1.9 billion Muslims worldwide are currently celebrating the holy month of Ramadan, a time of solemn reflection, prayer, family, community, and fasting from sunup to sundown. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and commemorates Muhammad’s first revelation, when he was visited by the angel Jibreel (or Gabriel), who revealed the earliest scriptures to Him. Ramadan is one of the mandatory Five Pillars of Islam, alongside faith, daily prayer, almsgiving, and the pilgrimage to Mecca.
Celebrants enjoy a pre-dawn meal called suhoor, and then do not eat or drink anything (including water) until after the sun sets in the evening. (There are exceptions for the very young, the elderly and the ill.) Then they eat a meal called iftar. Iftar traditionally includes dates in honor of Muhammad breaking His own fast with three dates.
Fasting is believed to free the soul of worldly desires, and refocus energy into Muslim values like discipline, family, charity, and empathy for those who are less fortunate.
At the end of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate Eid, which is often a public holiday in Muslim majority countries, a day best enjoyed with family and friends. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, and Muslims can return to their regular eating and drinking habits.
Ramadan is one of the holiest times of the year for Muslims and is a celebration of the values they hold most dear. It is a time of faith and family, a time to strip away the worldly temptations and grow mentally and spiritually.
To all observing this year, “Ramadan Mubarak!”
About the writer: Matthew Woodruff is an Independent Journalist and Author who believes in Freely Accessible, Honest and Open Reporting. Visit at MattWoodruffAuthor.com.
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