What is Ramadan and Why is it Holy? During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims endure a period of daily fasting – the biggest act of religious observance of its kind.
For the world’s 1.6bn Muslims, including Britain’s 2.8 million-strong Muslim community, the annual event represents a time to fast and devote a particular focus to prayer, purification and charitable acts.
This year Ramadan begins on Friday, May 26 and ends on Saturday, June 24.
What is Ramadan?
During the holy month, Muslims do not let food or drink pass their lips from dawn to dusk.
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As the holiest month of the year, it is a crucial period for practising Muslims and underpins some of the religion’s core values, such as prayer and giving to charity.
The Muslim calendar operates on a lunar system, particularly the crescent moon. Ramadan is the name of the ninth month in the Islamic calendar.
Why is it holy?
Muslims believe Prophet Mohammed received a series of revelations from God which combined to form the Koran. They believe the Koran was revealed during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Ramadan. Many Muslims will try and recite as much of the Koran as they can during Ramadan.