![]() ![]() That includes taking medication (even if you swallow a pill dry, without drinking any water). The practice of fasting serves several spiritual and social purposes: to remind you of your human frailty and your dependence on God for sustenance, to show you what it feels like to be hungry and thirsty so you feel compassion for (and a duty to help) the poor and needy, and to reduce the distractions in life so you can more clearly focus on your relationship with God.ĭuring Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating any food, drinking any liquids, smoking cigarettes, and engaging in any sexual activity, from dawn to sunset. All Muslims are required to take part every year, though there are special dispensations for those who are ill, pregnant or nursing, menstruating, or traveling, and for young children and the elderly. 2) How does fasting work?įasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars - or duties - of Islam, along with the testimony of faith, prayer, charitable giving, and making a pilgrimage to Mecca. ![]() It's kind of like the Muslim version of Christmas, in the sense that it's a religious holiday where everyone comes together for big meals with family and friends, exchanges presents, and generally has a lovely time. At the end of Ramadan there’s a big three-day celebration called Eid al-Fitr, or the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast. It's a time of celebration and joy, to be spent with loved ones. It is meant to be a time of spiritual discipline - of deep contemplation of one's relationship with God, extra prayer, increased charity and generosity, and intense study of the Quran.īut if that makes it sound super serious and boring, it's really not. Muslims believe it was during this month that God revealed the first verses of the Quran, Islam's sacred text, to Mohammed, on a night known as "The Night of Power" (or Laylat al-Qadr in Arabic).ĭuring the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims fast every day from dawn to sunset. Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year for Muslims - the Prophet Mohammed reportedly said, "When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of hell are closed and the devils are chained." Which means there's a good chance you - or a friend, a coworker, a neighbor, your child's teacher - will be celebrating, fasting, and doing all sorts of other activities that are unique to the holy month.īut what is Ramadan, exactly? What’s the deal with fasting? And is there anything special you should do or say when you’re around Muslim friends and acquaintances during Ramadan?ĭon’t worry, we've got you covered: Here are the most basic answers to the most basic questions about Ramadan. Ramadan is the Muslim holy month, and most of the world's estimated 1.9 billion Muslims will observe it in some form.
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