Why fast?
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُونَO you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous -
What do Muslims do in Ramadan?
- They fast by day, eating suhoor before dawn and iftar at sunset.
- They read more Quran and pray taraweeh at night.
- They give charity and gather for communal iftar meals.
- They seek Laylat al-Qadr in the last ten nights.
Who does not fast?
Children before puberty, the sick, travellers, pregnant and nursing women when needed, and women during menstruation. Fasting is not required of non-Muslims.
Eid al-Fitr
A day of celebration at the completion of the month: Eid prayer, zakat al-fitr for the poor, family visits and gifts.
How to greet a Muslim neighbour or colleague
“Ramadan Mubarak” is perfectly suitable and “Ramadan Kareem” is also common. At Eid, “Eid Mubarak”. An invitation to iftar is a generous honour; accept it with thanks.
Frequently asked questions
Can a person fasting drink water?
No, abstaining from food and drink from dawn to sunset is part of the fast, with permissions for those excused by the Sharia.
How long is Ramadan?
Twenty-nine or thirty days, depending on moon sighting.
Texts and translations are under scholarly review.