9 questions on Ramadan you had been too embarrassed to ask

Ramadan is the Muslim holy month, and many of the world’s estimated 1.9 billion Muslims will observe it in some kind.

Which means there is a good probability you — or a pal, a coworker, a neighbor, your kid’s trainer — will likely be celebrating, fasting, and doing all types of different actions which can be distinctive to the holy month.

But what’s Ramadan, precisely? What’s the cope with fasting? And is there something particular it’s best to do or say whenever you’re round Muslim associates and acquaintances throughout Ramadan?

Don’t fear, we have you lined: Here are probably the most primary solutions to probably the most primary questions on Ramadan.

1) What is Ramadan truly about?

Ramadan is probably the most sacred month of the yr for Muslims — the Prophet Mohammed reportedly mentioned, “When the month of Ramadan begins, the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of hell are closed and the devils are chained.”

Muslims consider it was throughout this month that God revealed the primary verses of the Quran, Islam’s sacred textual content, to Mohammed, on an evening referred to as “The Night of Power” (or Laylat al-Qadr in Arabic).

During the whole month of Ramadan, Muslims quick each day from daybreak to sundown. It is supposed to be a time of religious self-discipline — of deep contemplation of 1’s relationship with God, additional prayer, elevated charity and generosity, and intense research of the Quran.

But if that makes it sound tremendous critical and boring, it is actually not. It’s a time of celebration and pleasure, to be spent with family members. At the tip of Ramadan there’s a giant three-day celebration known as Eid al-Fitr, or the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast.

It’s type of just like the Muslim model of Christmas, within the sense that it is a non secular vacation the place everybody comes collectively for large meals with household and associates, exchanges presents, and customarily has a beautiful time.

2) How does fasting work?

Fasting throughout Ramadan is likely one of the 5 pillars — or duties — of Islam, together with the testimony of religion, prayer, charitable giving, and making a pilgrimage to Mecca. All Muslims are required to participate yearly, although there are particular dispensations for many who are sick, pregnant or nursing, menstruating, or touring, and for younger youngsters and the aged.

The observe of fasting serves a number of religious and social functions: to remind you of your human frailty and your dependence on God for sustenance, to indicate you what it feels wish to be hungry and thirsty so you’re feeling compassion for (and an obligation to assist) the poor and needy, and to cut back the distractions in life so you possibly can extra clearly focus in your relationship with God.

During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from consuming any meals, consuming any liquids, smoking cigarettes, and interesting in any sexual exercise, from daybreak to sundown. That contains taking treatment (even in the event you swallow a tablet dry, with out consuming any water). Chewing gum can also be prohibited (although I did not discover that one out till about midway by my first Ramadan after changing — oops).

Doing any of these issues “invalidates” your quick for the day, and also you simply begin over the following day. To make up for days you did not quick, you possibly can both quick later within the yr (both all of sudden or a day right here and there) or present a meal to a needy particular person for every day you missed.

Muslims are additionally speculated to attempt to curb damaging ideas and feelings like jealousy and anger, and even lesser issues like swearing, complaining, and gossiping, throughout the month. Some individuals may select to surrender or restrict actions like listening to music and watching tv, usually in favor of listening to recitations of the Quran.

3) What is a typical day like throughout Ramadan?

During Ramadan, Muslims get up nicely earlier than daybreak to eat the primary meal of the day, which has to final till sundown. This means consuming numerous high-protein meals and consuming as a lot water as doable proper up till daybreak, after which you’ll be able to’t eat or drink something.

At daybreak, we carry out the morning prayer. Since it is often nonetheless fairly early, many return to sleep for a bit earlier than waking up once more to prepare for the day (I definitely do).

Muslims aren’t speculated to keep away from work or college or every other regular duties throughout the day simply because we’re fasting. In many Muslim nations, nevertheless, companies and colleges could scale back their hours throughout the day or shut solely. For probably the most half, although, Muslims go about their day by day enterprise as we usually would, regardless of not having the ability to eat or drink something the entire day.

When the night name to prayer is lastly made (or when the alarm in your telephone’s Muslim prayer app goes off), we break the day’s quick with a light-weight meal — actually extra of a snack — known as an iftar (actually “breakfast”), earlier than performing the night prayer. Many individuals additionally go to the mosque for the night prayer, adopted by a particular prayer that’s solely recited throughout Ramadan.

Robin Utrecht/SOPA Images/LightRocket by way of Getty Images

Mahmud Hams/AFP by way of Getty Images

This is often adopted by a bigger meal a bit later within the night, which is usually shared with household and associates in each other’s properties all through the month. Then it is off to mattress for just a few hours of sleep earlier than it is time to get up and begin yet again.

(Note: There are good causes for under having a small snack to interrupt your quick earlier than performing the night prayer after which consuming an even bigger meal later. Muslim prayers contain a variety of motion — bending over, prostrating on the bottom, standing up, and many others. Doing all that bodily exercise on a full abdomen after not having eaten for 15 hours is a recipe for catastrophe. Just belief me on this one.)

Despite the hardship of fasting for a complete month, most Muslims (myself included) truly sit up for Ramadan and are a bit unhappy when it’s over. There’s simply one thing actually particular about realizing that tens of thousands and thousands of your fellow Muslims world wide are experiencing the identical starvation pangs, dry mouth, and dizzy spells that you’re, and that we’re all in it collectively.

4) So do you reduce weight throughout Ramadan?

Some of it’s possible you’ll be pondering, “Wow, that appears like a good way to reduce weight! I’m going to strive it!” But actually, Ramadan is definitely infamous for sometimes inflicting weight achieve. That’s as a result of consuming giant meals tremendous early within the morning and late at night time with a protracted interval of low exercise bordering on lethargy in between can wreak havoc in your metabolism.

One meta-analysis of scientific research on the results of Ramadan fasting on physique weight discovered that “[w]eight modifications throughout Ramadan had been comparatively small and principally reversed after Ramadan, progressively returning to pre-Ramadan standing. Ramadan gives a possibility to reduce weight, however structured and constant way of life modifications are mandatory to attain lasting weight reduction.” [Italics mine.]

So similar to with every other excessive food plan plan, it’s possible you’ll lose just a few kilos, however except you truly make “structured and constant way of life modifications,” you are in all probability not going to see main, lasting outcomes.

5) Why do the dates of Ramadan change yearly?

For non secular issues, Muslims observe a lunar calendar — that’s, one primarily based on the phases of the moon — whose 12 months add as much as roughly 354 days. That’s 11 days shorter than the three hundred and sixty five days of the usual Gregorian calendar. Therefore, the Islamic lunar calendar strikes backward roughly 11 days every year in relation to the common Gregorian calendar.

So that implies that the primary day of the month of Ramadan, which is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, strikes backward by about 11 days every year.

This has a big affect on how individuals expertise Ramadan from yr to yr. When Ramadan falls within the winter, it is a lot simpler to quick: the times are shorter, which suggests you do not have to quick as lengthy, and it is colder out, so not having the ability to drink water all day is not as large of a deal since you’re not sweating as a lot.

Conversely, when Ramadan falls in the summertime, fasting will be brutal. In many Muslim nations within the Middle East and Africa, summer time temperatures can attain ranges often reserved for the deepest bowels of hell.

And in some Northern European nations similar to Iceland, Norway, and Sweden (the place, sure, there are Muslims), fasting can final a median of 20 hours or extra in the summertime. (And in just a few locations above the Arctic Circle, the solar by no means truly units in the summertime. In these instances, Muslim non secular authorities have decreed that Muslims can both quick together with the closest Muslim nation or quick together with Mecca, Saudi Arabia.)

6) Okay, however why is there at all times confusion yearly about precisely what day Ramadan begins on?

There’s a motive “Ramadan begin date” is likely one of the most-searched phrases each single yr. That’s as a result of Muslims world wide have no idea when precisely Ramadan is definitely supposed to begin. If you Google it, you may see there’s a bit disclaimer underneath Google’s reply that claims “Dates could fluctuate”:

That additionally has to do with the moon — in addition to disagreements about science, historical past, and custom, plus a little bit of geopolitical rivalry.

The starting of every new month within the Islamic calendar begins on the brand new moon. Which means the month of Ramadan begins on the brand new moon. Simple sufficient, proper?

Wrong.

If it has been some time since your highschool astronomy class, this is a reminder of what the phases of the moon appear to be:

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Back in Mohammed’s day, in sixth-century Arabia, astronomical calculations weren’t as exact as they’re at present, so individuals glided by what they might see with the bare eye.

Since the brand new moon is not truly tremendous seen within the night time sky (as you possibly can see above), Muslims historically waited to begin fasting till the small sliver of crescent moon grew to become seen. There’s even a saying attributed to the Prophet Mohammed about ready to begin the quick till you see the crescent. (Some individuals suppose because of this the star and crescent is the image of Islam, however the crescent was used as a logo lengthy earlier than Islam.)

This methodology was a bit messy, although, since issues like clouds or simply the issue of recognizing the moon in some areas usually led to totally different teams beginning their quick on separate days, even throughout the similar nation. Each group, village, and even mosque throughout the village may ship its personal man out to search for the crescent, with rival teams arguing over whether or not the opposite man actually noticed it.

Today, nevertheless, we’ve exact scientific calculations that inform us precisely when the brand new moon begins, and we need not wait till somebody spots a tiny crescent within the sky. (In truth, based on the Oxford Dictionary of Islam, “The want to find out the exact look of the hilal [crescent moon] was one of many inducements for Muslim students to check astronomy.”)

So, downside solved! Except that some Muslim students consider we should always nonetheless wait till the slight crescent moon is seen within the night time sky as a result of that is what Mohammed mentioned to do and that is the best way we have at all times achieved it.

Others argue that Islam has a robust custom of motive, data, and science, and that if Mohammed had been round at present, he’d select the extra exact scientific calculations over sending the man on the mosque with the most effective eyesight outdoors to squint on the night time sky.

To make issues much more enjoyable, some argue that the entire world ought to simply observe the official moon-sighting decrees of Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam and the situation of its holiest websites.

But not everybody thinks that is such a swell thought — particularly rival nations like Pakistan and Iran, which balk on the thought of treating Saudi Arabia as the last word authority on something having to do with Islam.

All because of this every year, Muslims world wide get to expertise the pleasant lunacy of “moon-sighting preventing.” It’s such a well-known function of Ramadan that there are memes about it:

7) Are there variations between how Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims observe Ramadan?

For probably the most half, no. Both Sunni and Shia Muslims quick throughout Ramadan. But there are some minor variations — as an example, Sunnis break their day by day quick at sundown, when the solar is now not seen on the horizon (however there’s nonetheless mild within the sky), whereas Shia wait till the redness of the setting solar has fully vanished and the sky is completely darkish.

Shia additionally rejoice a further vacation throughout the month of Ramadan that Sunnis don’t. For three days — the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty first days of Ramadan — Shia commemorate the martyrdom of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammed who was each the revered fourth caliph of Sunni Islam and the primary “respectable” imam (chief) of Shia Islam.

Ali was assassinated within the fierce civil wars that erupted following the loss of life of Mohammed over who ought to lead the Muslim group in his stead. On the nineteenth day of the month of Ramadan, whereas Ali was worshipping at a mosque in Kufa, Iraq, an murderer from a bunch of rebels who opposed his management fatally struck him with a poisoned sword. Ali died two days later.

Ali is a vastly essential determine in Shia Islam. His tomb in close by Najaf, Iraq, is the third-holiest website in Shia Islam, and thousands and thousands of Shia make a pilgrimage there yearly. Although Sunnis revere Ali as one of many 4 “rightly guided” caliphs who dominated after Mohammed’s loss of life, they don’t commemorate his loss of life or make a pilgrimage to his tomb.

Getty Images/iStockphoto

8) What can I do to be respectful of my Muslim associates throughout Ramadan?

In some Muslim nations, it’s a crime to eat and drink in public throughout the day within the month of Ramadan, even in the event you’re not Muslim.

Of course, this isn’t the case within the United States, the place we take pleasure in freedom of (and freedom from) faith. And most American Muslims, myself included, do not anticipate the non-Muslims round us to seriously change their conduct to accommodate our non secular quick throughout Ramadan.

I’ve had associates and coworkers who’ve chosen to quick together with me out of solidarity (or simply as a result of it appears “enjoyable”), and that was candy of them, nevertheless it’s not one thing I ever anticipate individuals to do. (Plus, they often final about three days earlier than they determine solidarity is overrated and being thirsty for 15 hours just isn’t remotely “enjoyable.”)

All that mentioned, there are issues you are able to do, and never do, to make issues a bit simpler for associates or colleagues who occur to be fasting for Ramadan. If you share an workplace with somebody fasting, possibly eat your scrumptious, juicy cheeseburger within the workplace break room relatively than at your desk, the place your poor, struggling Muslim coworkers should scent it and salivate (in the event that they even have sufficient moisture left of their our bodies to salivate at that time).

Try to recollect to not provide them a chew or a sip of what you are consuming, as a result of it is generally exhausting for us to keep in mind that we’re fasting and simple to absentmindedly settle for and eat that Lay’s potato chip you simply supplied us. But in the event you do, it is okay. We’re not going to get mad or be offended (except you are doing it on objective, during which case, what’s incorrect with you?).

If you are having a cocktail party and also you wish to invite your Muslim associates, attempt to schedule it after sundown to allow them to eat. Muslims do not drink alcohol or eat pork, however we often do not thoughts being round it. (Contrary to common perception, we’re not fearful of or allergic to pork; we simply do not eat it. It’s not like we’re vampires and pork is garlic.) But do tell us if there’s alcohol or pork in one thing so we do not by chance devour it.

If you wish to want your Muslim associates or acquaintances a cheerful Ramadan or joyful Eid al-Fitr, you are welcome to only say, “Happy Ramadan!” or “Happy Eid!” That’s not offensive or something. But if you wish to present them you made an effort to be taught extra about their faith, the usual greetings are “Ramadan/Eid kareem” (which suggests “have a beneficiant Ramadan/Eid”) or “Ramadan/Eid mubarak” (which suggests “have a blessed Ramadan/Eid”).

Even one thing so simple as studying a kind of expressions and saying it with a smile to your Muslim associates will go a good distance towards making them really feel snug and welcome.

9) So in the event you’re not speculated to get indignant or complain or gossip throughout Ramadan, how come terror assaults by teams like ISIS and al-Qaeda generally spike throughout Ramadan?

Because terrorists are assholes.

Update, March 22, 2023: This story was initially printed in 2017 and has been up to date with new dates, and to take away outdated references.

Watch: Muhammad Ali’s greatest fights had been outdoors the ring