Millions of Muslims worldwide are observing Ramadan, the most sacred month in Islam, which involves fasting every day, praying, and taking time for reflection. During Ramadan, adult Muslims fast every day, starting at dawn and ending at sunset. The fast starts with the early morning meal called suhoor before dawn and ends at sunset with iftar.

During the day, people who are fasting avoid eating, drinking anything like water, smoking, and having marital relations. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which are the basic practices every Muslim follows.The month is based on the Islamic lunar calendar, so its dates change every year compared to the Gregorian calendar.

Fasting isn’t just about avoiding food and drink. The idea is to help people grow spiritually, build self-discipline, feel grateful, and understand what others go through when facing hunger and tough times. During the month, Muslims are also encouraged to give more to charity and spend extra time praying and reading the Quran.

Some people don’t have to fast, like young kids, older adults, pregnant or breastfeeding women, travelers, and anyone who’s sick. People who miss fasts because of short-term reasons can make them up later. Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr, a joyful holiday where people come together for prayers, give to those in need, and spend time with family and friends.