Ramadan this year has officially started for Muslims around the world.
According to Saudi Arabia’s moon sighting, Ramadan started the night of Tuesday, February 17, with the first day of fasting on Wednesday, February 18.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is the holiest month of the year, and is a time of remembrance of when the Prophet Muhammed received the first revelation of the Quran, the Islamic holy book.
Ramadan lasts 29-30 days, and is a month of fasting and devotion. A day of Ramadan looks like this: Waking up before sunrise to have a pre-fast meal called suhoor, focusing on being religious throughout the day, breaking the fast at sunset with iftar, and then praying a congregated prayer later in the night called Tarawih.
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, and is an act of worship to God. It is supposed to grow God-consciousness, self restraint, and bring more focus to prayer, reflection, and doing good deeds.
It is also to grow empathy for those who are needy, so charity is also a major part of Ramadan. It is required to give charity and community support at this time.
To conclude Ramadan, there is a holiday called Eid-Al-Fitr, which is “the Festival of Breaking the Fast.” This holiday is a three-day celebration, and is full of gatherings and festivities. The first morning, Muslims give a required charity, so that those who are needy can celebrate too, before praying a congregational prayer. Some traditions of this holiday are wearing new or traditional clothes, giving gifts or money to others, and having a feast. One thing to note is that it is forbidden to fast on the day of Eid.
Ramadan and Eid are religiously significant to Muslims worldwide, and show a season of reflection to all.
