By Fabiha Faruque

It is that time of the year once more. Muslims everywhere around the world are synchronically observing the ninth and holiest month in the Islamic calendar: Ramadan.

Anyone familiar with its practices is in no way, shape, or form alien to partaking in the act of fasting from dawn to dusk.

History and Tradition

In context to tradition, the “Night of Power,” popularly called by the name “Laylat al-Qadar,” took place in the month of Ramadan. 

On this night according to Isamic history, the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad as a set of regulations for his people. This month has, since then, upheld its sacred label.

Why Do Dates For Ramadan Change Every Year?

Every year, the dates in which Ramadan is observed vary. This is because Islamic calendars rely heavily on lunar sight-seeing to determine the appropriate time for important holidays and rituals. They are based primarily on astronomical considerations — and as of 2020, what starts and finishes at the presence of a new moon is set to prolong from April 23 to May 23.

Fasting, Spiritual Reflection, and More

Community wise, Ramadan is unanimously seen as a chance to exercise rumination, obligation, and deviation from bad habits. Muslims are expected to take this time and further devote their mind to religious values, and a few of the standards highly regard reading the Quran, followed by recurrent visits to the mosque.

People are required to avoid food, drinks, sexual activities, impure thoughts, and simply bad behavior in general, from sunrise to dusk for 30 days. Since Ramadan moves around 11 days sooner consistently, they experience Ramadan in different seasons over the range of their lives. Fasting is intended to help Muslims be mindful of the less fortunate—those who must live with the bare minimum, or those who live with nothing at all. This reinforces gratitude and humility in the process. 

More than that, it is also one of the five pillars of Islam, making this act mandatory for healthy adults, but exempting all individuals ranging from people who are pregnant, nursing, or menstruating, to the elderly, children, and individuals who are ill or traveling.

Families get up ahead of schedule, typically at 4:30 in the morning, before dawn peaks, and they eat a meal called suhur. After a long day, the sunsets and the fast are broken with a dinner called iftar. In Islamic tradition, people usually start iftar by consuming dates and sweet beverages to give fasting bodies a great sense of nourishment—and the rest is generally a bountiful dining experience.

Still, there is more to this holiday than just fasting and sharing food. Congregational prayers are already a big part of the life of other Muslims, but more so during Tarawih, daily night prayers that literally means “relaxation and tranquility.” This is the final set of introspection that is suggested to be exercised regularly—and although it may be optional, a vast majority of Muslims often treat Tarawih as an obligatory initiative before retiring for the night.

After Ramadan

Reaching the day that marks the end of month-long sunrise-to-sunset fasting during Ramadan, comes another correlating religious holiday that so many people are sure to look forward to — Eid al-Fitr, which is also called the “festival of breaking the fast.” It is a day of happiness when groups of people assemble at mosques to pray and give charity in the form of both money and food.

A feeling of liberality and appreciation hues from these congregations. Even when charitable deeds are always significant in a religious context, they harbor an uncommon importance toward the end of Ramadan. During this month, and on the day of Eid al-Fitr, Muslims are required to share their blessings by giving to the needy and taking care of others—and that alone is enough to constitute for the “do good, feel good” phenomenon.