The Islamic month of Ramadan begins at the sighting of the new moon in the ninth month of the lunar calendar. The Qur'an states: "Fasting is ordained for you as it was ordained for those before you, so that you might remain conscious of God" (2:183).

Accordingly,  every day during the month of Ramadan, observant Muslims around the world get up before dawn to eat the Suhur meal (the pre-dawn meal) and perform the fajr prayer. The daily fasts end at sunset when the fourth prayer of the day, Maghrib (sunset), is due. Many Muslims break fast with a meal, known as iftar.

Fasting (along with the declaration of faith, daily prayers, charity and pilgrimage to Makkah) is one of the “five pillars” of Islam”. Because Ramadan is a lunar month, it begins about eleven days earlier each year. The end of Ramadan will be marked by communal prayers called Eid -ul-Fitr or feast of the Fast-Breaking.

A time to reflect, a time for the spirit, the soul and the community

This blessed month emphasises the importance of increasing spiritual devotion and sense of community, particularly in the last ten days.

In this month the Qur’an was revealed, and Muslims use this opportunity to connect to the holy book, starting and completing during the entire month.

Many Muslims tend to perform the recitation of the entire Qur'an by means of special prayers, called the Tarawih, which are held in the mosques every night of the month, during which a whole section of the Qur'an (known as juz) is recited every night until the entire Qur'an has been completed.

A time to remember the needy: At this time Muslims are encouraged to increase their acts of charity, at the end of the month, many Muslims also complete the other pillar of Islam, Zakat where Muslims give a proportion of their wealth to the needy.