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Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. This is the month during which Muslims’ holy book Quran was revealed, Hassan the second Shiite Imam was born, Prophets’ son in law Ali was murdered, a conclusive battle at Badr was won and Muslims are expected to fast. One of the main rituals of Islam, fasting is obligatory for all Muslims except with the sick, pregnant women and some travelers. In all cases once recovered or stopped travelling the missing days should be fasted.
The practice is observed for the whole month and ends with the celebration ‘Fitr’. The daily period of fasting starts at dawn and ends at sunset with no food, drink or sex during the fasting hours. Such self-control is believed to benefit the individuals by elevating spiritual nature or energy and is symbolic of an inner purification of the character. The believers must have a good intention (niyyat) in their mind when fasting. This intention must be pure and the ritual should be performed for the love of God only, not for sake of earthly gains or even the reward of paradise. Special acts of piety, such as the recitation of the entire Quran (one-thirtieth each night of the month) and prayers specific to Ramadan are performed privately or communally at the mosques. Alms are given to the needy and charitable people will provide free meals at sunset when ending the fast meals are consumed.
Fasting is a common ritual practiced by most religions and was known in the pre-Islamic Arabia. There were several Gnostic sects, Christian and Manichean missionaries that practiced fasting and were present in Arabia at the time of Prophet Muhammad. The Muslim fasting was originally based on the Jewish tradition. In Quran crossing of the Red Sea by the Jewish exodus from Egypt is called furghan meaning salvation. Each year Jews commemorate this furghan at Passover. However the fasting season is at Yom Kippur another Jewish holy day when the entire day is dedicated to praying and other religious observances. Since food can not be consumed during the prayers fasting is observed till the rituals are over. This is called the Day of Atonement by the Jews and happens on the tenth of the Jewish month Tishri.
After prophet’s migration to Medina, influenced by the Jewish tradition, the Muslim fasting happened at Passover mixing this day and Yom Kippur together. The fasting was established for the day of ‘Ashura’, the tenth of Muharam. However after the decisive and unexpected victory at the battle of Badr the Prophet declared that the fast at Passover was no longer obligatory for Muslims. Instead they were required to fast during Ramadan to commemorate their own furghan of Badr. The fast of Ramadan was observed for the first time in 625, and became one of the essential practices of Islam and a must for all Muslims. It is not obligatory for youngsters until they reach puberty however most practicing Muslims encourage their children to practice occasional fasting long before they reach that age.
Women during menstruation and up to forty days following childbirth and pregnant women are also exempt from fasting. However the missed days should be made up before the next Ramadan. The very old and the insane are permanently exempt from fasting.
The fasting starts at the beginning of the month when the moon is in conjunction with the sun illuminating the side of the moon away from the earth. In this position, the moon is known as new moon with its dark side facing the earth. By definition a new moon is not visible till it has orbited long enough to form a crescent. A lunar month is approximately 29.5 days and on average is one day shorter than a solar month. Therefore, the month of Ramadan comes 10 – 12 days earlier each year. Any observatory and astronomy center can provide detailed and exact information as to the start of the month. However many Muslims will not start fasting till the moon crescent is sighted.
For Muslims like Jews the day begins at sunset and ends at the next sunset. In this system the night comes before the day. If the new moon is sighted before the sunset fasting starts the next day, but if the moon is sighted after the sunset, the first day of Ramadan does not start until the next sunset. The same system is used to determine the ending of the month. If the new moon for the following month, Shawwal is sighted before the sunset, fasting ends at the sunset on that day. If it is sighted after the sunset, the fasting continues till next day.
People fasting will rise early before dawn to have a pre-fast breakfast (Sahari) and a more elaborate meal at the end of the fasting day called Iftar (Iftari). The first one being early in the morning is a family affair and normally consists of a large breakfast with previously prepared cold meals like koko, kofteh with flat bread, Feta cheese, eggs, bread and jam served with tea. Dates are always served with all religious rituals and are assumed to bring barakat (blessing). These were Prophet Muhammad’s favorite food and are used at most Muslim ceremonies. There is no prescribed food as such and it varies according to the taste and economic status of the participants. Iftar however is like a feast and if possible is consumed with other close members of the family clan, friends and neighbors. Independent religious gathering places like a Takeyeh may serve Iftari food for people attending the event with communal praying, recitations of Quran and preaching by the religious figures and other respected authorities mainly males.
Segregation of sexes is still practiced by many Muslims therefore in some traditional families and in the Mosques males and females will be seated separately. Volunteers perform acts of charity by preparing food in the kitchens and serving the needy with food donated by the charitable people. Ramadan is regarded as a festive month for most Muslims. Streets and shops will be decorated with lights and flowers. People will congratulate each other by saying ‘Ramadan Mubarak’ (blessed Ramadan). People are not expected to give up their daily routine and work despite the apparent hardships caused by fasting. In fact they are expected to carry on as usual and withstanding the hardships is regarded an act of self-discipline rather than an ascetic or withdrawal from the every day life.
The last 10 days are especially important because Quran was revealed in this month at the ‘Night of Power’ (lailat al-qadr). Quran is the foundation of Islam and the unadulterated word of God; it is the Divine Word par excellence. Each single verse of it is called ayat " sign" or miracle because Prophet brought forth these verses as Divine signs when his adversaries asked him for a miracle attesting to his prophecy. According to the Quran, the night of power is better than a thousand months put together. Some people will retreat into prayers during these last ten days. These are called days of i-tikaf or retreat and it ends with Id-i Fitr.
In this night while at a cave in Mount Hira (610AD), the Archangel Jebraeel (Gabriel) appeared to the Prophet with the first five verses of the first chapter, Surat al-Alaq. Muhammad’s appointment as a prophet is called Mabath , meaning the one appointed.
The belief in angles plays an important role in both theology and popular faith. Gabriel occupies the most important position among the angles and represents the Holy Spirit or the Trustworthy Spirit. For this reason he was chosen to convey the Divine message to the Prophet. Muslims believe that this divine communication is the final stage in a long series of contacts conducted through the prophets. It started with Adam and ended with Muhammad the seal of the prophets. Through these contacts humans were warned that their happiness lay in worshipping Allah and to tell them of the terrible consequences of disobedience. God’s final revelation was sent down on the night of power through his last messenger Prophet Muhammad.
. Contrary to popular thinking, it was found that intake of a moderately high-fat diet, around 36% of the total energy (calories), improved blood cholesterol profile, Nomani, et al. (9) and Nomani (10). It also prevents the elevation of blood uric acid level (8-10). The normal recommended guideline for fat is 30% or less energy. On weight basis, suggested fat intake during Ramadan is almost the same as at normal days. Fat is required for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) and carotenoids. Essential fatty acids are an important component of the cell membrane. They also are required for the synthesis of the hormone prostaglandin. Keto-acids from fat are especially beneficial during Ramadan to meet the energy requirement of brain and nerve cells. Keto-acids also are useful in the synthesis of glucose through the metabolic pathway of gluconeogenesis. This reduces the breakdown of body proteins for glucose synthesis. Therefore, the energy equivalent of 1-2 bread/cereal servings may be replaced with polyunsaturated fat. 
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