Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and the fourth pillar of Islam. It is regarded as one of the most sacred months of the Islamic year for Muslims.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "(Allah said), 'Every good deed of Adam's son is for him except fasting; it is for Me. and I shall reward (the fasting person) for it.' Verily, the smell of the mouth of a fasting person is better to Allah than the smell of musk."
HOW DO MUSLIMS FAST?
Muslims who have passed puberty are obliged to perform fast in the month of Ramadan. During this month, Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn until sunset.
This act of worship is solely for Allah and a means to get closer to Him through fasting and offering daily prayers and additional prayers known as Tarawih prayers. Many Muslims offer prayers in congregation and go to the mosque and spend most of their nights in praying. Fasting allows for spiritual discipline and self-restraint. The fast is opened at the time of sunset with a meal known as iftar while the fast is kept at the time of dawn with a meal referred to as Suhoor or Sehri.
Ramadan is followed by Eid al-Fitr as Muslims around the world celebrate the end of the fast once the moon is sighted. Friends and families get together for festive meals and exchange gifts. Special gifts are also given to the poor.
WHY IS FASTING IMPORTANT IN ISLAM?
The holy month of Ramadan is one of the sacred months with a lot of ways to get closer to Allah. it is the ultimate month to pray to Allah for forgiveness and blessings. It teaches us self-control over worldly things such as food and drink and other things. More importantly, the last 10 nights of Ramadan are blessed and this includes the night in which the holy Qur’an was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). This is said to be on the 27th night of Ramadan – also referred to as the Night of Decree. Therefore, the month of Ramadan is a significant time for Muslims which requires complete attention and devotion towards Allah.