Ramadan or Ramzan is recognised as the holy month when Muslims worldwide observe fasting from dawn to dusk. It falls in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar to mark the first revelation of the holy book, Quran, to prophet Muhammad.
As per the Islamic beliefs, God forgives the past sins of the devotees who prays and fasts with faithful intentions.
The word Ramadan in Arabic means extreme dryness and intolerable heat. Ramadan begins and ends with the appearance of the new moon. This year Ramadan is expected to begin from Thursday, April 25 and will conclude on Saturday, May 25 2020.
Ramadan 2020: Importance of fasting
The basic idea of fasting is to practice self-restraint, a period of introspection, communal prayer (salat), charity and reading the Quran.
Observing fast is an act of spiritual purification of the mind and the body.
As per the holy book Quran, fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. The other pillars of Islam are a declaration of faith, daily prayer, charity and going for Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca.
Ramadan 2020: Time of Fasting
Sawm begins a few hours after the sighting of the moon at sunrise and continues until sunset. Devotees pray five times a day and do not eat or drink during the course of the day. They refrain themselves from sinful acts, such as false speech, insulting, cursing, lying, and fighting, that may negate the reward of fasting.
“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.” -Quran
They take their meal before dawn and after sunset. The meal which is taken before the sunrise is called Suhur and the meal taken after the sunset is called Iftar.
Devotees with their family and friends end the fast by eating dates before the evening meal Iftar, it’s a traditional way. The Iftar is arranged in a grand manner with the varieties of dishes served on the table.
But this year due to Covid-19 Coronavirus pandemic, people will maintain the social distancing and celebrate the occasion with family.
After the Holy month of Ramadan draws to a close, Eid al-Fitr takes place. This year, the festival is expected to fall on May 25 or 26.

JazazakAllah khair
Usman Uddin
Ramadan 