Muslims around the world anticipate the arrival of
the holiest month of the year. During Ramadan,
the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Muslims from
all continents unite in a period of fasting and spiritual reflection.
Each day of Ramadan, from sunrise to sunset, Muslims aged
twelve and older traditionally practice fasting. The Arabic word for
fasting literally means to "refrain," which is what is religiously
proscribed - not just abstaining from eating and drinking,
but also restraining every part of one's physical body.
The mouth, for example, is restrained from idle talk and gossip,
while the ears are restrained from listening to obscenities.
In this way, a Muslim engages his or her entire body in
the physical observance of the Ramadan fast.
In addition to the fast, Ramadan is also a time to re-evaluate
one's convictions and deeds. It is a time to mend troubled
relationships, give charity, find forgiveness for others,
and refocus on worshipping Allah (God).
According to Islamic tradition, the month of Ramadan
is when Allah revealed the first verses of the Qur'an,
the holy book, to the prophet Muhammad. In honor
of this revelation, one thirtieth of the Qur'an is read
each night of Ramadan during the evening prayer. By
the end of the month, the whole Qur'an has been recited.
During Ramadan, Muslims rise before sunrise to partake
in a pre-fast meal, called suhoor. Each night after sunset,
they break their fast with the iftar meal. The end of the
month of Ramadan is marked with the joyous festival of
Eid al-Fitr, which literally means the "Festival of Breaking
the Fast." During Eid al-Fitr, families celebrate with
elaborate feasts and dress in their finest clothes.
At the same time, they increase their efforts to
give charity to the poor and make contributions to their mosques.
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