Ramadan has started from April
12^th and approximately 1.6 billion Muslims will observe it amidst
the pandemic. Do you know what that means? It means that someone from your
friends, coworkers, and neighbors is fasting today and celebrating the Holy
month of Ramadan. The activities celebrated during this month are unique and
hold a sense of curiosity amongst non-Muslims.

Are you someone who is
intrigued by this Holy month? Do you ever wonder how this fasting is going to
be like? Are there any rules that you need to be vigilant about while fasting? And
lastly, do you want to learn more about it so you can be considerate about your
fasting friends?

If you want to learn about
Ramadan, continue to read below!

What is Ramadan about?                                 

To start with, Ramadan is a
Holy and sacred month for Muslims all over the world. Muslims believe that the
gates of heaven open for the devoted Muslims in the month of Ramadan, whereas
the gates of hell shutdown and the devil gets chained.

Muslims also believe that
during this month, God revealed the first few verses of the Holy Quran.
Normally, fasting is done from dawn to sunset. Muslims are disciplined and
extend their prayers and increase charity as well as generosity.

Ramadan is not actually the
time to celebrate and enjoy – it’s the time to repent and pray for your sins to
be forgiven. When the Holy month ends, Muslims get to have a three-day
celebration known as Eid-ul-Fitr. You can compare this celebratory event with
Christmas, because it’s the time when everyone comes together and exchanges
gifts and tokens of love and positivity.

How
does fasting work?

Fasting is one of the five
pillars for Muslims, also known as duties of Muslims. It includes testimony of
faith, prayer, charity, and pilgrimage to Mecca. Muslims that are pregnant,
nursing, menstruating, traveling, or have younger children and sometimes even
the elderly can get special dispensations for fasting.

The purpose of fasting is to
remind yourself of your duty and learn the importance of patience. You get to
think about the poor and the less fortunate people than you by reducing
distractions in life.

While fasting, you are supposed
to abstain from eating food or drinking any liquid. You can also not smoke
cigarettes or engage in any kind of sexual behavior. All of this goes on from dawn
to sunset.

What
is a typical day like during Ramadan?

Ramadan is almost the same as
any other month, but you get to spend more time indulging in religious
activities. You have your first meal before dawn and your last is usually at
sunset, try to consume high-fiber and high-protein food, and lots of liquids so
you can stay hydrated throughout the day.

You offer prayers and try to
have a healthy and balanced lifestyle. You go about your regular work and
school work. Many Muslims enjoy having a cup of tea right after they break
their fast with “iftari”.

Can
you lose weight during Ramadan?

Many people assume that since
people don’t eat anything from dawn to sunset, you can lose weight during this
month. This is actually not true. In fact, this can be incredibly difficult for
your metabolism, especially when it’s not used to such disturbance. Besides,
everybody overcompensates and ends up eating more, thinking that they’d get
hungry or feel weak later on.

However, there are some people
who do end up losing weight and shed extra pounds by following a strict and
healthy diet.

Why
do the dates of Ramadan change every year?

The date of Ramadan is decided
according to the lunar calendar and the phases of the moon. And so, 12 months
add up to 354 days, which makes it 11 days shorter than the 365 days that is in
the standard Gregorian calendar.

Why
is there always confusion about exactly what day Ramadan starts on?

Every year, the Ramadan date is
on a different day, and it’s one of the most searched phases of the year.
Honestly, a lot of people are under the assumption that Muslims around the
world aren’t sure of the exact date of Ramadan, and so when they even Google it
they discover that it regularly varies.

In all honesty, the sight of
the new moon is the sole indicator of Ramadan. But this is quite messy; even
within the same country, the moon can be sighted at different days and time.

How
Many days is Ramadan observed?

Ramadan is normally celebrated
for 30 days. However, there are times when it’s quite controversial, but some
people

end up observing Ramadan for 29 and sometimes only 28 days as conflicts
related to moon sighting arise.

Are
there differences between how Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims observe Ramadan?

There are only two main
differences between the two: the Shia community breaks the fast when the
redness of the sun completely disappears, whereas the Sunni community breaks
the fast right as the sun sets. Furthermore, the Shia community have one
additional holiday, whereas the Sunni community doesn’t.

How
can one be respectful of Muslims during Ramadan?

You don’t really need to do
much. Just be kind, patient, and helpful. You just need to extend emotional
support and not add pressure on them at work or school.   Try not to make fun of them or make them
feel bad about anything that they do while fasting.

What
are the foods that Muslim consume during Ramadan?

Muslims try to consume high
protein and high fiber food. As per the norm, they open their fast with dates
and water.

Just make sure that you’re
respectful of everyone as well as kind and empathetic. Also, like our page for
more information!