Understanding more about the sacred month of Ramadan
Today marks the beginning of Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. To understand this sacred time a bit more, we spoke with Nusrat Ishfaq, a devoted Muslim, who shared insights into the significance of Ramadan and the traditions that surround it.
Nusrat explained that Ramadan commemorates the revelation of the Quran, the holy book of Islam, to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). “To celebrate this month, it is mandatory for Muslims to fast for 30 consecutive days from dawn until dusk. During the fasting hours, you abstain from food, water, conjugal relationships, and bad habits such as smoking or swearing.”
The fast is a central pillar of Ramadan, and Nusrat outlined the rituals surrounding it. “The fast begins at dawn, just before the morning prayer and sunrise. You are strongly advised to have a pre-dawn meal, known as Suhoor, to sustain your body for the day. The fast is then broken at sunset, usually with a date or something sweet.”
While fasting is compulsory for all believers, there are exceptions for those with legitimate reasons, such as illness, pregnancy, or health conditions. “If you can’t keep the fasts for whatever reason, you can feed a poor person to make it up,” Nusrat clarified. “There is no picking and choosing, as fasting is compulsory and a pillar of Islam unless there is a genuine reason.”
