The Holy Month of Ramadan

Ramadan is the holiest month for Muslims. During this month, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is a very important time in the Islamic calendar; Ramadan allows Muslims to keep away from bad temptations and bad behaviors. This month encourages Muslims to give charity to the homeless. This is because during this month, Muslims believe that they receive seventy times more blessings than the regular months of the year. Fasting allows Muslims to feel the hunger and struggle that poor people have to endure on a daily basis. Muslims fast for 30 days, but there are many reasons that a person does not or cannot fast. Some of these reasons include being too old, having health issues, taking medication throughout the day, or being sick. 

In a normal day during Ramadan, a Muslim wakes up around 3:40 - 4:00am. During this time, Muslims eat food in order to go on with the rest of the day. It is recommended for Muslims to eat a heavy “sehri or suhoor,” the name of the meal people eat before fasting. There is a specific time when Muslims have to stop eating sehri/suhoor and do the first prayer of the day, called Fajr. Before praying, Muslims do something called “wudu,” where they wash/clean themselves before praying. After Fajr, Muslims are allowed to go back to sleep or stay awake however long they want. If someone stays awake, it is recommended that they read the holy book for Islam (the Quran). Throughout the day, Muslims who are fasting are not allowed to eat or drink anything.Not only do Muslims have to fast,  but they also have to do the rest of their five daily prayers. During the day, there are many limitations. For example, while fasting, people cannot listen to music, lay down all day, curse or swear, and be cruel or disrespectful to others. 

As the rest of the day goes by, it is finally “iftar time,” the time when people are able to break their fast. Muslims are supposed to break their fast during a specific time; this is usually written on the internet or a calendar that is especially for the month of Ramadan. The time that people start or break their fast is related to the moon. Muslims break their fast when the sun is setting; this is around the time of the “adhan,” the calling for prayer. This adhan is for Maghrib, which is the fourth prayer of the day around 7:40 - 8:05pm. After the calling, Muslims are encouraged to eat a fruit called dates. This is because the prophet of Islam named, Muhammed (pbuh), used to do so. During iftar, people usually eat traditional food from their home country or other Muslim countries. For example, two popular food dishes that Muslims from South Asia and other places eat for iftar are pakoras and samosas. While eating iftar, people don't have much time because they still have to do Maghrib prayer. After finishing the prayer, people can go back to eating. Later in the night, Muslims have to do the last prayer of the day, called “Isha”. When they finish Isha prayer, they can go to sleep. 

Muslims really appreciate the month of Ramadan because it makes them feel closer to God or “Allah.” Iftar brings families closer together.. Also, it also reminds Muslims that a holiday called “Eid” is coming soon, which involves celebrating the fasting they did during Ramadan.