It was recently the month of Ramadan, which is known as a holy month for Muslims.
It is understood that this time of year has value to the Muslim community, but what exactly is
Ramadan? Here’s an explanation to help you understand more about this special time for
Muslims around the world, and even some you may know!
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim year. This year, it began on April 23 and ended on May 23. During Ramadan Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, which is about 5 AM to 9
PM in Seattle. When fasting, one must avoid eating or drinking completely (yes, even water!)
There are many reasons as to why Muslims fast during Ramadan. It is crucial because it is one of
the five pillars of Islam. Fasting acts as a spiritual cleanse for Muslims. Going without food and
water for so long gives us empathy for the less fortunate. It teaches us to be thankful for
everything in our lives, which brings Muslims closer to God. In addition to giving us more
empathy, fasting teaches us self control. To restrain from eating and drinking is obviously
difficult, and takes self discipline to do so. The self control practiced during Ramadan will
hopefully carry on to other aspects of a Muslim’s life.
Since Ramadan is the holiest month of the year, it is believed that one’s good deeds and
bad deeds are worth a lot more. Because of this, Muslims will often use this time to do as much
good as they can. This includes everything from charitable donations, lots of prayer, and simply
being more kind to those around you. Muslims believe that during Ramadan, many prayers are
answered by God. It is also a time where God forgives one for their sins. As a result, Muslims
also use Ramadan as a time for self-reflection, to ask God to forgive their mistakes.
The end of Ramadan is marked by a holiday called Eid. The technical name for this
holiday is Eid al-Fitr, which means “Festival of Breaking the Fast.” For Eid, Muslims like to
look their best. It is tradition to wear new clothes to celebrate. Women also decorate their hands
and feet with henna. Other Eid traditions include giving gifts to children, donating to charity, and
having a big feast with family and friends. Other methods of celebration vary from country to
country. In some places like Pakistan or Egypt, houses are decorated with lanterns, lights, etc. It
is an exciting holiday that Muslims look forward to every year.
Now that you have read this article, you will probably have a better understanding next
time someone you know is observing this month. Fasting is different for everybody. While some
people are able to adapt quickly, others will have more difficulty doing so. The best thing a non-
Muslim can do during Ramadan, is to be understanding towards Muslims who are fasting. You
may notice a change of behavior in someone. They may seem more tired or gloomy. In this case,
remember to be mindful of how your words or actions may be perceived. It seems like a small
thing to do, but it could really make a difference to Muslims during this time.
