Why do Muslims fast during Ramadan? Fasting provides Muslims the opportunity to acquire a sense of control over their needs, desires and distractions, giving them room for a heightened sense of Fasting teaches Muslims to be pious, helping them restrain from worldly pleasures and focus on spiritual growth. The purpose of Ramadan is to establish a fixed training period where believers can overcome vices, learn virtues, and earn Allah's (SWT) blessings. In a nutshell, Ramadan fasting is a fundamental practice in Islam where healthy adult Muslims abstain from food, drink, smoking, and sexual relations from dawn to sunset during the month of Ramadan. This spiritual observance fosters self-discipline, empathy, and increased devotion to Allah. During the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims are obligated to fast (Arabic: صوم, sawm; Persian: روزہ, rozeh), every day from dawn to sunset. Fasting requires the abstinence from sex, food, drinking, and smoking. Muslims fast the month of Ramadan because Allah has commanded them to do so. Therefore, Muslims worship Allah through fasting which is beloved to Allah and which He has enjoined upon us. The daily fast in Ramadan includes abstaining from all food and drink – not even a sip of water is allowed – from dawn to sunset before breaking the fast in a meal known as “iftar” in Arabic. Those fasting are expected to also refrain from bad deeds, such as gossiping, and to increase good deeds. In this Ramadan guide for new and newly-practicing Muslims, learn about the virtues of fasting, why we fast, and what we hope to gain through our acts of worship in Ramadan. Ramadan fasting is one of the most observed of all the pillars of Islam, with 70-80% of Muslims practising it. It is obligatory for all Muslims, men and women, from the age of puberty. Ramadan, in Islam, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar and the holy month of fasting. It begins and ends with the appearance of the crescent moon. Islamic tradition states that it was during Ramadan that the Prophet Muhammad received the first revelations of the Quran. Read More: Why More Non-Muslims Are Fasting This Ramadan. Hundreds of residents in Tangerang, a city just outside the capital of Jakarta, flock to the Cisadane River to wash their hair with rice Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is a special time for Muslims around the world. It is a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection, bringing people closer to their faith. The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur’an was revealed as guidance for people, and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever of you witnesses the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey, then an equal number of other days. The Islamic calendar consists of 12 lunar months, with each month lasting between 29 and 30 days, depending on the moon's sighting. The beginning of Ramadan is marked by the sighting of the new The phrase means “Happy Ramadan” and is frequently used during Ramadan, a time when fasting, prayer and reflection are heavily prioritized. It is one of the most sacred times for Muslims and Ramadan, the holy month of fasting, is a time of great devotion, self-discipline, and reflection for Muslims worldwide. In addition to being a guide for millions of individuals in their daily prayers, the exact fasting timings—which specify when to begin and end the fast each day—are crucial to this sacred observance. Ramadan is a time to strengthen our connection with Allah through prayer and learning. Even young children can participate by: Listening to or reading short surahs from the Quran. Learning stories of the Prophets and how they practiced patience and faith. Understanding why fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. When Does Ramadan 2025 Start and End? Ramadan 2025 is expected to begin on the evening of Friday, February 28, 2025, and end on the evening of Saturday, March 29, 2025. The exact dates depend on the sighting of the moon. Why is Ramadan Important in Islam? Fasting in Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. With regard to what was narrated from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): [warning_box]"Whoever breaks the fast on one day in Ramadan, with no concession and no sickness, fasting an entire lifetime will not make up for it, even if he fasts it."[/warning_box] The only Islamic way to compensate for a missed fast is to pay 'Fidya,' a charitable donation The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The prayer of a fasting person at the time of breaking fast is never rejected.” (Sunan Ibn Majah) 10. Preparation for the Rest of the Year. Ramadan serves as a spiritual training ground, equipping Muslims with the discipline, patience, and piety needed to face the challenges of the rest of the year. Ramadan, the holy month of fasting in Islam, begins on Friday, Feb. 28 and will end with Eid al-Fitr on the evening of Sunday, March 30.. Related: Where to celebrate Ramadan in Dallas-Fort Worth
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