Millions of Muslims across the world have begun observing Islam's holy month of Ramadan. But what is it about? DW examines the religious observance and what it means for the faithful.
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Traditions and rituals of Ramadan
Ramadan marks a special time of spiritual discipline and purification for millions of practicing Muslims across the globe. From local traditions to holy rituals, DW examines the religious month of fasting.
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Ramadan: Islam's holiest month
Every year, millions of practicing Muslims across the world fast, pray and give alms in observance of Islam's holiest month, the exact dates of which change each year. From firing off cannons to lunar sightings, DW explores how Muslims mark the occasion and what it means to the faithful.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/R. Gupta
Moon sighting
The sighting of the new moon of Ramadan is practiced by religious authorities across the globe to determine the beginning of the month of fasting. While some observe the new moon with telescopes, others use the naked eye, which is why Ramadan may begin on different days in certain parts of the world.
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Prayer
Prayer is often considered a fundamental part of observing the month of fasting. Ramadan traditionally begins with a special prayer known as "Tarawih" on the eve of the holy month. During Ramadan, practicing Muslims generally participate in communal prayer at their local mosque.
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Recitation
The month of fasting represents a period of spiritual discipline and purification. As such, reading and reciting the Quran, Islam's holy book, form an integral part of the traditional rituals observed during Ramadan. The Quran is believed to have been revealed to the Prophet Muhammad during the month of Ramadan.
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Local traditions
While Islam offers prescribed rituals to observe during Ramadan, many places have local traditions that coincide with the month of fasting. In Sarajevo, a cannon is traditionally fired to mark the breaking of the fast on each day of Ramadan. In Egypt, displaying a decorated lantern known as a "fanous" is part of the tradition.
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Breaking fast
After a long day without food and water, many Muslims traditionally break their fast with a date, the nutritious fruit with which the Prophet Muhammad is believed to have broken his fast. Afterwards, observing Muslims often partake in a communal dinner known as "iftar."
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Eid al-Fitr
The celebration of Eid al-Fitr, or the festival of breaking the fast, marks the official end of Ramadan. From indulging in sweets to offering gifts to loved ones, Muslims celebrate the end of the fasting month with large meals prepared for friends and family. It is considered a joyful time in which to be generous and kind to others.
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Ramadan is regarded as Islam's holiest month in the Muslim lunar calendar. The month generally lasts between 29 and 30 days, and represents a period of spiritual discipline and purification.
It is observed by most of the world's roughly 1.6 billion Muslims through fasting, prayer, alms-offering and recitations of the Quran, Islam's holy book.
Observing Ramadan is considered the one of the five pillars of Islam, which include the declaration of faith, charity and pilgrimage to Mecca, the religion's holiest site.
According to the second chapter of the Quran, "The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong)."
When does Ramadan begin and end?
Each year, Ramadan begins and ends at a different time. The starting date begins with the sighting of the new moon.
However, even the sighting of the moon is determined differently across the world. For example, Saudi Arabia and 33 other countries declared the beginning of Ramadan on Saturday. However, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh announced the month of fasting will start on Sunday.
According to the Abu Dhabi-based International Astronomical Center, the differences in time arise from the methods in which the new moon is observed. Some places use telescopes to determine the beginning of the new moon, while others rely on the naked eye.
The end of Ramadan is determined in a similar manner, with the sighting of the next new moon. The three-day celebration of Eid al-Fitr, or the festival of breaking the fast, marks the official end of Ramadan.
How is Ramadan observed?
Ramadan is often observed through fasting from sunrise to sunset. Before sunrise, observing Muslims eat a meal known as Suhoor before praying. After sunset, they break their fast in a meal known as Iftar, which is often taken in a communal setting. However, due to the geographical location of some Muslim communities, fasting hours may differ.
According to religious scholars, in countries where the day and night cannot be distinguished, such as in Norway and Iceland during the summer months, Muslims may observe fasting in accordance to the timetable of the closest country in which the two parts of the day can be distinguished.
Other scholars have agreed that observing Ramadan in accordance with the timetable of Mecca in Saudi Arabia is acceptable as well.
Before the celebration of Eid al-Fitr that marks the end of the fasting month, Muslims are expected to offer alms to the poor and, in some areas of the world, even provide a portion of their food. Reading the Quran and participating in the five daily prayers prescribed by Islam also form part of the observance of Ramadan.
There are exceptions to fasting during Ramadan, which include in cases of sickness, traveling, menstruation, pregnancy, nursing and old age.
Forced piety - Pakistan's Ramadan law and vigilantism
Pakistan's Ramadan law, which bans people from eating in public, has once again come under discussion after lawmakers recently introduced stricter penalties. Why does Pakistan insist on enforcing the harsh law?
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Harsh penalties
In Pakistan, it is illegal to drink, eat or even smoke in public during Ramadan. You can be sent to jail, heavily fined, or may even be beaten by vigilantes. Earlier this month, the country's lawmakers introduced stricter penalties that could see people jailed for up to three months for a violation.
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'This is not Islam'
Bakhtawar Bhutto, the daughter of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, was quick to condemn the latest amendment, dubbing the law "ridiculous." "Not everyone in Pakistan will be fasting - children in school, the elderly, people with medical issues - Should we arrest them for drinking water?" tweeted Bhutto. "People are going to die from heat stroke and dehydration with this ridiculous law."
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Obliged to fast
"A person who, according to the tenets of Islam, is under an obligation to fast shall not eat, drink or smoke in a public place during fasting hours in the month of Ramadan," says the Ehtiram-e-Ramadan (Respect for Ramadan) law, which was introduced by the military dictator Zia-ul-Haq in 1981.
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Austerity and peity
Theologically, Ramadan is about austerity. It teaches Muslims to be pious, to stay away from evil, to fast during the day, and to donate money to the poor. "Zakat" (which means alms-giving in Arabic) is an Islamic tradition in which Muslims give part of their earnings to those in need, particularly during this holy month.
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Unbearably hot weather
The Islamic month of Ramadan coincides with sweltering temperatures in most Muslim-majority countries. In 2015, a brutal heat wave killed over 1,250 people in Pakistan - many of them died of dehydration while fasting. Even then, the government did not relax the 36-year-old law. Some clerics did, however, say it was permissible to break the Ramadan fast for health reasons.
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No respite
Nearly all restaurants are closed from fajr (dawn) until maghreb (dusk), and shopkeepers only sell takeaway food items. If you are hungry or thirsty the only place for you is home. At offices - both public and private - you are not allowed to eat.
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Rising religious extremism
With the war in Afghanistan and growth of Islamist organizations such as the Taliban in the region, things have taken a turn for the worse in the past few years. Religious extremism and intolerance are on the rise in the South Asian Islamic country. At the same time, Ramadan is also an opportunity for extremist and militant outfits to rake in cash through charity donations.
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Vigilantism
Incidents of religious vigilantism have spiked in the past few years, with fanatic mobs trying to enforce their own version of Shariah. A number of people have been lynched on unproven accusations of blasphemy. Observers say the existence of various Islamic laws has emboldened radicals to take matters into their own hands and dole out "justice" to what they deem un-Islamic. (shs)