Ramadan

Ramadan is a Muslim holiday celebrated in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar,  often celebrated by a month of fasting, prayers, reflection, and community. This year, Ramadan started on March 23, 2023, and ended April 20th, 2023. Even though Ramadan has already ended. because I’m Muslim, I thought that it would be important to tell my readers all about it.

A lot of people wonder what we Muslims do during Ramadan. Well, Muslims do something that was brought up earlier called fasting. Fasting, or “sawm” is when we do not eat, drink, listen to music, or use along with not engaging in fights from pre-dawn to dusk. Most Muslims believe that fasting in the month of Ramadan and praying will have all your previous sins forgiven by Allah. 

In the month of Ramadan, it’s common that most Muslims, often men, will not only take the whole month off from work to pray, but some will spend hours at the mosque. In addition to fasting and praying, Muslims will increase the offering of zakat (charity) in which people who are more financially well off will help those less fortunate by donating money, clothes, and food items. The more financially well-off Muslims will also make lots of extra food to give to those who are, again, not as financially well-off as them.

However, there are some exceptions to this: if a woman is pregnant, breastfeeding, and menstruating they are excused, the elderly are excused, people who are sick can not fast and lastly people who are going on a long distance are excused. This is all because you need not only the energy of food but also the strength and nutrients that it gives the body. 

 Another thing that comes to mind is Eid, the holiday that symbolizes the end of Ramadan. It is often celebrated by going to a site of prayer called a mosque and praying. Afterward, if you are one of the many people fasting for the last time, there will be coffee/tea depending on the time of the day, along with dates and deserts and other types of food for after you pray. Eid is all about Muslim families coming together in celebration of the end of Ramadan sharing food, stories, and duas (prayers) for each other. I hope this article has taught you a lot about  Muslims and the culture and true meaning of Ramadan and its festive activities.