THIS YEAR the month of Ramadan (the ninth month of the Islamic calendar) starts from Sunday (August 23). Ramadaan has its origin in ramd which means 'to burn'. The period of fasting extends from the moment the moon is sighted, upto 29 or 30 days. In this period, Muslims will refrain from eating or drinking from the time just before dawn until sunset, every day. No breakfast, no lunch, no afternoon tea, no snacks.

The holy month of fasting is ordained by The Qur’an for all adult Muslims of the Islamic faith. Muslims all over the world fast during the day from dawn to sunset. Fasting during this month is thought to burn away one's sins. According to The Qur’an, Ramadan has been instituted so that believers may cultivate piety. It is the month during which the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) received the first of the Qur’an’s revelations.

According to the Prophet, there are five things that will undo all the good that comes from fasting: (i) telling a lie (ii) denouncing someone behind his or her back (iii) slander (iv) a false oath and (v) greed or covetousness. Therefore, Muslims try to purify their self and surroundings by observing fast. Hence, Ramadan is a time for self-examination.

It’s customary to break the fast by taking a drink of water and a date, just the way the Prophet broke his fast. The fasting month comes to an end with the sighting of the new moon again and the beginning of the month of Shawwal. Eid-ul-Fitr (popularly called Meethi Eid) is celebrated on the first day of this month.