In Islamic culture, Ramadan is a cleansing practice that helps us open ourselves to God.
It is a month of fasting, worship, service, communal gathering and spiritual development. Ramadan is very important to us because it’s the month the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
Fasting is abstaining from eating and drinking any liquids but that is only one of the five pillars of islam.
Fasting isn’t very difficult to me and it feels really rewarding. When I fast I feel closer to God and it reminds me to always be grateful because we wouldn’t have food and water if it wasn’t for him.
During Ramadan we also do not smoke or engage in any sexual activity from dawn till sunset.
We may eat one meal, ‘suhoor’ a meal eaten early in the morning just before dawn also known as ‘sehri’ a meal Muslims consume before fasting and another meal called ‘iftar’ the meal eaten at sunset to break our fast.
Also for the women if we get our menstrual period during Ramadan, the load of prayer and burden of fasting is lifted off our shoulders. It isn’t a nice experience and an important maxim in Islam is “difficulty brings ease” which means Islam will give us some concessions to make life easier when the person is experiencing difficulty.
Muhammad is the founder of Islam and was a religious and political leader. Some people think because he was the founder of Islam that Ramadan is based off of him, that is not the case. Yes Muhammad is the one who brought Islam to us but we fast because it is one of the commandments of God.
He was a prophet inspired to preach the monotheistic, the belief in a single God and he confirmed the words of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and other prophets.
We fast for a month but that is only one of five pillars; There’s also prayer also known as Salat, it is where we pray facing Mecca which is the holiest place in the Islamic religion because it’s the place where Muhammad tells everyone that Allah revealed the holy book to him. We pray five times a day, at dawn, noon, mid-day, sunset and after dark. The prayer consists of the opening chapter Sura of the Qur’an which is preserved in Arab language. It is Islam’s sacred text and holds the unedited word of God. The Holy Pilgrimage is another of the five pillars, it is the one to Mecca that “there is no God but Allah” and Muhammad is the final messenger.
If anyone wants to read more there’s Quran Ayat Institution or Islam QA which can answer any questions.