Ramadan


Ramadan

In Islam, a holy month of fasting, the ninth month of the Muslim year, commemorating the revelation of the Qur'an to Muhammad. As an act of atonement, Muslims are required to fast and abstain from sexual activity during the daylight hours of Ramadan. Determined according to the lunar calendar, Ramadan can fall in any season of the year. The Ramadan fast is considered one of the Five Pillars of Islam, and the end of the fast is celebrated as one of the important religious holidays of Islam.

This entry comes from Encyclopædia Britannica Concise.
For the full entry on Ramadan, visit Britannica.com.

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