Ramadan: The Holy Month of Fasting Observed by Almost 2 Billion Muslims worldwide
Ramadan, the holy month of fasting and prayer, is celebrated by almost two billion Muslims across the globe. Islam, which is the second-largest religion worldwide, brings together about 25% of the world’s population. Muslims worldwide will observe the fast from March 22 or 23 until April 21, depending on the sighting of the moon.
Ramadan is based on the lunar calendar of Islam, which is shorter than the solar year. The date of Ramadan moves 10 or 11 days closer to the beginning of the year each year. Therefore, in 2030, Ramadan will be celebrated twice, at the beginning of the year (approximately from January 5) and at the end (approximately from December 25).
The religious authorities determine the exact date of the beginning of the fast in each Islamic country, which will finally be known on the day of the beginning of Ramadan. In countries like Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and India, the word Ramadan is pronounced “Ramadan,” while in Bangladesh, it is pronounced “Romzan.” In the Russian Federation, “Ramadan” is also pronounced in Tatarstan and Bashkiria, although the Arabic phonetic form with “d” is now used.
Muslims believe that Ramadan is the month in which all scriptures were revealed to the prophets, from Abraham’s scrolls, the Torah, the Psalms, the Gospel, and the final revelation, the Quran. The Prophet Muhammad is believed to have received the first Quranic revelation on Laylat al-Qadr, one of the five odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan, after days of persistent prayer and solitude.
The Ramadan fast consists of giving up food and water and abstaining from doing so from sunrise to sunset. The fast continues for the whole month and ends with Eid-el-Fitr. It is obligatory for all Muslims, men and women, after puberty. In some countries, parents encourage their children to fast for half a day from the age of ten to get them accustomed to fasting.
During Ramadan, believers should behave honorably, improve themselves, and do good deeds for their relatives and neighbors. They have to help the disadvantaged, and one of the good deeds is to feed the fasting people after sunset.
The largest Muslim communities are found in European countries such as the UK, France, and Spain. In the UK, around 6.5% of the population is Muslim, while in France, the number of practitioners of Islam is estimated at about 3.5 million. However, the size of the Maghrib community is much larger. In Spain, there are currently more than two million Muslim believers, with the largest communities found in Catalonia and Andalusia.
In Russia, Muslims make up about 10% of the population, with traditional Muslims representing the majority of the population in seven entities. However, only a small part of these national communities adhere to basic religious tenets. In Russia, Ramadan begins on March 21 and ends on April 20 in the evening. The holiday is officially a non-working day in republics with a large Muslim population, including Adygea, Bashkortostan, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, Tatarstan, and Chechnya.
Planning the morning and evening menu is a special part of Ramadan for the fasting. Although culinary traditions differ from country to country, the general principles remain the same: eat nutritious food in the morning, but not heavy, and include nuts, meat, and vegetables in the evening. Among the popular dishes are dates, bean-based dishes like “ful Ramadan,” brik with egg, bolani, fruit salads, porridge, shorba, lamb halim, and meat skewers.
Exempted from the observance of Ramadan are pregnant and lactating women, those who have not reached puberty, the elderly, and those suffering from chronic diseases, including mental disorders. It is also possible to eat and drink during Ramadan if you are on a long journey, but the believer will have to make up all the days of Ramadan missed at a later time, after Ramadan is over.