Edition #11, April 3rd, 2021
Assalamualikum, First name / Friend!,
Ramadan is almost here. Yes, the beautiful month that we always look forward to every year is just around the corner. But first, what is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the holy month of fasting for Muslims. It falls as the ninth month on the 12-month Islamic Calendar. Each day during this month Muslims fast, which means they don't eat or drink anything, from sunrise to sunset. They are also supposed to avoid impure thoughts and imoral behavior.
To start the fast, Muslims have to wake up before Fajr. They have to eat the morning meal Suhoor (Sehri, whatever you call it). Some people skip this, but it's their choice. It's sunnah to eat suhoor, though. After Mughrib Muslims break their fasts with a meal called Iftar. Traditionally, the fast is broken by eating dates. Fun fact: fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
“The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [th`e new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey – then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you, and perhaps you will be grateful.”-Quran: 21:85