Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset and engage in intense worship, prayer, and acts of charity. It commemorates the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad and is believed to have spiritual benefits. Fasting is meant to bring worshippers closer to God and remind them of the less fortunate. At the end of Ramadan is the festival of Eid al-Fitr, a joyous celebration involving special prayers, meals with family and gifts for children.

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2. A boy yawns while standing beside his mother as they attend an evening mass prayer session called
"tarawih" to mark the holy fasting month of Ramadan, at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, July 9, 2013.

3. The Importance of Ramadan
Ramadan is important for Muslims because it is believed to be the month in which the first
verses of the Holy Qur'an (the divine scripture) were revealed by Allah (God) to the
Prophet Muhammad (570-632 C.E). From time to time, Muhammad used to go out from
Makkah, where he was born and where he worked as a caravan trader, to reflect and
meditate in solitude. Like Abraham before him, he had never accepted his people's worship
of many Gods and felt a need to withdraw to a quiet place to reflect on the One God. One
night, while contemplating in a cave near Makkah, he heard a voice call out telling him to
"Read!" Muhammad protested that he was unable to read. The voice insisted again, and
then a third time, and Muhammad found himself reciting the first verses of the Qur'an:
"Read, in the name of thy Lord, Who created
Created man, out of a clot (embryo).
Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful,
He Who taught the use of the pen—
Taught man that which he knew not.
Nay, but man doth transgress all bounds,
In that he looketh upon himself as self-sufficient.
Verily, to thy Lord is the return (of all)." (Ch.96: 1-8)
The voice was that of the Angel Gabriel, and he confirmed that Muhammad was selected
for an important and challenging mission; he was to call people to monotheism and
righteousness.

4. Muslims attend an evening mass prayer session called "tarawih" to mark the holy fasting month of Ramadan,
which will begin on Wednesday, at Al Markaz Al Islami Mosque in Makassar, Indonesia, July 9, 2013.

5. • Muslims consider the Qur'an to be God's speech recorded in the Arabic
language, and transmitted to humanity through Muhammad, who is
considered the last of the prophets. This tradition of God-chosen
prophets, or messengers, is believed to include such figures as Adam,
Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus. Muslims believe that over a
period of twenty-three years, various verses and chapters of the Qur'an
were revealed to Muhammad through Gabriel. The Qur'an is comprised
of 114 chapters of varying length, with titles such as "Abraham", "The
Pilgrimage", "Mary", and "Repentance."
• During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, every day. This
means not consuming food and drink, including water, during daylight
hours. For married adults, it also includes refraining from marital
relations during the hours of fasting (i.e. the daylight hours). In the
Arabic language, fasting is known as sawm. Muslims arise early in the
morning, during Ramadan, to have a pre-dawn breakfast meal, known as
suhoor. At the end of the day taking the Iftar meal, which usually
includes dates, fresh fruits, appetizers, beverages and dinner, completes
the fast. Later in the evening, Muslims attend special nightly tarawih
prayers at their local masjid. Each night during Ramadan, approximately
1/30th of the Qur'an is recited in the tarawih prayers, so that the entire
scripture is recited in the course of the 29 or 30 days of the month.

6. A child is seen near members of the Muslim community attending midday prayers at Strasbourg Grand
Mosque in Strasbourg on the first day of Ramadan, July 9, 2013.

7. Why Muslims Fast:
Fasting has a number of benefits:
1. It helps one to feel compassion for those who are less fortunate and
underprivileged, since each day Muslims feel greater appreciation for what they
have as a result of feeling hunger and thirst.
2. It allows one to build a sense of self-control and will power, which can be
beneficial throughout life in dealing with temptations and peer-pressure.
Through fasting, Muslims learn to control their natural urges such as hunger and
thirst, and thus are able to better resist temptations for things that are not
necessary, such as drugs or other unhealthy or harmful substances and
behaviours.
3. It offers a time for Muslims to "purify" their bodies as well as their souls, by
developing a greater sense of humility, spirituality and community. Ramadan is a
very spiritual time for Muslims, and often they invite each other to one
another's homes to break the fast and pray together. A greater sense of
generosity and forgiveness is also characteristic of this time.
As with other duties in Islam, fasting becomes obligatory (i.e. one becomes
accountable) after the age of puberty.

8. Muslims attend an evening communal prayer session called "Tarawih" to mark the holy fasting month of
Ramadan at the Bajrakli mosque in Belgrade, July 9, 2013.

9. Eid EL-Fitr:
• After the end of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate a very festive
and joyous holiday, which is known as Eid al-Fitr [eed ul fit-
ur], the Festival of Breaking the Fast. On the day of the Eid,
Muslims attend special congregational prayers in the
morning, wearing their best clothes and perfumes. After the
completion of prayers, and a special sermon, Muslims rise to
greet and hug one another, saying "Eid Mubarak," which
means "Holiday Blessings." Later on, Muslim families visit
each other's homes, and have special meals together.
Children are often rewarded with gifts, money, and sweets.
Lights and other decorations mark the happy occasion.

10. Supporters of deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi recite prayers as they wait to break fast on the
first day of Ramadan at the Rabaa Adawiya square where they are camping in Cairo, July 10, 2013.

11. A Muslim man makes a phone call as he sits on the rooftop of a mosque before the evening prayers a day
before the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in the old quarters of Delhi, July 10, 2013.

12. Rohingya Muslim illegal immigrants gather at the Immigration Detention Centre during the Muslim holy
fasting month of Ramadan in Kanchanaburi province, Myanmar, July 10, 2013.

13. A family breaks the day's fast with the Iftar meal on the first day of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan
in Paris, July 10, 2013

14. A volunteer sets off fireworks during call for prayer on first day of Ramadan outside Rabaa Adawiya
mosque in Cairo, July 10, 2013.

15. Muslim women read the Koran during the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at Istiqlal
mosque in Jakarta, July 10, 2013.

16. A supporter of the deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi prays before he eats his Iftar meal on the
first day of Ramadan, during a sit-in in Cairo, July 10, 2013.

17. A Nepalese Muslim is silhouetted as he offers prayers during the the month-long fasting in the holy month
of Ramadan in Kathmandu July 11, 2013.

18. The hands of a Muslim boy are pictured as he offers prayers during the month-long fasting in the holy
month of Ramadan in Kathmandu July 11, 2013.

19. A Nepalese Muslim reads the Koran during the month-long fasting in the holy month of Ramadan in
Kathmandu July 11, 2013.

20. Students from an Islamic boarding school attend the Koran recitation "Tadarus" during Ramadan in a
mosque in Medan of Indonesia's North Sumatra province July 11, 2013.

21. A Muslim woman walks while others pray after their iftar (breaking fast) meal on the first day of the holy
month of Ramadan in India at the Jama Masjid (Grand Mosque) in the old quarters of Delhi July 11, 2013.

22. Muslims arrange plates before iftar (breaking fast) meal on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan in
India at the Jama Masjid (Grand Mosque) in the old quarters of Delhi July 11, 2013.

23. A Muslim girl arranges plates before iftar (breaking fast) meal on the first day of the holy month of
Ramadan in India at the Jama Masjid (Grand Mosque) in the old quarters of Delhi July 11, 2013.

24. A man prays at al-Saleh mosque, built by Yemen's former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, on the second day
of the month of Ramadan in Sanaa, July 11, 2013.

25. A Muslim man takes a nap before his iftar (breaking fast) meal on the first day of the holy month of
Ramadan in India at the Jama Masjid (Grand Mosque) in the old quarters of Delhi July 11, 2013.

26. A Muslim woman prays after her iftar (breaking fast) meal on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan
in India at the Jama Masjid (Grand Mosque) in the old quarters of Delhi July 11, 2013.

27. Nepalese Muslim men look out from the windows of a mosque as they wait to offer Friday prayers during
the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Kathmandu July 12, 2013.

28. A Nepalese Muslim boy offers Friday prayers during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Kathmandu
July 12, 2013.

29. A Muslim man offers first Friday prayers during the holy month of Ramadan at a mosque in the southern
Indian city of Chennai, July 12, 2013.

30. Mist is sprayed to cool down Palestinian worshippers as they leave after prayers on the compound known
to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City, on the first Friday of
the holy month of Ramadan July 12, 2013.

31. Palestinian men rest inside the al-Hanbali Mosque, during the holy month of Ramadan, in the West bank
city of Nablus, July 13, 2013.

32. Afghan girls hold pots as they wait for food to be distributed during the month of Ramadan, the holiest
month in the Islamic calendar, in Kabul July 14, 2013.

33. Boys read the Koran in a madrasa, or religious school, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Kabul,
July 15, 2013.

34. A Muslim man reads the Koran inside the Mecca Masjid during the holy month of Ramadan in the
southern Indian city of Hyderabad, July 16, 2013.

35. Shi'ite Muslims perform Friday prayers at the Imam Hussein shrine during the holy month of Ramadan in
Kerbala, south of Baghdad, July 19, 2013.

36. Boys perform prayers at the Grand Mosque on 11th day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Sanaa,
July 21, 2013.

37. Syrian volunteers pack food for distribution to the poor and displaced during the "Go Away Hunger" charity
campaign in the fasting month of Ramadan, near Umayyad Mosque in old Damascus, July 22, 2013.

38. A student of a madrasa, or religious school, performs a prayer inside a mosque as he waits for iftar during
the holy month of Ramadan in Old Dhaka, July 23, 2013.

39. Vendors scuffle they unload a truck at a wholesale vegetables market during the Muslim fasting month of
Ramadan in Sanaa, July 23, 2013.

40. Muslim women offer evening prayers after breaking their fast during the holy month of Ramadan at the
Jama Masjid (Grand Mosque) in the old quarters of Delhi, July 23, 2013.

41. Children read the Koran in a madrasa, or religious school, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in
Kabul, July 24, 2013.

42. A volunteer prepares plates for Iftar (breaking fast) during the holy month of Ramadan at a mosque in
Karachi July 26, 2013.

43. Muslim faithful pray inside a makeshift mosque during Friday prayers in the holy month of Ramadan in
Athens July 26, 2013.

44. A Muslim faithful reads the Koran inside a makeshift mosque during Friday prayers in the holy month of
Ramadan in Athens July 26, 2013.

45. Muslim schoolgirls sit in a circle around their religious teacher, as they recite verses from the Koran on the
occasion of "Nuzul Koran", during the holy month of Ramadan in Putrajaya outside Kuala Lumpur July 26, 2013.

46. Men offer evening prayers at a mosque during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in the town of Prizren,
about 90 km (56 miles) southwest of the capital Pristina July 27, 2013.

47. The Sinan Pasha Mosque is pictured at sunset during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in the town of
Prizren, about 90 km (56 miles) southwest of the capital Pristina, July 27, 2013.

48. Anti-government protesters participate in a collective iftar (breaking fast) during the Muslim holy month
of Ramadan in central Istanbul July 28, 2013.

49. Workers sew prayer caps in a factory in old Dhaka July 29, 2013. Prayer caps are hugely in demand during
the holy month of Ramadan.

50. Volunteers distribute free iftar (breaking fast) meals on a road during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan
in the town of Duba in Tabuk province of Saudi Arabia, July 29, 2013.

51. A boy lies on the ground while reading the koran in the holy Muslim month of Ramadan during a power
outage in the town of Duba in Tabuk province of Saudi Arabia, July 29, 2013.

52. Algerians break their fast at a charity food distribution centre by humanitarian association
Ihcene on the outskirts of Algiers July 30, 2013. Ihcene launched a charity food distribution
centre during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar.

53. A Syrian refugee makes sweets for sale during the month of Ramadan at Al Zaatri refugee camp in the
Jordanian city of Mafraq, near the border with Syria, July 30, 2013.

54. A Muslim girl learns to read the Koran at a madrassa, or religious school, during the holy month of
Ramadan in the old quarters of Delhi July 31, 2013.

55. Muslim faithful take part in prayers during the I'takaf, a spiritual retreat in a mosque that is usually held during
the last 10 days of Ramadan, at the Sanusi Dantata Memorial Jummu'at mosque in Abuja, July 31, 2013.

56. A Muslim boy looks at a mobile phone before having his iftar (breaking fast) meal during the holy month
of Ramadan at the Jama Masjid (Grand Mosque) in the old quarters of Delhi August 1, 2013.

57. Muslim children learn to read the Koran at the Gaabow Islamic school, also known as a madrassa, during
the holy month of Ramadan in Somalia's capital Mogadishu August 1, 2013.

58. Members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi
attend evening prayers called "Tahajjud" during the holy month of Ramadan around Cairo University and
Nahdet Misr Square where they are camping in Giza, south of Cairo August 2, 2013.

59. People perform Ramadan night prayers celebrating Lailat al-Qadr, or Night of Power, the anniversary of
the night which the Muslim holy book of the Koran was revealed to Prophet Mohammad by Allah, outside
of a mosque in Cairo, August 4, 2013.

60. A mother feeds milk to her baby while waiting for the train which will take them back to their hometown,
ahead of the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday, at Pasar Senen train station in Jakarta August 5, 2013.

61. A boy sells toys at a crowded shopping arcade during the holy month of Ramadan near the Jama Masjid
(Grand Mosque) in the old quarters of Delhi August 5, 2013.

62. A Muslim trader attends to her customer at a market ahead of Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Malaysia's
northeastern town of Kota Bharu August 6, 2013.

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