Ramadan 2022: April 2 marks the beginning of the month of Ramadan. It is believed that it was in the month of Ramadan that the Holy Quran was revealed to the Prophet by God. Therefore, the month of Ramadan is considered pious and holy in Islam. The month of Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic Hijri calendar. People fast for long hours during the month of Ramadan. The celebrations last 28-30 days and end with Eid-Ul-Fitr.
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Fasting during Ramadan is reportedly obligatory for all members of the Muslim community, with a few exceptions. Only those who are ill, have a menstrual cycle, travel or are very old/young can be exempted. The long hours of fasting begin before dawn and continue until dusk. It is one of the toughest rituals of any religion in the world. Fasting people are not even allowed to drink water during fasting hours. The first meal at sunrise is known as Sehri and the meal at sunset or evening meal is known as Iftar.
The number of hours for fasting in the holy month of Ramadan varies from country to country. This is because sunrise and sunset occur at different times in different countries, which is why the number of daylight hours differs as well. Muslims living in countries like New Zealand fast for 11 hours, while those living in European countries like Norway fast for as much as 20 hours.
However, in places where the sun never sets in summer, such as the Arctic Circle, people are instructed to fast according to the time of the nearest Muslim country or to fast with countries like Saudi Arabia.
Here is a list of fasting times for cities around the world based on continent:
- North America– Nuuk (Greenland) fasts for 20 hours. In Washington DC (US) there is a 16 hour fast. In Ottawa (Canada), it has been observed for 17 hours.
- Europe– Fasting for 20 hours in Oslo (Norway), Helsinki (Finland). In Stockholm (Sweden) and Berlin (Germany) it is observed at 19 o’clock. Copenhagen (Denmark), London (UK) and Warsaw (Poland) fast for 18.5 hours, while Belgium (Brussels) and Zurich (Switzerland) fast for 18 hours. In Bucharest (Romania) there is a 17.5 hour fast. In Sofia (Bulgaria), Paris (France), Moscow (Russia) and Rome (Italy) it is observed for 17 hours. Muslims fast for 16.5 hours in Madrid (Spain), Lisbon (Portugal) and Athens (Greece).
- Asia– Nur Sultan (Kazakhstan) fasts for 18.5 hours, while in Kabul (Afghanistan) fasts for 17 hours. In Beijing (China), Ankara (Turkey) it is observed for 16.5 hours. Fasting in Tokyo (Japan) and Islamabad (Pakistan) is observed for 16 hours while in New Delhi (India) it is observed for 15 hours.
- Africa– Fasting in Rabat (Morocco) is observed for 16 hours.
The month of Ramadan is all about prayers and forgiving others.
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