Ramadan begins this week in the Islamic world. It is a month-long religious observance, vitally important because fasting during Ramadan in one of the Five Pillars of Islam. You may have heard of Ramadan and have some idea about what it means and how it is practiced, but there is always more to learn. We want to give you a brief overview of what Ramadan is, as well as some examples of how it is observed based on our experiences in Morocco. 

1. Ramadan is very significant in the lives of Muslims around the world. The Five Pillars of Islam are the foundation on which Islamic religious practice is built. One of those Five Pillars is fasting during Ramadan. In the Islamic Calendar, Ramadan ( رَمَضَان ) is the name of the ninth month of the year, and is either 29 or 30 days long, based on the sighting of the crescent moon. During Ramadan, Muslims (who do not have physical limitations) are required to fast all food and beverages from sunrise to sunset. It is also a time of deep religious commitment to prayer, reflection, charity, and community. Many Muslims will read the Quran (the Islamic holy book) in its entirety at least once during the month. Ramadan concludes with the holiday called Eid al-Fitr, or the “Small Holiday” as it is known colloquially in Morocco. 

2. Ramadan is about faith, but also food. 

The foods and flavors of Ramadan festivities are extremely important. Even though most hours of the day are spent without food or drink, the hours after sundown are filled with eating all the special delicacies of the season. The first meal after the sundown call to prayer is called Iftar, or breakfast. People will typically follow the tradition of the prophet and eat three dates to break the fast, and then go pray the fourth prayer of the day. Then this “Break-Fast” meal is underway, with water, juice, tea, and many delicious and traditional foods. In Morocco, this meal usually includes harira, which is a stew made with chickpeas, tomatoes, and vermicelli noodles. There are also numerous special pastries consumed during Ramadan, including shabakia, briouat, and sellou. All of that was just the first meal of the evening! There is usually also a large dinner served, and also a pre-dawn meal. In fact, the odd eating schedules and rich delicacies lead many people to ironically gain weight during this month of fasting. 

3. Ramadan turns life upside down for the month, and leads to changes in schedules and life. 

Because Ramadan turns life upside down, many daytime activities, such as eating and socializing, shift to nighttime hours, and daytime becomes much quieter. It is not uncommon for businesses and schools to change their normal hours of operation for Ramadan. People can stay up late at night, and sleep in late into the day. The streets become completely silent during the breakfast meal after sunset as everyone has gone home to partake in that meal. Then the streets come alive—coffee shops fill up, markets are lively, and people just generally get out of their houses to socialize and enjoy the cool night temperatures when Ramadan is in the spring/summer months. If you are traveling in a predominantly Muslim country during Ramadan, be aware that the schedules and activities may be very different. 

4. Ramadan includes generosity and hospitality. 

A central focus of Ramadan is to identify with the poor while one is fasting, and to give to the poor generously. One of the other Pillars of Islam is giving to the poor, called Zakat. Because Muslims believe that good deeds are rewarded even more when done during Ramadan, people are often more generous during Ramadan. In addition, it is common to open one’s home and share meals during Ramadan. The table is full, so why not share? 

5. Ramadan also comes with its share of challenges. 

Because people are losing sleep, going without food, not having coffee, and not smoking, you may be able to guess that this could lead to some irritability. There is an adjustment period at the beginning of Ramadan when tempers are short due to caffeine or nicotine withdrawal, in addition to hunger and sleep deprivation. Ramadan is meant to be a holy time for practicing self-discipline and putting one’s mind away from worldly activities. But it is also a challenging time for people. 

Did you learn anything new about Ramadan? Do you have anything else to share about Ramadan? Comment below to keep the conversation going.