Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (sawm), communal prayer (salah), reflection, and community. It is also the month in which the Quran is believed to have been revealed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The annual observance of Ramadan is regarded as one of the five pillars of Islam and lasts 29 to 30 days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next.
Fasting from dawn to sunset is obligatory (fard) for all adult Muslims who are not acutely or chronically ill, traveling, elderly, breastfeeding, pregnant, or menstruating. The predawn meal is suhur, and the nightly feast that breaks the fast is iftar. Although rulings (fatawa) have been issued that Muslims who live in regions with a midnight sun or polar night should follow the timetable of Mecca, it is common practice to follow the timetable of the closest country in which night can be distinguished from day.
The spiritual rewards (thawab) of fasting are believed to be multiplied during Ramadan. Accordingly, during the hours of fasting, Muslims refrain not only from food and drink, but also from all behavior deemed to be sinful in Islam, devoting themselves instead to prayer and study of the Quran.
Ramadan is considered one of the holiest times for Muslims. During this month, Muslims that have reached puberty fast daily from dawn (fajr) until sunset (maghrib) as an act of worship and self-discipline. The period emphasizes prayer, charity, reading of the Qur’an, and strengthening community ties.
The start of Ramadan is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon, and the month lasts either 29 or 30 days depending on the lunar cycle.
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