discourse by Shaykh Isma-eel
Following the conclusion of Tarawih each evening, Shaykh Isma-eel Isaacs, the Imam-Khatib of the Jumu’a Mosque, delivers a brief tafsir (explanation and reflection) on a selection of the verses recited that night.
This discourse provides the community with deeper insight into the meanings, lessons, and guidance contained within the Qur’an, enriching our spiritual understanding and fostering contemplation during this blessed month.
The Last Ten Nights
The final ten nights of Ramadan hold a station of unique sanctity. They contain Lailat al-Qadr — the Night of Power — which the Qur’an describes as “better than a thousand months” (Surah al-Qadr 97:3). The Prophet (ﷺ) honoured these nights with an intensity of worship beyond his ordinary practice, and the Sunnah is to emulate this striving.
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الضُّحَى، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ: “كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا دَخَلَ الْعَشْرُ شَدَّ مِئْزَرَهُ، وَأَحْيَا لَيْلَهُ، وَأَيْقَظَ أَهْلَهُ.”
Narrated ‘A’isha (may Allah be pleased with her): “With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet (ﷺ) used to tighten his waist-belt (i.e. exert himself in worship), spend the night in prayer, and wake up his family for the prayers.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 2024 (also Sahih Muslim 1174)
To “tighten the waist-belt” is an Arabic idiom meaning to set about a task with full resolve and wholehearted devotion. At JMCT, the congregation is encouraged to follow this prophetic example by intensifying prayer, recitation of the Qur’an, dhikr, and supplication during these final ten nights — particularly the odd-numbered nights, in which the Prophet (ﷺ) instructed his community to seek Lailat al-Qadr.
Beginning of Ramadan — Moonsighting
The start of Ramadan is determined by the sighting of the new moon (hilal) in the Cape Town region. This follows the principle established by the Prophet (ﷺ) of beginning and ending the month upon verified observation of the crescent.
حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ يَقُولُ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَوْ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو الْقَاسِمِ صلى الله عليه وسلم: “صُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ، وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ، فَإِنْ غُبِّيَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَأَكْمِلُوا عِدَّةَ شَعْبَانَ ثَلَاثِينَ.”
Narrated Abu Hurayrah: The Prophet (ﷺ) — or Abu’l-Qasim (ﷺ) — said: “Start fasting on seeing the crescent (of Ramadan), and give up fasting on seeing the crescent (of Shawwal), and if the sky is overcast and you cannot see it, complete thirty days of Sha’ban.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 1909 (also Sahih Muslim 1081)
Once the moonsighting has been confirmed and affirmed, the Amir of the Jumu’a Mosque Community officially declares the commencement of Ramadan to the congregation, and the Tarawih program begins that same evening with the Isha prayer.
Daily Community Iftaar
During Ramadan, the Friday lunch program is temporarily suspended and replaced with a daily community iftaar served at Maghrib — the moment of sunset when the fast is broken.
This communal iftaar brings together the congregation for a shared meal every evening of the blessed month, fostering unity, gratitude, and the spirit of collective worship that defines Ramadan. All who attend the mosque are welcomed at the table.
Support Our Ramadan Program
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
مَنْ فَطَّرَ صَائِمًا كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِهِ، غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ لَا يَنْقُصُ مِنْ أَجْرِ الصَّائِمِ شَيْئًا
“Whoever provides food for a fasting person to break his fast with, he will have a reward like his (the fasting person’s), without any reduction in the reward of the fasting person.”
Sunan at-Tirmidhi 807 (graded sahih)
The daily iftaar meals, facility preparation, and community care during Ramadan rely entirely on the generous support of the Jama’at. Every donation — whether a regular sponsorship, a single iftaar, or a contribution in remembrance of a departed loved one — directly enables this blessed work.
Contributions may be made via the Donate page, or by reaching out to us on WhatsApp.
Ramadan schedule, daily Iftaar timings, and special events will be posted in the Mosque and shared via our WhatsApp Community. Questions? Email info@jumuamosquect.co.za.