Of course, the Covid-19 pandemic has made many of the more social aspects of Ramadan a lot harder to do safely, given restrictions on travel and the need to maintain social distancing and avoid large, indoor gatherings. It's kind of like the Muslim version of Christmas, in the sense that it's a religious holiday where everyone comes together for big meals with family and friends, exchanges presents, and generally has a lovely time. At the end of Ramadan there’s a big three-day celebration called Eid al-Fitr, or the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast. It's a time of celebration and joy, to be spent with loved ones. It is meant to be a time of spiritual discipline - of deep contemplation of one's relationship with God, extra prayer, increased charity and generosity, and intense study of the Quran.īut if that makes it sound super serious and boring, it's really not.
Muslims believe it was during this month that God revealed the first verses of the Quran, Islam's sacred text, to Mohammed, on a night known as "The Night of Power" (or Laylat al-Qadr in Arabic).ĭuring the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims fast every day from dawn to sunset. Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year for Muslims - the Prophet Mohammed reportedly said, "When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of hell are closed and the devils are chained." Which means there's a good chance you might encounter someone - a friend, a coworker, a neighbor, your child's teacher - who will be celebrating, fasting, and doing all sorts of other activities that are unique to the holy month.īut what is Ramadan, exactly? What’s the deal with fasting? And is there anything special you should do or say when you’re around Muslim friends and acquaintances during Ramadan?ĭon’t worry, we've got you covered: Here are the most basic answers to the most basic questions about Ramadan.
The Muslim holy month of Ramadan starts on Monday, April 12, and even amid a global pandemic, most of the world's 1.6 billion Muslims will observe it in some form.
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