Guest Blog: Understanding Ramadan and Laylat al-Qadr
Ramadan is the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic calendar, which aligns with the lunar calendar. The dates of Ramadan change every year and begin with the sighting of the crescent moon, ending when the next sighting occurs.
It is a month when practicing Muslims fast every day from dawn to dusk, pray, reflect, and gather to commemorate the revelation of the Quran, the holy book of Islam. It is believed that, in this month, the angel Gabriel revealed the book of revelations from God to Prophet Muhammad. Observance is considered obligatory for adult Muslims who are well and not traveling, breastfeeding, or pregnant, and includes abstaining from food, drink, tobacco, and intimacy. Children and the elderly are exempt from fasting.
