May You Have A Successful Ramadan!

Tomorrow marks the beginning of Ramadan.

It is during this month that Muslims fast. It is called the Fast of Ramadan and lasts the entire month. Ramadan is a time when Muslims concentrate on their faith and spend less time on the concerns of their everyday lives. It is a time of worship and contemplation.

During the Fast of Ramadan strict restraints are placed on the daily lives of Muslims. They are not allowed to eat or drink during the daylight hours. Smoking and sexual relations are also forbidden during fasting. At the end of the day the fast is broken with prayer and a meal called the iftar. In the evening following the iftar it is customary for Muslims to go out visiting family and friends. The fast is resumed the next morning.

According to the Holy Quran:

One may eat and drink at any time during the night "until you can plainly distinguish a white thread from a black thread by the daylight: then keep the fast until night."

The good that is acquired through the fast can be destroyed by five things -

• the telling of a lie
• slander
• denouncing someone behind his back
• a false oath
• greed or covetousness
  

These are considered offensive at all times, but are most offensive during the Fast of Ramadan.

This sounds like a good idea for anyone regardless of one's religion.

Do good and avoid being mean.

Best wishes to all my Muslim friends for a successful Ramadan!