Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and the month in which the Quran was revealed. The month is spent by Muslims fasting during the daylight hours from dawn to sunset. During this blessed month Muslims all around the world abstain from all food, drink, and other physical needs during daylight hours. Ramadan is much more than just not eating and drinking; it is a time to purify the soul, refocus attention on Allah and practice self-discipline and sacrifice.

Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Fasting during the month of Ramadan is an annual observance. Muslims take the entire month of Ramadan out of their lives to observe this strict fast and rededicate themselves to worship and faith. Muslims are called upon to use this month to re-evaluate their lives in light of Islamic guidance.

It is a time to make peace with those who have wronged, a time to strengthen ties with family and friends. It is a time to do away with bad habits, essentially time is spent cleaning up our lives, our thoughts, and our feelings. The Arabic word for “fasting” (sawm) means “to refrain” and it means not only refraining from food and drink, but also from evil actions, thoughts, and words.

The physical effects of fasting are felt by Muslims as a reminder of those around the world who suffer throughout the year, those who are poor, who are homeless, refugees and those who cannot meet their basic needs. It also reminds Muslims not to be wasteful and to feel empathy for those who face hunger on a daily basis. A Muslim should feel gratitude for the bounties of Allah; clean water, sufficient food, the comfort of a home and the good health of family members.
There are so many in the world who must survive without these basic needs, and Ramadhan is a time for Muslims to give thanks and reaffirm their commitment to helping those in need. Every part of our bodies must be restrained during Ramadan:

• The tongue must be restrained from backbiting and gossip
• The eyes must restrain themselves from looking at unlawful things
• The hand must give in charity, and not touch or take anything that does not belong to it
• The ears must refrain from listening to idle talk or obscene words
• The feet must refrain from going to sinful places

This way, every part of the body observes the fast. Therefore fasting is not merely physical but is rather the total commitment of the person’s body and soul to the spirit of the fast. Ramadan is a time to practice self-restraint, a time to cleanse the body and soul from impurities and re-focus one’s self on the worship of Allah and charity to mankind.

There are also two official holidays in Islam:

Eid Al-Fitr (“Festival of breaking of the Fast”) is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims throughout the world to mark the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting (sawm).

Eid Al-Fitr is the first and only day in the Islamic month of Shawwal on which Muslims are strictly forbidden to fast. It is customary to acknowledge this with a small sweet breakfast, preferably of date (fruit), before attending the special Eid prayer (salah) at a masjid.

The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan. The day of Eid, therefore, falls on the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal. The date for the start of any lunar Hijri month varies based on the observation of the new moon by local religious authorities, so the exact day of celebration varies by locality.

Eid Al-Adha (“Festival of the Sacrifice”) is the second of two Muslim holidays celebrated throughout the world each year. Eid Al-Adha honours the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), to sacrifice his son, as an act of submission to Allah’s command. Before Prophet Ibrahim sacrificed his son Allah intervened by sending his angel Jibra’il (Gabriel), who then put a sheep in his son’s place.

The meat from the sacrificed animal is divided into three portions: the family who sacrificed the animal retain one third of the share; a third is given to relatives, friends and neighbours; and the remaining third is given to the poor and needy.