Community Corner

Ramadan Begins For Muslims Around The World

Billions of Muslims around the world mark Monday as the first day

Billions of Muslims around the world, , mark Monday as the first day of Ramadan.

Fasting or Sawm is one of the five pillars of Islam. It begins after Suhur (pre-dawn meal) and ends with Iftar (post-dusk meal). With sunrise roughly around 4:30 a.m. and sunset at approximately 8:15 p.m., fasts this year will last for nearly 16 hours.

During the holy month, Muslims must abstain from food, drink and sexual activity during daylight hours. Instead, their efforts will focus on spiritual refinement and enlightenment.

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The month of Ramadan is when the holy Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad. In this light, each evening after fasts break, Muslims will engage in additional prayers and recitation of the Qur’an.

The ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar, Ramadan consists of 29 or 30 days culminating with Eid-ul-Fitr -- one of two celebratory holidays in Islam.

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This year, Ramadan officially began the evening of Sunday, July 31 with the sighting of the new crescent moon and will end on or around August 30.


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