... ramadan...

ramadan (رمضان‎)

is the 9th month of the islamic calender...

it is the islamic month of fasting, in which participating muslims refrain from eating, drinking and sexual activities from dawn until the sunset...

fasting is intended to teach muslims about patience, humility and spirituality...

it is a time for muslims to fast for the sake of god and to offer more prayer than usual...

during ramadan, muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds...

as compared to the solar calender, the dates of ramadan vary, moving backwards about ten days each year depending on the moon...

muslims believe ramadan to be the month in which the first verses of the qur'an were revealed to the islamic prophet muhammad...

this year's ramadan begins today...