Ramadan

1. Ramadan

2. Ramadan Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. The Islamic calendar is based on the moon rather than the sun although it has 12 months like the Western calendar. During Ramadan Muslims fast between dawn and dusk. When you fast you cannot eat or drink anything. Fasting id one of the Five Pillars or duties of Islam.

3. What happens during Ramadan? In the month of Ramadan families get up early to eat before dawn and then have a meal together after the sun has set. Often Muslims will break the fast by eating a few dates and drinking water before they have a large family meal together. You are also not allowed to watch television during Ramadan unless it is a religious programme.

4. It is not easy to fast, so young children, elderly people and people who are sick don’t have to, until they are older or are feeling stronger. Everyone else tries to make the effort.

5. Feeling hungry and thirsty helps Muslims to understand what it is like for people in the world who do not have enough to eat or drink all the time. They set aside money to give to the poor.

6. During Ramadan Muslims visit the mosque and read the Quran more often than usual. Muslims make a special effort to try to act in the way Allah wants them to during this month. They try to create time to think about how they should lead their lives.

7. When Ramadan ends it is celebrated for three days in a holiday called Id–Ul-Fitr (the Feast of Fast Breaking). Food is given to the poor, this is called Zakat which is the third pillar of Islam. Friends and family gather to pray together and for large meals and give each other presents.

8. True or False? All Muslims have to fast during Ramadan Fasting is a difficult thing to do During Ramadan Muslims cannot eat or drink at all Ramadan falls at a different time in the western calendar each year Ramadan is followed by the festival of Id-ul-Fitr