Things you should know about Ramadan- The Month of Fasting

Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Ramadan is the month of fasting in which Muslims all over the globe make fast in which they abstain from food water from dawn to dusk. Not only this but Muslims also refrain from all inappropriate things in favour of prayer and spirituality of this holy month. In the holy month of Ramadan, the Holy Quran was also revealed on our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) specifically on a night called Laylat al-Qadr, which Muslims spent in prayer. Muslims read as much of the Quran as they can during the holy month of Ramadan.

Muslims believed that during the month of fasting the gates of heaven are open and the devils are chained up; this makes Ramadan a spiritually peaceful time for Muslims. In the holy Quran Almighty Allah said about Ramadan in these words: “O you who have believed, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those who were before you that you may attain taqwa.” (Quran, 2:183)

People are familiar with the holy month, but below mentioned are things you may still not know about the Islamic month Ramadan.

• Ramadan is marked as the 9th month of Islamic lunar calendar in which the Holy Quran was revealed on the last Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
• During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk in which they abstain from eating and drinking.
• In the Holy month of Ramadan Muslims also refrain from inappropriate things due to the respect of the month of fasting.
• Fasting is more than eating or drinking, fasting not only abstaining from drinking or eating but abstaining from intense desires which may include sadness, the anger, and frustration. Our hearts are fasting from grieving and our minds take control, rather than our emotions.
• Ramadan is about moderation. One of the most important things about fasting is our ability to withstand during long periods of time without food and water, just like many people go through on a daily basis. Limiting our food intake is the way to train our bodies to consume only what is necessary during fasting.
• Muslims use this time by improving their prayers. We all know that the prayers are communication between us and Allah Almighty.
• This is the month in which the Quran was revealed, Muslims should take time to spend time with the Quran in a language that they understand, read its meanings and reflect on them and see how it influences to their own life.
• Fasting is good for health and it has been proven that fasting to turn our body into a powerhouse as it lowers the body’s bad cholesterol levels and raises good ones. 
• There are many exceptions to fasting. If someone is ill, pregnant, feed child or still a child who does not have much understanding of the world and fasting are not required to fast.
• Muslims offer the special prayer that is Taraweeh prayer in which Muslims pray in the Mosque after iftar.
• Many Muslim countries shorten their working hours in order to make fasting easier.

The above-mentioned were some things that everyone should know about Ramadan. May Allah Almighty give us the strength to make fast and accept our good deeds, worships, fasts and Quran recitation which we had done in the holy month of Ramadan! Ameen