Ramadan and Id-ul-Fitr

• Ramadan


  The month of fasting which shapes religious identity for Muslims with a range of practices which encourage devotion, including special meals, the efforts made to fast, reading the Qur'an, marking the Night of Power and, for some, seclusion
• Id-ul-Fitr


  The festival at the end of Ramadan to celebrate the achievement of completing the fast and bring families and communities together
• Ramadan


  1. Lunar month of 29 or 30 days during which Muslims fast from the first light before dawn until sunset

  2. Exemptions for travellers and the ill who may pay to feed a community instead or make up missed fasts later

  3. Adjustments to timings might be made in the summer months of long daylight hours

  4. Muslims abstain from food, drink, sex, swearing and telling untruths strictly during daylight hours

  5. They make extra effort to complete the five prayers and make intention (niyyah) before fasting, then give thanks to God for food before eating again
• Sehri


  Pre-dawn meal when families get together
• Iftar


  When the fast is 'opened', and often Muslims join others in mosques in community meals
• Tarawih


  Special prayers held at night to recite the whole Qur'an
• Night of Power


  Around the 27th night, when the first revelation was given, is commemorated and Muslims stay up to pray
• I'tikaf


  Some Muslims enter seclusion in the mosque for the final 10 days of Ramadan
• Id-ul-Fitr


  1. Begins with the sighting of the new moon

  2. Different opinions about calculating or sighting this, leading to different days for Id marked by different groups of Muslims

  3. Muslims wash and wear new clothes to attend the Id prayers

  4. They hug each other and celebrate with the words 'Id Mubarak'

  5. They give Id money or presents to children, share family meals, some visit graveyards to remember lost loved ones (though some Muslims disapprove of this), and celebrate with social activities