Ramadan Facts for Practitioners
By Saima Yasin
Ramadan is very important for Muslims as it is believed to be the month in which the
first verses of the Holy Quran were revealed by Allah (God) to Prophet Muhammed.
Among the most important duties for a Muslim is fasting during the Islamic month of
Ramadan, which is the ninth of the twelve months in the Islamic lunar calendar.
During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset every day. This means not
consuming food and drink, including water, during the daylight hours.
Why Muslims Fast?
For Muslims, fasting has several benefits:
1. It helps one to feel compassion for those who are less fortunate and
underprivileged, since each day Muslims feel greater appreciation for what
they have as a result of feeling hunger and thirst.
2. It allows one to build a sense of self-control and will power, which can be
beneficial throughout life in dealing with temptations and peer pressure.
Through fasting, Muslims learn to control their natural urges such as hunger
and thirst, and thus are able to better resist temptations for things which are
not necessary, such as unhealthy or harmful substances and behaviors.