Before dawn, meals usually consist of bread and some variation of eggs, and the fast is broken at dusk with a date.
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Across Canada, there is also variation in terms of fasting hours given the differences in sunrise and sunset times.
Normally, Muslims go to work on Ramadan; though some countries or enterprises whose owners are Muslims let them go home earlier in the view of the holiday.
Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, with the profession of faith, the obligation to pray five times a day, almsgiving and pilgrimage to Mecca.
In Asia, most Muslims will fast for 14-16 hours. Drinking, smoking, sexual activity and impure thoughts and words are forbidden.
Non-Muslims are encouraged to take part in the “fast with a Muslim friend” campaign, a national initiative that connects Canadians with Muslims during the holiest month of Islam. For the next 30 days, most of the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims will abstain from food and drink in a month meant for contemplation, self-discipline and remembrance of God. Do all Muslims fast? The first Muslim elected to lead a major European city, Khan vowed to “break down the mystique and suspicion around the religion”. Families gather for a celebration meal and food is shared with neighbours. Meanwhile, in some places above the Arctic circle, the sun never sets. Even Google search engine is aware of the Ramadan calendar shifts; that is why it leaves a small disclaimer explaining that “each year dates are changing”.
A member of the Malaysian Islamic authority performs the “Rukyah Hilal Syawal”, the sighting of the new moon to determine the start of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, June 5, 2016. So that said, there can be a one-day error depending on when the new moon is first spotted. Most Muslim kids are also exempted from fasting.
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The end of Ramadan is marked by a day of celebration called Eid-ul- Fitr when Muslims thank Allah for the help and strength that he gave them to help practice self-control. People wear their best clothing and gifts are exchanged, especially to children.
