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Ramadanisthe9thmonthoftheIslamiccalendar.ItisobservedbyMuslimswordwideasamonthoffasting(sawm),communalprayer(salah),reflection,andcommunity.ItisalsothemonthinwhichtheQuranisbelievedtohavebeenrevealedtotheIsamicProphetMuhammad(PBUH),asaguideforhumanitywithclearproofsofguidanceandthestandard%u02f9todistinguishbetweenrightandwrong.TheannuaobservanceofRamadanisregardedasoneofthefivepillarsofIslamandlaststwenty-ninetothirtydays,fromonesightingofthecrescentmoontothenext.OthersincudingaspiritualcommunitycalledDawoodiBohra,completethefastingfor30daysasperIslamiccalendar.Fastingfromdawntosunsetisobligatory(Fard)foralladultMuslimswhoarenotacutelyorchronicalyill,travelling,eldery,breastfeeding,pregnant,ormenstruating.ThepredawnmealisreferredtoasSuhur,andthenightlyfeastthatbreaksthefastiscalledIftar.Althoughrulings(fatwa)havebeenissueddeclaringthatMuslimswholiveinregionswithamidnightsunorpolarnightshouldfolowthetimetableofMecca,itiscommonpracticetofollowthetimetableoftheclosestcountryinwhichnightcanbedistinguishedfromday.ThespiritualrewardsoffastingarebeievedtobemultipliedduringRamadan.Accordingly,duringthehoursoffasting,Muslimsrefrainnotonlyfromfoodanddrink,butalsofromallbehaviordeemedtobesinfulinIslam,devotingthemselvesinsteadtoprayerandstudyoftheQuran.ThismonthisamonthofSadaqa&ZakattothepoorinthenameofAlah.Zakat,isthefixedpercentageofincomeabelieverisrequiredtogivetothepoor,thepracticeisobligatoryasoneofthepillarsofIslam.MuslimsbelievethatgooddeedsarerewardedmorehandsomelyduringRamadanthanatanyothertimeoftheyear,consequentlymanyMuslimsdonateaargerportionorevenalloftheiryearlyzakatduringthismonth.TheendofRamadanisfollowedbyEID-UL-FITRwhichisamonthofcelebration.
