Millions of Muslims around the world on Monday marked the start of Ramadan, a month of intense prayer, dawn-to-dusk
fasting and nightly feasts. Others will begin fasting a day
later, Tuesday, due to a moon-sighting methodology that
can lead to different countries declaring the start of
Ramadan a day or two apart.

Here are some questions and answers about Islam's
holiest month:


WHY DO MUSLIMS FAST?
The fast is intended to bring the faithful closer to God
and to remind them of the suffering of those less
fortunate. Ramadan is a time to detach from worldly
pleasures and focus on one's inner self.
It's seen as a way to physically and spiritually purify,
refraining from habits such as smoking and caffeine.
Muslims often donate to charities during the month and
feed the hungry. Many spend more time at mosques
during Ramadan and use their downtime to recite the
Quran.

London's new Muslim mayor, Sadiq Khan, wrote in the
Guardian that he plans to use Ramadan to "build
bridges" and break bread with Muslims and non-
Muslims around the city at synagogues, churches and
mosques, though he acknowledged that 19-hour-long
fasts during the longer summer days in Europe and
forgoing coffee will be challenging.

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of
Islam, along with the Muslim declaration of faith, daily
prayer, charity, and performing the hajj pilgrimage in
Mecca.


HOW DO MUSLIMS FAST?
Observant Muslims abstain from eating and drinking
from dawn to dusk for the entire month of Ramadan. A
single sip of water or a puff of a cigarette is enough to
invalidate the fast.

However, Muslim scholars say it's not enough to just
avoid food and drinks during the day. Ramadan is also
an exercise in self-restraint. Muslims are encouraged to
avoid gossip and arguments. Sexual intercourse
between spouses is also forbidden during the daytime
fast.

Just before the fast, Muslims have a pre-dawn meal of
power foods to get them through the day, the "suhoor."
Egyptians eat mashed fava beans called "ful," spiced
with cumin and olive oil, while in Lebanon and Syria,
popular suhoor food is flatbread with thyme, cheese or
yogurt. In Afghanistan, people eat dates and dumplings
stuffed with potato and leeks, first steamed, then fried.


HOW DO MUSLIMS BREAK THEIR FAST?
Muslims traditionally break their fast like the Prophet
Muhammad did some 1,400 years ago, with a sip of
water and some dates at sunset. That first sip of water
is the most anticipated moment of the day.


https://www.yahoo.com/news/q-ramadan-why-muslims-fast-124555932.html

OP is so so on point..........alhamdullillahi for making me nd my family see diz year's Ramadan on earth

thanks op may Almighty Allah accept our fasting as an act of ibaddah