Ramadan – by Harith Ahmad , Room 7

The Muslim month of Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset every day for about 30 days. This means we cannot have food and drink, including water, during the daylight hours.

Muslims wake up early in the morning to have an early breakfast meal, known as Suhoor. The fast is completed at sunset by taking our meal, called the Iftaar, and this usually starts with dates and water followed by dinner.

Later in the evening, the Muslims attend special nightly prayers called Tarawih at their local mosques. Each night during Ramadan, approximately 1 out of 30 chapters of the Quran is recited in the Tarawih prayers, so that the entire book is recited in the course of the whole month.

For Muslims, fasting has a number of benefits:

1. As a result of hunger and thirst, it teaches us how the less fortunate and needy feel and reminds us to be appreciative of what we have.

2. It allows us to build a sense of self-control and willpower. Through fasting, Muslims learn to control their natural urges such as hunger and thirst, and manage their behaviours by being more kind and charitable to one another.

3. It offers a time for Muslims to "purify" their bodies as well as their souls, by developing a greater sense of closeness to God.

4. Fasting also has its health benefits as it helps the body to cleanse itself from all the unhealthy food that we may have been eating. It also helps to rest the tummy and digestive system.

I have been fasting for the last 2 days and I am also fasting today.

Hope you have enjoyed my talk about Ramadan. I have also brought some dates to share with everyone.

Thank you.