9781422276570

Ramadan R amadan, also known as Ramzan, is a holiday marked by contrast. While traditionally a sacred period devoted to prayer, fasting, and charity, Ramadan has more recently become an occasion for many Muslims to feast, party, and shop. The most enthusiastic feasting often occurs during the holiday Eid al-Fitr, the “Festival of the Breaking of the Fast” that ends Ramadan every year. Ramadan is celebrated by Muslims across the world who remain true to the ceremony’s Middle Eastern origins while incorporating elements drawn from the cultures of their new homelands. If you asked Muslims from Saudi Arabia, Michigan, and New Zealand what they appreciate about Ramadan, many would give similar answers. They would mention the spiritual strength they feel as they fast and pray, and the sense of community they enjoy while celebrating the end of the fast each evening. In many countries they might also mention parties, gifts, and new clothes. In Islamic regions, Muslims decorate their shops and homes, and excitement is in the air. Even in countries with few Muslims, Ramadan is a much-anticipated time to focus on faith, family, and feasting. introduction

Ramadan

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