It’s Ramadan, the holiest month of the Muslim calendar. In 2023, it runs from March 22 to April 21. Ramadan celebrates the divine revelations of the Quran to the prophet Muhammad.
Ramadan is a period of fasting and spiritual practice. During the month, almost 2 billion Muslim people around the world will abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk. Some will wake up before sunrise to eat a small meal, called suhoor, before the fast begins. When the day’s fast ends, Muslims celebrate with a festive meal, called iftar. Traditionally, a date is eaten to break the fast.
Ramadan is also a time when Muslims focus on religious and compassionate practices such as reading the Quran, giving more to charity, and spending time with family and friends. Many Muslims continue with their daily routines, going to school and work despite fasting. Many also gather together to say special Ramadan prayers and Quran recitations at night.
Ramadan concludes with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, the Feast of Fast-Breaking. Muslims dress up, adorn their hands with henna, and decorate their homes. Eid al-Fitr includes special prayers and meals with friends and relatives, and gifts are often exchanged. This year, the three-day celebration of Eid al-Fitr will begin at sundown on April 21.
Want to learn more about Ramadan and Islam? The City Tech Library has some great ebooks to check out:
In the Footsteps of the Prophet: Lessons from the Life of Muhammad
Islam Explained: Essential reading for anyone who wants to know more about Islam
Women in Islam : What the Qur’an and Sunnah Say
Ramadan Mubarak!
