Ramadan

What It Is

During Ramadan, able adult Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. To clarify, this means that they do not take anything into their bodies. A Muslim doesn't eat, smoke, or drink, and he or she abstains from sexual contact. Sahur, a light meal, is eaten early in the morning before first light. Traditionally, the fast begins when there is a sliver of sun visible above the horizon, and there is enough light to distinguish a black thread from a white thread.

The Quar'ran

Depending on the concentration of Muslim populations, daily life during the fast varies. Many followers request abbreviated workdays or time off. Spare time is filled with prayer, study of the Quar'ran, sleeping, and visits with friends and relatives. It is common for a person or communal prayer group to recite 1/30 of the Quar'ran each day. As the month is generally twenty-nine to thirty days depending on the moon's position, the entirety of the scripture may be recited over the course of the month. If at any point between sunup and sundown person deliberately consumes any substance, then it is a great sin and the whole day of fasting is negated. It cannot be made up. If one forgets momentarily but promptly stops upon remembering then it is not a sin and the fast is still valid. Within Muslim countries many stores and cafes close either all day or in the evening for prayer and Iftar, the evening meal. Before the larger meal of Iftar, one may break the fast by eating a few dates and drinking some water as Muhammad broke him fast similarly according to the scripture. Then one prays the evening prayer, Maghrib, before starting the nightly feast. Throughout the day thirst and hunger are obvious results of the fast, but most Muslims value the psychological benefits of fasting over the physical discomfort.