Ramadan, Holy Month for Muslims
This year, Muslims will observe the holy month of Ramadan from March 11th to April 8th.
On each day of the month, between dawn and sunset, all Muslims must practice fasting — that is, not eating food or drinking water.
During the fasting period, Muslims usually eat a morning meal just before dawn and an evening meal, called Iftar, or break the fast, after sunset.
Ramadan has its roots in an event that Muslims believe happened in 610 A.D.
That year, the prophet Muhammad received a message from an angel that contained the entire text of Islam’s holy book, the Quran.
Islam is now the world’s second largest religion, with nearly 2 billion followers.
A Muslim is a believer in Islam, and Muhammad was the religion’s founder.
Observing Ramadan is one of Islam’s five Pillars, or requirements, for a responsible lifestyle.
Other Pillars include praying five times each day and giving money to help the poor.