All about Ramadan

- Ramadan is the most important festival for the Muslims. It is the 9th month of the 12 month lunar calendar followed by Islam.

- As the Lunar calendar differs from the universal Gregorian calendar, it's hard to pinpoint either the date or the month in which it would occur.

- Ramadan is observed as the occasion on which first revelation of Quran was received by Prophet Mohammed from the God.

- Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan as an act of introspection. Fasting during the month of Ramadan is included among the five pillars of Islam that should be strictly followed by every Muslim.

- Ramadan literally means 'Burning Heat'. It might either resemble the scorching heat of deserts where Islam was born or the burning of body and mind with fasting.

- Every healthy Muslim is supposed to follow the ritual of fasting from dawn to dust during the month of Ramadan. However people who are sick and weak are exempted from the obligation.

- In many Islamic countries such as Kuwait, Iran and UAE... failing to fast during the days of Ramadan is a crime which might attract imprisonment and penalty.

- The pre dawn meal Muslims take before the start of the day's fast is called SUHUR and the food that's taken at night after breaking the fast is called IFTAR.

- It's not just fasting that people observe during Ramadan. They are expected to be generous and disciplined during this month.

- Muslims devote much of their time in prayers, sermons and recitation of Quran through the days of Ramadan.

- The days of Ramadan end with the starting of the next lunar month called Shawwal. The end of Ramadan is celebrated as a festival called Eid al-Fitr.

- In 2016 Ramadan has started on June 6th. So let's convey our best wishes to our Muslim friends all over the world.