RAMADAN

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calender. Islam uses a lunar calender -that is each month begins with the sighting of the moon, because the lunar calender is about 11 days shorter than the solar calender used elsewhere this years Ramadan began on Sept 24. In this month Muslims are expected to fast for the entire month without drinking or eating from sunset to sunrise, Muslims are expected to start fasting from age 12. An early morning meal known as the sahoor is taken before the sunrise and the breaking food known as iftar is taken when breaking the fast. Fasting reminds the Muslims of the poor and the needy at the end of the month of Ramadan a festival called Eid al fitr.