Ramadan

Ramadan

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims. What happens during Ramadan and what does it mean to millions of Muslims worldwide?

Do the preparation task first. Then read the article and do the exercises.

Preparation

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is a very special time for Muslims all over the world. Observing Ramadan is one of the five 'pillars' of Islam. During Ramadan, all Muslims over the age of about 12, with some exceptions, are expected to fast between dawn and sunset.  

When does it take place?

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which follows the phases of the moon. This means the dates of Ramadan change each year. The month starts when the new crescent moon is first visible in the night sky. Fasting ends with the arrival of the next lunar month, which starts with the first glimpse of the new crescent moon.

How do people fast?

During Ramadan, the day starts early so that people can eat a pre-fast meal before dawn. This meal, called Suhoor, is important as it will keep them going through the day. During daylight hours, fasting Muslims cannot eat food or drink water or any other drinks. In late spring or early summer, this is particularly difficult as the day can be very long. People who live in polar regions, where daylight can last 22 hours or more, can choose to follow the dawn and sunset times in Mecca or a nearby country where the sky is dark at night.  

Are all Muslims expected to fast?

Not all Muslims are expected to fast. Children under the age of 12, people who are travelling, elderly people, pregnant women and others where it may affect their health are exempt. Those who can't fast for any reason can offer to feed poor people for each day they miss during Ramadan.

What happens at sunset?

People can eat and drink again once the sun has set. The traditional way to break the fast is by eating dates and drinking a glass of water. Then, the evening meal, Iftar, is a social event that can go on for hours. It is common for people to eat together in large groups of family and friends. Special foods are prepared and shared, and desserts are particularly popular. Muslims often include charity in Iftar as well, sharing Iftar with members of the community who cannot buy or make their own food. Across the Muslim world, mosques and aid organisations set up tents and tables for the public in poorer communities to eat free Iftar meals every night of Ramadan.

Why do people fast?

Muslims fast during Ramadan to bring them closer to God and to remind them of the suffering of people who are less fortunate than themselves. Fasting is an exercise in self-control. As well as not eating, drinking or smoking, Muslims try to avoid bad actions, like talking about people behind their backs or using bad language. Ramadan is a time for people to work on being more patient, more tolerant and more mindful of the people around them. It is a moment to reflect and work on being better people.

Many Muslims also donate money to charities during the month, and a lot of Islamic charities organise food packs for people in poorer countries or refugee camps. Giving donations to charity, known as Zakat, is particularly important during the holy month, and so is prayer, meditation and reading the Qur'an.

How is the end of Ramadan celebrated?

Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of the month of fasting. There are many Eid traditions, mainly centred around family, food, generosity and festivities. On Eid ul-Fitr, Muslims wake up early and dress in their finest clothes to attend the Eid prayers. After prayers, they wish each other a happy Eid ('Eid Mubarak' in Arabic) before spending the rest of the day with their extended families, enjoying good food and sharing gifts with children and loved ones.

Discussion

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Average: 4.5 (38 votes)

Submitted by ayabm on Thu, 09/05/2019 - 10:19

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Ramadan is great month for me and all Muslims . All people are fasting (rich and poor ) . All people pray together .
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Submitted by soodi on Sun, 05/05/2019 - 15:36

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The sick person should not fast.

Submitted by nasr-edine drai on Thu, 02/05/2019 - 12:13

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it's a good practice for health and the mind
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Submitted by Liz on Wed, 01/05/2019 - 13:05

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I reecntly discovered what Ramadam means, i 'have some friends who show me their traditions and I really appreciate that they share it with me.

Submitted by Hang_Nga on Wed, 01/05/2019 - 11:05

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Teacher! Could you show me mistakes in that comment, please!!!!!
Hello Hang_Nga If you have a question about a specific word or phrase in your comment, please feel free to ask us, but otherwise I'm afraid we don't provide corrections of texts -- we simply don't have enough time for it! All the best Kirk The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by Hang_Nga on Wed, 01/05/2019 - 11:00

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Ramadan I have never obsersed Ramadan but i have ever heard about it upon my teacher. He is a Muslim. When we had an English training course together, we recognized he had quite diffirent lifestyles. I began to look into his religion. That was very special! Knowledge about Islam helped us more and more understand each other. That was a great and memorable training course!!!

Submitted by Ayman Hosny on Wed, 01/05/2019 - 00:36

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Ramadan Mubarak to all here. And I wish peace, quietness and save to go through the whole world.