On Thursday, March 23, celebrations began for the beginning of Islam’s holy month, Ramadan, in which almost 2 billion Muslims around the world participate in a month of fasting from dawn to sunset. During Ramadan, Muslims perform five daily prayers and engage in spiritual and bodily purification, as well as fellowship and reflection. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam and is celebrated annually in the ninth lunar month of the Islamic calendar.
Fasting is exempted for the sick, children under puberty, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and those who are menstruating. Ramadan will end on Friday, April 21, after 29 days of celebration. Fasting ends each day with dinner, called iftar or fitoor, and is broken at sunset. Ramadan is a very significant holiday for Muslims, as it commemorates the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad during this month. In addition to fasting, charity and recitation of the Quran are also encouraged during Ramadan.
The holy month culminates with Eid al-Fitr, which signifies the feast of breaking the fast. Muslims celebrate this day at their local mosque and dress in new clothes while reciting a short prayer called takbeer and donating to charity. The Islamic calendar is lunar, and the month of Ramadan is the ninth month of the year.