In the religion of Islam, Ramadan is a time for prayer and fasting, which means not eating food for a period of time. The month of Ramadan occurs in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Since the Islamic calendar is purely lunar (based on the moon), important Muslim festivals, like Ramadan, may occur in different seasons. During Ramadan, adults and older children must refrain (or hold back) from eating and drinking during daylight hours. Ramadan is a time of prayer that reminds people about when the prophet Muhammad received the Koran to guide the Muslim people. The 27th night of Ramadan is celebrated as the Night of Power, or Lailat al Kadr. On that night, it is said, God made the plan for the coming year, and Muslims spend extra hours in prayer. Ramadan is a time of group prayer in the mosque, the Muslim house of worship, and of reading the Koran. Muslims believe their past sins will be forgiven if they participate in Ramadan. After sunset, Muslims break their fast with prayer and festive nighttime meals. Called iftar, these meals are often shared with friends and extended family. The iftar usually begins with dates or apricots and water or sweetened milk, and continues through many courses of vegetables, breads, and some meats. After meals, people usually visit other friends and relatives. Ramadan officially ends with the sighting of the new moon. The new festival of Id al Fitr, the Feast of Fast-Breaking, marks the end of the month of Ramadan and the beginning of the month of Shawwal. Some cities have elaborate celebrations for the three-day festival of Id al Fitr. Children wear new clothes, and women often dress in white. Special pastries are baked in honor of the holiday, and gifts are exchanged. Families gather for festive meals, and people gather to pray at their mosque. |