Ramadan is a period of fasting and contemplation. Considered the most spiritual month of the year for Muslims, it commemorates the period of time during which the Prophet Muhammad received divine revelation.
Although Ramadan officially starts on the first day of the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, many religious festivals do not begin until the new moon is sighted from the Naval Observatory in Cairo, Egypt.
Daily fasting takes place between sunrise and sunset; Muslims must totally abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and even gossiping. It is common during fasting to have a pre-fast meal (Suhoor) before dawn and a post-fast meal (Iftar) after sunset.
The Night of Power (Lailat ul-Qadr) is generally the 27th night of the month. It represents the night the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Because of its importance, many Muslims spend the entire night in prayer.
Ramadan is observed by over 1 billion Muslims throughout the world.
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Text: Kathleen Davis