This month, it is also believed that the gates of heaven are open while the gates of hell are closed.
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Muslims fast for a number of reasons.
The fast is intended to bring the faithful closer to God and to remind them of the suffering of those less fortunate. This year Muslim-owned shops and restaurants have again been ordered to continue selling cigarettes and alcohol over the course of the month or face closure. It is considered like an exercise of self-restraint.
He said Ramadan underscores the beauty in community – one that eats, prays and works together. It translates literally to “refrain”, and encompasses abstinence from food, drink, having sex, and all evil thoughts and deeds in the interest of self-purification. Muslims will also avoid negative acts like gossiping, lying, or arguing during the month. Accepting self-purification during the holy month gives the significance of fasting during this time.
The U.S. president said Muslims honour each day of Ramadan as a day of patient endurance through fasting, and each night as a night of gratitude through prayers.
However, there are exceptions to the rules of fasting. To help you get the most out of Ramadan, we’ve launched My Ramadan Companion (g.co/Ramadan), which gives you customized and locally relevant information, tips, and other content highlighting the richness of what the web can offer during Ramadan around you.
“People vaguely know about Ramadan, but there’s a lot of curiosity around it”, he said.
“It forces you to be inspired to think about over a billion people around the world who actually live like this every day”, he said. Since the Islamic calendar is lunar, Ramadan shifts to a slightly different season, 11 days earlier each year.
But the long hours this summer are no deterrent. The long days of summer mean most Muslims will be fasting around 17 hours, from almost 4 a.m.to around 9 p.m.
Many Muslims, particularly those who live in the USA and Europe, are accepting and welcoming of others around them who are not observing Ramadan.
“Ramadan is among the holiest of seasons, signifying the time of Allah’s first revelations to Mohammad”.
Eid- ul-Fitr is the annual festival that ends Ramadan.
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“China’s goal in prohibiting fasting is to forcibly move Uighurs away from their Muslim culture during Ramadan”, said spokesman for the exiled World Uyghur Congress, Dilxat Rexit.
