The Islamic holy month of Ramadan is a time for Muslims all over the world to renew their focus on spiritual life and its practical application in daily life. It is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. According to Islamic tradition, it was on the 27th day of Ramadan that the Prophet Muhammad received the first revelations of the Quran as he meditated in a cavern outside Mecca.
Its official beginning varies locally because it depends upon the sighting of the crescent moon after the new moon. The exact date in any given locality is determined by local officials. Because the Muslim calendar is a lunar calendar, Ramadan cycles through the Gregorian calendar, falling about 11 days earlier each year. For this reason it is not associated with any particular season.
During Ramadan Muslims abstain from food and drink during daylight hours. This fast, called sawm, is one of the five pillars of Islam. To get through a long day without food, Muslims will often wake up early to eat a meal called suhur before daybreak. During the day Muslims are encouraged to engage in charity and devote extra time and attention to spiritual activities, such as praying and reading the Quran. The fast is broken with an evening meal, called iftar, once the sun goes down. Iftar is often a family or community event; it is commonly eaten at long tables set up in mosques, community centers, or outdoors. Because fasting during Ramadan is physically taxing, exemptions are made for young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with health conditions.
Islam