Welcome, Ramadhan!

May be not many of you are aware that yesterday was the starting of the Holy Month of Ramadhan for muslims all over the world.  This year would be the 8th year my family and I experience this holy month here in the Middle East. I thought it would be nice to do a small write up about this month to share what I know about it.

The month of Ramadan is the 9th month in the muslim calender, in which was revealed the Holy Quran. It starts with the sighting of the first crescent after the new moon for the next 30 days when muslims will perform their duty of the 3rd pilar of Islam which is fasting. During this time, muslims abstain themselves from food and drinks and sexual intercourse from just before the starting of dawn until sunset.

It is by means of fasting that those who never have to hunger or thirst are made personally aware of the plight of the underprivileged, which thus evokes a degree of social consciousness. Thus, during this month muslims are urged to give charity by hosting iftar (the breaking of fast at the end of the day) for the under-privileged and refrain from wasting. 

Through fasting, a muslim comes to grip with his carnal self, taming his physical appetites, subduing his greed and lust, and thus traversing a path which progressively elevates his consciousness from the physical to the moral and ultimately to the spiritual dimension of his being.

Here, I would like to take the opportunity to wish all my muslim readers and friends 'Ramadhan Kareem' and may you all find peace in this holy month :)