The Koran is the holy book
of Muslims. They believe that it contains God's actual words.
Muslims observe
Ramadan, Eid-al-Fitr, and Eid-al-Adha.
1. Ramadan:
Every Muslim must fast
during the month of Ramadan. It is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The
Koran instructs Muslims to fast from dawn to dusk during Ramadan. When fasting,
they do not eat any food, drink any beverages, smoke, or engage in sexual
relations during daylight hours. During night, they may eat, drink, and resume
normal activities. They fast to practice spiritual refection, self-restraint,
concern for others, and obediance to God. Some people are excused because
fasting can be physically demanding. People excused include the sick, injured,
elderly, and pregnant or nursing women. Instead, they are to provide food for
the poor or fast later.
2. Eid-al-Fitr:
Eid-al-Fitr is sometimes abbreviated
Eid. Eid-al-Fitr marks the end of the month of Ramadan. Eid is Arabic for
"festivity", while Fitr means "breaking the fast".
Typically,
Muslims do the following on Eid-al-Fitr: wake up very early, clean one's teeth,
have a bath, wear the best of clothing one possesses, apply perfume, eat a
sweet food before the Eid prayer, pay an obligatory charity, show happiness,
give as much to charity as is possible, read Fajr in the local Masjid, go early
for Eid salaat, read the Eid salaat in an open field, go to the Eid prayer on
foot, recite Takbir while going to the Eid prayer, and are recommended to use
separate routs to and from the prayer grounds.
[at left: Koran]