Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, and the month in which the Quran was revealed.
Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
The word Ramadan means scorching heat, which refers to how Ramadan ‘burns’ the sins of its believers.
When a person fasts from dawn to dusk, they are disciplining themselves not only by abstaining from food and drink, but also from all forms of sins relating to the mouth, ears, eyes and thoughts.
When the sun sets during Ramadan, they break their fast and focus on prayers.
Bakerton resident Maulana (priest) Abbas Ali explains the purpose of fasting as the spirit of man being released from the clutches of sensual desires and material inclinations and creating a balance between his spiritual and physical needs.
He says there is a combination of body and soul and the soul pulls a man towards its origin and reminds him of his true destiny.
However, the body of man pulls him towards its own origin that is on earth and material and sensual pleasures.
To break the effects of the physical, material and sensual pleasures Islam has instituted the aspects of prayer, charity and fasting.
Through fasting, this quality of God-conciousness and obedience is created.
It is obligatory for every mature Muslim adult male and female to fast during Ramadaan.
Abbas says at the end of Ramadan they break fast with a massive party and feast.
As a diabetic, Abbas still fasts, but says it is a personal choice.
