Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. An Islamic fasting is not eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset between the prayers Fajir to Maghrib. This month has either 29 or 30 depending on the shape of the moon. To Muslims this month is all about getting closer to their God, Allah. 2023 Ramadan is creeping among is, it is estimated to be begin on the Thursday 23rd of March 2023.

During this month many Muslims take this opportunity to preform good deeds such as helping more often or praying a lot to ask for forgiveness. This is to gain more rewards so once the Day of Judgment comes Allah will give them the highest rank in Jannah, Heaven. Muslims celebrate Ramadan to obtain piety.

In the time of the Prophet Muhammad, the “seal of the prophet” Muhammad revile the holy book of the Muslims, the Quran. This revelation occurred on Laylat Al-Qadar which translates to “the Nights of Power.” During the last 10 days of Ramadan Muslims try extra hard to pray towards Allah to ask for forgiveness.

All prayers in Islam are unique and important. However, the Ramadan prayer called Taraweeh is vital for Muslims to pray. Taraweeh translates to “rest and relax.” This is a prayer which is read after the 5th prayer of Islam Isha. Muslims visit the mosque to perform the act of worship to perform a set number of sequenced actions which is collectively named Rakats. This non obligatory act came about when the Prophet Mahammad one night prayed Taraweeh, on the first night some people came to pray with him. On the second night, the word got around, and more people attended the mosque, on the third night even more people arrived at the mosque. On the fourth night the mosque was filled with people wanting to pray alongside the Prophet, but he never attended instead he read at home as he “feared that it would be made obligatory towards you.”

There are many traditions in Ramadan one of them being opening the fast with a date and a glass of water. Muslims break the fast with dates as the Prophet Muhammad said those who are fasting, “he should break his fast with dates.” However, this is not obligatory as water is drank to break the fast to signify the purity of the fast.

The Pakistani routine of breaking the fast is quite “wholesome” said a Sobia Hussain who is the mother in the family of 5. This mother said that “to begin breaking the fast the family gather around the dinner table to eat a date each and drink water whilst praying to Allah for letting them be alive for another Ramadan. Next, we consume cut up fruit and after we pray the 4th prayer called Maghrib. After, we ingest either Samosa Chatt or Pakoras as a light snack. Then we have the main meal. And finally, after Isha we pray Taraweeh. This mother emphasised that “all the food is consumed in small portions to be able to eat for the early breakfast Suhoor.”

Overall, Ramadan is a very important time of the year for Muslims to become closer to Allah by asking for forgiveness and praying towards Him. The “traditions of Ramadan will aways be alive as the love for Allah will always be strong,” said Nuh Khan.