What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is a very important time when Muslims remember how the Qur’an was first revealed to Muhammad (pbuh). A special effort is made to focus on Allah rather than on one’s self. To do this, Muslims fast during the hours of daylight. This means not eating or drinking after the sun has risen until sunset. This happens over thirty days. Some people are excused from fasting, such as children, the sick and the elderly.

Muslims believe that fasting teaches them self-control and obedience to Allah. They spend a lot of time in prayer, reading the Qur'an and doing good deeds. It is seen as a happy time.

At sundown the fast is often broken by eating some dates, a kind of dried fruit. At the end of the fasting period there is a festival, Id-ul-Fitr (The Feast of Fast Breaking)

Ramadan happens during the ninth month of the Islamic religious calendar. This is a calendar based on the cycles of the moon and is slightly shorter than the calendar we commonly use. Because of this, Ramadan happens at different times each year, and daylight may last for a longer or shorter time. In Britain summer days are very long, so fasting can last a long time. In winter the days are short, so the fasting times are shorter too. Muslims look for the first crescent moon to mark the beginning of the month of Ramadan.

During Ramadan, Muslims celebrate Layleat al-Qadar or the ‘Night of Power’. It remembers the time when Muslims believe the Holy Qur'an was first sent down from Heaven, by Allah, to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). It is seen as a night better than any other, because the revelation of the Qur'an is the most important thing that ever happened. Some Muslims will pray and read the Qur'an throughout the night.

Once Ramadan is over, Muslims celebrate by holding a three day holiday. This is known as Id-ul-Fitr. During this time Muslims swap gifts and have large family gatherings. They also decorate their homes and have celebratory meals together. Some girls and women will decorate their hands with henna.