ISRE Educational Resources Series

R A M A D A N
A simple guide
Muslims believe the Qur’an is the literal word of God (Allah in
What is Ramadan?
Arabic) transmitted to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon
Ramadan is the name of the 9th month of the Islamic calendar.
him) by the Angel Gabriel over 1400 years ago. The Qur’an
During this month, Muslims engage in the ritual of fasting (sawm in
was the last of the heavenly books to be revealed, following a
Arabic).
great chain that included the Psalms, the Torah and the
Gospel. In fact, one reason that the month of Ramadan is so
Ramadan is a very holy month for Muslims. During this time,
special is that the first revelation of the Qur’an began in this
believers strive to devote themselves to worship, reflection,
holy month.
perfection of their character and increasing in God-consciousness.

When is Ramadan? Does everyone have to fast?

All healthy adults are required to fast.
The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and the birth of a new
crescent moon heralds the start of the month. The lunar year is
Sick persons, travellers, children and women during the
approximately 10 days shorter than the solar year. As a result, the
menses and post-natal periods are not required to fast.
month of Ramadan starts 10 days earlier each year on the
Pregnant and breastfeeding women may also be excused if
Gregorian solar calendar we follow in Australia. This sees Ramadan
there is fear of harm to themselves or their baby.
rotate to a different month every couple of years.

What is fasting? What does fasting achieve?

First and foremost, fasting is a mandated act of worship. It is
Fasting in Islam means staying away from eating, drinking (even
carried out by Muslims as an act of obedience to God, in
water) and intimate relations between spouses from dawn (fajr) to
hopes of attaining His reward.
sunset (maghrib).

Fasting requires resilience, perseverance and a strong will.

Relieved of these basic human needs for a restricted period of time,
Muslims fast out of love to God, and are comforted by the
the believer instead focuses on their spiritual development.
spiritual connection that fasting nurtures. The Prophet
Muslims also focus on increasing their acts of worship, prayers,
Muhammad (peace be upon him) tells Muslims:
good deeds, giving charity and strengthening family and community
bonds in Ramadan.
"..For the fasting person there are two times of joy; a time of
joy when they break their fast and a time of joy when they
This is why for individual Muslims and their community at large,
meet their Lord".
Ramadan is a time for inner reflection and renewal, exercising self-
control and patience as well as engaging in gratitude and
There are also various personal, lifestyle and communal
forgiveness. It is a perfect opportunity to connect and deepen one’s
benefits associated with fasting. These include the
connection with God.
improvement of will and self-control, cleansing the body from
toxins and gaining an appreciation of the struggles that the
poor go through.
Why do Muslims fast?
Fasting is the fourth Pillar of Islam and is an act of worship practiced
by millions of Muslims around the world of all nationalities, A typical day in Ramadan
backgrounds and walks of life. A typical day for a fasting person in Ramadan starts by waking
up before dawn to eat a pre-dawn meal called suhoor. It is
Muslims believe fasting was mandated by God in the Holy Qur’an. encouraged to have healthy, nutritional meals and plenty of
“O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed fluids. The beginning of the fasting day is marked by the call to
for those before you, so that you may gain piety”
prayer (athan). Once this is heard, Muslims stop eating and
- The Qur’an, Chapter 2 Verse 183 - drinking and perform the dawn (fajr) prayer. Fasting has
officially begun.

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During the fasting day, Muslims will go about their usual activities. Many Muslims choose to give more than this 2.5%, especially
Muslims feel that their day can, in fact, become more productive during Ramadan when it is believed that the rewards for good
without the need for lunch breaks. They try to dedicate more time deeds are greatly increased. This extra, voluntary charity is
towards increasing acts of worship and striving for good deeds that called sadaqa, and it can consist of food, clothing and other
would reap spiritual benefits. goods or services.

When the sun begins to set, Muslims conclude their fasting day with Charity doesn’t have to be in a tangible form. It can even
a meal known as the iftar. The fast is traditionally broken with the consist of community service or spreading of good will. The
consumption of dates and water. Muslims will then pray salat al- Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) even said that
maghrib (sunset prayer) before continuing with other activities like greeting others with a smile is considered an act of charity!
dinner with family, friends, neighbours and relatives.

Celebrating the end of Ramadan- Eid

In the evening, Muslims go to the mosque (masjid) to attend special
The end of the fasting month is marked with the communal
prayers called taraweeh. Muslims can also perform these prayers at
festival of Eid-ul-fitr, the festival of breaking the fast.
home. During the course of this prayer, passages from the Qur’an
are recited and communal invocations are made.
Muslims mark the occasion of Eid by decorating their homes,
wearing their best clothes, attending outdoor or mosque
Muslims ensure that during Ramadan they reconnect with God,
prayer services and participating in joyful festivals.
their inner selves, their families, relatives, communities and society
at large. A fasting person’s time during Ramadan would specifically
Before the Eid prayer, Zakat Al-Fitr – an obligatory charity
be allocated towards achieving these aims.
consisting of food but nowadays often given in money –
should be distributed to the poor to ensure they are also
A very special night included in the spirit of Eid.

One of the most special nights in the Islamic calendar occurs during
The greeting that is often used during this time is "Eid
the last ten days of the month of Ramadan. This night is known as
Mubarak", meaning “blessed festival”. Gifts are exchanged
Laylatul Qadr: The night of power, or decree.
and celebratory food is joyfully shared after a month of
physical and spiritual cleansing.
Muslims believe that Laylatul Qadr holds a special connection in the
communication between heavenly and earthly realms, as it marks
the night that Qur’an was first revealed. On this special night,
Getting involved in Ramadan
Muslims believe that the Angels descend, the night fills with peace
Muslims love to share the spirituality and significance of
and tranquillity and worship is rewarded abundantly. Many
Ramadan with their non-Muslim family, friends, relatives and
Muslims will 'step up' their worship towards the end of Ramadan,
colleagues. If you would like to get involved in Ramadan:
and especially so for this night. They will engage in nightlong
worship, prayer, supplications and invocations, hoping for the
- try fasting for a day and donate the money you save
reward promised in the Qur’an, which states that worship on this
to your chosen charity
night is equivalent of 1000 months.
- try giving up a certain thing you enjoy to strengthen
your self-control and perseverance
- join Muslims in breaking fast over the iftar meal
Being charitable - observe Islamic prayers at the mosque
The third pillar of Islam is Zakat, or compulsory charity. The word - get involved with Eid festivities
Zakat in Arabic literally means 'purification' and ‘growth’. The - exchange gifts with Muslims
meaning is significant, as charity purifies a person’s wealth and - speak to fasting Muslims about their journey and
allows it to be blessed. The charity given is therefore more for the experiences
benefit of the giver, and they should be grateful that they are faced - read blogs, articles, books and literature about the
with the opportunity to share their wealth. significance of Ramadan and its meaning to the
global faith of Islam
Muslims who meet a particular financial threshold are required to
give 2.5% of their unused wealth to those in need. Many Muslims
choose the month of Ramadan to fulfil this religious obligation.

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Frequently Asked Questions Some Ramadan Reflections…

Is fasting harmful? "The Ramadan period provides a beautiful pause in everyday

life, and is a lovely spiritual boost, much like Lent or Passover.
Fasting is not harmful to healthy adults. As mentioned earlier, there
It reminds me of my faith, and allows me to make it a priority,
are many categories of people who are not required to fast for a
to reconnect with God. It reminds me of the importance of
variety of reasons.
kindness, charity and humility. It is also like a reset button on
any bad eating habits or behavioral patterns I may have fallen
Fasting has been practised for centuries across many cultures and
into. I'm never so at peace as I am during Ramadan” - A'isha
religions. Done correctly, it is in fact one of the healthiest acts you
can undertake for your body, giving it a break from constantly
digesting food and granting it the opportunity to rest and repair.
"Ramadan is a privilege we often take for granted! It is a
priceless month where sins are forgiven and rewards are given
What does someone do if they can’t fast? in abundance!" - Serena
If someone falls under the category of persons excused from
fasting, then in certain circumstances they will make up the days
they missed once Ramadan is over. In other cases, if financially able, "Fasting is between me and God. If I were to cheat, no human
they will feed a poor person for every day of Ramadan. would know, only God would. It’s a close personal relationship
directly with the One who created us" - Mariam

Is fasting difficult?
For people new to fasting, first few days of adapting may be
"Ramadan is a time for me to reflect on myself physically and
challenging. Heavy caffeine drinkers are strongly advised to wean
spiritually to better myself for the long term" - Sara
themselves off it in the weeks leading up to Ramadan to avoid
caffeine headaches during the fast. Some Muslims might also
experience mild 'fasting headaches' on occasion; some days will be
"I love the spirit of Ramadan not just because of fasting. I love
harder than others.
the fact that those who cannot fast have to pay for meals for a
needy person as compensation." - Aarun
Generally, the most you will feel is a temporary hunger or thirst – a
state that is not life threatening – which allows you to realise how
many of the world’s poor feel every day. In our society, we are
"I remember my first Ramadan. It was in the middle of a hot
surrounded by food and are used to instant gratification. During
Aussie summer. Somehow, it was exhilarating. By the end of
Ramadan, we learn to practice sabr (patience or persistence) and
it, I felt this enormous sense of achievement. I never imagined
can experience a profound gratitude for a simple glass of water.
what was possible, do-able. And I learned how to cook a few
things." - Jools
Do children have to fast?
No, it is not obligatory for children to fast. However, some may fast
part of a day or a whole day occasionally in preparation for when "Ramadan is an incredible beautiful event in the world. You
they are older. There are, in fact, many children who fast the entire empty your stomach and open your pockets. It’s not like other
month. It is often something they choose to do, especially when the festivals or celebrations based on excess, it’s about lightening
whole community around them is fasting. and lessening your desires, not increasing them." - Ahmad

Is it okay to eat around my Muslims friends and

colleagues during Ramadan? "Ramadan reminds me of times gone by. Like a long time ago.
Muslims do not have an objection to people eating around them I think of Jesus fasting for 40 days as it was said in the
during Ramadan and will not impose fasting on others. Christian scriptures. Knowing fasting was practised by the
previous Prophets, it’s something I feel I share with them, it
As mentioned, there are also people who are exempt from fasting spans millennia, and I feel connected." - Aaliyah
and others who are in charge of preparing meals for the non-
fasting, so they will be around food.

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