Ramadan is a month-long celebration, commemorating the month during which the prophet Muhammad received the initial revelations that make up the Quran. The celebration of Ramadan marks the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and “begins with the sighting of the new moon.” Ramadan starts at different times, depending on your location and the relative position of the moon. The start date also varies from year to year according to the lunar calendar. This means that Ramadan will start and end at a different time every year. In 2016, Ramadan began on Sunday June 5th during the hottest time of the year for most of the world.
During Ramadan, Muslim men and women participate in a month-long fast. The fast begins at sunrise each morning and ends at sunset each night. This means that the fast can last for up to 16 hours if the celebration falls during the summer. So how does it work? According to NBC, all Muslims are encouraged to participate with the exception of the elderly, the disabled, children and travelers. Even the slightest infraction such as a sip of water or even a puff of a cigarette will break the fast. Faithful followers will tell you that the fast is symbolic of a more general form of abstinence and self-restraint. For example, Muslims are also encouraged to abstain from sex during the daytime hours and gossip is highly discouraged.
Ramadan is becoming increasingly commercialized all over the world. The Huffington Post reports that Ramadan is one of the biggest sale seasons of the year in countries such as Egypt and the United Arab Emirates that have a predominately Muslim population. In these countries, hotels, clothing businesses and restaurants bring in some of the biggest profits. In 2011, The National reported that Egyptian advertisers spent a total of $56 million during Ramadan alone.
Eid-al-Fitr commonly referred to as “Eid” is a three-day celebration that marks the official end of Ramadan. Eid is celebrated on the first day of the 10th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. On this day, many Muslims wake up early to recite the pre-dawn prayer. It is a time of joyous celebration with food, family, friends and sweet treats. During the celebration, children often receive new clothes, gifts and cash.
Traditions may vary according to country, region and culture. For example, Egyptians often use Ramadan lanterns called “fanous” to decorate the center of the iftar (feast) table or to hang from window shops and balconies. In the Arabian Gulf countries, wealthier families often hold “majlises,” similar to an American open house or a giant sleepover, for people to visit and pass the hours of the night with food, tea, coffee and conversation. One of the more recent developments is the creation of Ramadan tents at fancy hotels. Some luxury hotels have begun to set up tents with extravagant and expensive meals during the non-fasting times from sunset to sunrise.
Fasting and prayer are the focal points of Ramadan. The month of Ramadan revolves around a commitment to prayer and an abstinence from food and other forms of self-indulgence. While fasting is intended to remind faithful Muslims of the less fortunate, prayer is intended to be a reminder of God. During the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims pray at five specific intervals throughout the day. Prayer times vary by region, so estimating the time of prayer can be difficult without some sort of clock. Fortunately, there’s an app for that. Or rather, several apps that can tell you the exact time of prayer according to your precise location.
