The holiest month in the Islamic calendar is Ramadan. The time of Ramadan is determined by the sighting of a new moon. Ramadan remembers the month when Allah revealed the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad.

In 2023, Ramadan is celebrated from the evening of March 22nd to the evening of April 21st. During that time, the world’s Muslim population will fast each day from sunrise to sunset. Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of five pillars of Islam. Before sunrise a meal may be taken (Suhoor) and then the fast is broken after sunset (Iftar). Often the meal includes dates, dried apricots, complex carbohydrates (e.g., wheat, oats, lentils), grilled meat, and milk-based puddings.

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims are encouraged to dress conservatively and at the very least ensure shoulders and knees are well covered during the Holy Month. Listening to music is acceptable but it may not be loud. During the daylight hours, they are not to engage in anything that satisfies the human appetites e.g., smoking, sex, gossip, food or drink. Ramadan is a time of fasting, of purification. Muslims fast as an act of worship, a chance to get closer to Allah and a way to become more compassionate to those in need.

To mark the end of fasting, the festival of Eid ul-Fitr is celebrated which may last several days. It is a time of feasting with friends and family. Rich foods are eaten and shared. Muslims don their best clothes and give thanks to Allah. They exchange gifts and decorate their homes for the celebrations.

The Dominican Center honors the faith of Islam and the holy month of Ramadan. We pray for an end to any conflicts in the middle east and to the profiling of Muslims in the United States. We join our Muslin brothers and sisters in prayer, we honor their fast with mindful eating and drinking, and we hold this month as holy.

Photo: Ramadan Karim by Emuishere Peliculas / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0