What is Ramadan? The Islamic Holy Month - Behind the News

Young Muslims across Australia are fasting between sunrise and sunset during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. To find out more, we visited the Baltagie family at sunset when they broke their fast.
Every year 1.8 billion Muslims around the world observe Ramadan.

Ramadan happens this month because this is when the holy book that's followed by Muslims, called the Koran, was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, but because Islam uses the lunar calendar (based on the cycles of the moon), the date changes every year.

During the month, Muslims won't eat or drink between dawn and sunset. This is called fasting.

At the end of the day, after the sun has gone down, families and friends will get together to break their fast.

And many Muslims will go to the mosque to pray.

Fasting's really important during Ramadan because it lets Muslims devote themselves to their faith and become closer to Allah, or God.

Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which is how Muslims live their lives.

Other pillars are faith, prayer, charity and making a pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Mecca is the holiest city in Islam.

It's where Mohammad was born and where the Koran was revealed to Mohammad.

Ramadan is also a time for spiritual reflection, prayer, doing good deeds and spending time with family and friends.

Not everybody fasts during Ramadan.

Children, pregnant women, old people and people who aren't well or travelling don't have to fast.

What should non-Muslims know about Ramadan?

According to Cross-cultural consultant and chair of the Australian Muslim Women's Centre for Human Rights Tasneem Chopra, non-Muslims shouldn't act differently.

What happens when Ramadan ends?

"You can imagine after a month of fasting and extra worship it's a huge celebration," said Muslim Village editor Ahmed Kilani.

"We call it Eid.

"Usually families will get together and have a big meal on that day.

TEACHER RESOURCES
(Year 4 & 7 Civics and Citizenship & Year 7 History)
"Students will develop a deeper understanding of what Ramadan is and the traditions observed during Ramadan."
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BTN STORY PAGE
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