Ramadan, 2022

Towards the end of the fasting month, Muslims celebrate a three-day celebration called Eid al-fitr, or the celebration of the end of fast. On that day, Muslims gather around and feast on big meals, greet each other and honor the great ending of the fasting month. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. Every muslim must fast during this month to gain spiritual connection to God, unless you're traveling, elderly, pregnant, menstruating, or nursing. The practice of fasting has spiritual and social purpose. It shows many muslims how it feels to be hungry and thirsty. It helps remind Muslims to feel compassion towards the poor and needy. This act also helps stop the distractions around them and helps focus on their relationship with God.

Muslims are also restricted from using bad language, having negative thoughts, gossiping, or any bad behavior during the month. Oftentimes to refrain from listening to music, they instead listen to the recitation of the Quran. Athletes or fellow Muslims involved in sports are still able to fast. But since it is the month of fasting, they try to choose times in which they can replenish their body and not work until they are at a thirst point. Although it may be easier not to eat while doing sports, you may get more thirsty. Reducing your hours of sports can help stop the thirst your body quenches. But it is fairly optional. The aspects of breaking fast start off by an evening prayer called Maghrib (one of the 5 daily prayers in Islam). An anonymous person stated, “Fasting for me isn’t hard because I’m used to it, but when it hits close to the end of fasting, I start to get really hungry.” They say. Muslims break their fast with a light meal called Iftar. One person stated, “When Muslims fast, we tend not to eat a lot because you get full really fast and if we eat a lot, we get tired while praying and become less motivated to pray.” After the breaking of the fast, Muslims go pray their Maghrib prayer and soon eat the “big” meal. After eating, Muslims might go to a mosque to pray extra special prayers, or stay at home to do those prayers. The prayer is called Taraweeh (meaning to rest and relax in Arabic). It is a special prayer that involves long recitations of the Quran and multiple rakats (a series of movements performed during prayer). One person says, “Despite the hard and long fasting month, I myself enjoy it. Experiencing fasting all together puts me at ease, knowing that millions of Muslims are experiencing the same thirst and hunger.” As the fasting month for many Muslims across the world begin to start, we should recognize this month as not as an act of torture, but rather an opportunity to feel at ease and understand the deeper meaning of religious practices that are being portrayed across the world.