Ramadan

Ramadan is the holy month of fasting in the religion of Islam. It is one of the most important times of the year for Muslims around the world. During Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink anything from sunrise until sunset. They also focus on prayer, kindness, and reading the Quran, which is the holy book of Islam. About two billion Muslims observe Ramadan each year, in nearly every country on Earth.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The Islamic calendar follows the moon, not the sun. Each new month begins when a thin crescent moon is sighted in the evening sky. Because a moon-based year is shorter than a sun-based year, Ramadan moves earlier by about 11 days each year on the calendars most people use. One year it might fall in summer, and a few years later it falls in winter.

Muslims fast during Ramadan because they believe this is the month when the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, more than 1,400 years ago. Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, the five main duties of Muslim life. Children, sick people, pregnant women, and travelers do not have to fast. Most kids start fasting only part of the day, and take on the full fast as they grow older.

A day during Ramadan has a steady rhythm. Before sunrise, families wake up and eat a meal called suhoor. After that, no food or water passes their lips all day. As the sun sets, they break the fast with a meal called iftar. Many families start iftar with a date and a sip of water, the way Muhammad is said to have broken his fast. Then comes a bigger meal, often shared with neighbors, friends, and people who have less.

Ramadan is not only about hunger. Muslims try to be more patient, more honest, and more generous during this month. Many give money or food to people in need. Mosques fill up at night for special prayers called Taraweeh.

The end of Ramadan is celebrated with a big holiday called Eid al-Fitr, which means "the festival of breaking the fast." Families wear new clothes, visit relatives, give gifts to children, and share large meals. After a month of going without, the first daytime meal tastes like a celebration of the whole year.