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Holidays and Observances - What Is Ramadan?

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is a holy month observed by followers of the Prophet Muhammad (c. 570–632), who founded the religion called Islam. Muhammad received visions from Allah (God), which his followers wrote down in the Koran (also spelled Qur'an). The Islamic calendar is based on the phases of the Moon, which makes the Islamic year about eleven days shorter than the solar year, which is the basis of Western calendars. This means that while Ramadan is always in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, it takes place at different times of the year according to the Western calendar, which is based on the Earth's revolution around the Sun.

During Ramadan, all Muslims (except for pregnant women, the elderly, and the sick) fast from sunrise to sunset. Fasting (going without food) reminds the Muslims that they depend on Allah (God) for life and that they should give to the needy. During this time, Muslims say extra prayers and read...

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