Dates on sale in Dhaka, Bangladesh, during Ramadan last year.

Muslims around the world are to start fasting this week for the Islamic calendar month of Ramadan, known in much of the Indian subcontinent as ‘Ramazan’.

Fasting for the month, known in Arabic as sawm, is one of the five key pillars of Islam and represents one of the year’s biggest celebrations. Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar-based calendar, is a time of introspection and heightened spirituality for the world’s more than 1 billion Muslims.

Fasting is to take place between first light in the morning (fajr) and the moment of sunset (maghrib). During this time, Muslims are expected to abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, intimacy and other pleasures. Exempt from the fast are travellers and the infirm (either through age or illness).

Charitable giving (zakat) is also a a key element of the month, and those who are genuinely unable to fast can donate a proportion of their income to a worthy cause instead.

Ramadan begins with the sighting of the new crescent moon for the month

Opinion differs about when Ramadan begins in various countries, as it is based on the sighting of the new crescent moon for the month. This year, due to differences in practice, the fast is due to begin on Wednesday 10th July in Australia, and Thursday 11th July in Pakistan and India, however readers are strongly urged to contact local authorities for expert opinion. Eleventh-hour announcements about early or late moon sightings are not unheard of.

Each day the fast is begun after an early meal of suhoor, a heavy breakfast before first light in the morning. Families often take this meal together at home before praying fajr. The fast is broken with an iftaar meal after sunset. It is sunnah (customary) for the fast to be broken with three dates and a drink of water, and following the maghrib prayer, a full meal is normally taken. Iftaar often takes on a celebratory tone, with large community events organised throughout the month in many countries.

Tables groaning with food at a community iftaar in Dhaka, Bangladesh during Ramadan last year.

Ramadan ends with Eid-ul-Fitr, a day marked by feasting and celebration. This year Ramadan is expected to end on 8th or 9th August, however as that date is also determined by moon sightings, readers are again urged to contact local authorities for confirmation.

Stay tuned to UrbanDuniya’s Facebook page or Twitter account for reporting of updates and announcements regarding Ramadan announcements.