an essay about ramadan

Essay on Ramadan

Introduction.

Do you remember how we used to look up the list of holidays in the calendar or school diary, the first thing when the school reopens after the summer break? The thrill of counting the number of holidays and looking at whether the holidays fall on weekdays was the greatest pastime. We may not have celebrated all the festivals of India listed in the calendar, but this essay on Ramadan for kids will be beneficial to know how it is celebrated.

Children of this age, too, might have come across many important national festivals in their school diaries. But do they know the significance of each festival? This short essay on Ramadan in English is an attempt to make our kids understand the history and importance of one such festival.

History of Ramadan

This essay on Ramadan in English will help kids to know more about Ramadan. Ramadan is mainly celebrated by Muslims all over the world between the months of April and May. According to the Islamic Calendar, Ramadan is the ninth month, which is considered to be holy.

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims observe fasting and refrain from eating or drinking from dawn to dusk. They eat one meal before the daybreak and continue their fast till sunset. They further break their fast before the sunset. This ritual of fasting has great importance in their culture as it is believed that fasting teaches them how to be patient, modest and spiritual.

We will also see the history of Ramadan in this essay on Ramadan. People consider Ramadan to be a holy month because it was in this month that Allah passed down the first verses of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad. So, during Ramadan, people pray for Allah’s blessings and spend the day in prayers.

Importance of Ramadan

In this part of the importance of Ramadan essay, we will learn what Muslims do in the month of Ramadan. As children will get an idea about the importance of Ramadan, it will be easy for them to write a short essay on Ramadan.

Ramadan is a special time of the year for Muslims, which is allocated for praying and forgiving. The true essence of Ramadan lies in the fact that people pray for forgiveness of all their past sins by practising self-control through fasting and purifying themselves by doing good deeds. If the kids have become familiar with the importance of the Ramadan essay, let us also teach them how Muslims mark the end of Ramadan through this short essay on Ramadan in English.

People greet each other with ‘Ramadan Mubarak’ or ‘Ramadan Kareem’ when the month of Ramadan begins. The last few days of Ramadan are special, and they call it the night of power or the night of measures as they believe that Allah sends his blessings on this night. Further, they celebrate the end of Ramadan with a great feast and celebration with friends and family, which is called Eid-ul-Fitr .

This essay on Ramadan offered by BYJU’S is simple to read and grasp, so there would be no trouble writing a Ramadan essay for kids. You can check out more interesting essays on other festivals of India on our website.

Frequently Asked Questions on Essay on Ramadan

When is ramadan.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and it usually falls between April and May. This year, Ramadan is observed between 2 April 2022 and 2 May 2022.

What is the significance of the essay on Ramadan?

The essay on Ramadan will help kids to know more about it, thus enabling them to appreciate and respect the different cultural practices in India. Through this, they will know the unique traditions followed by people.

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During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims build stronger relationships with Allah through fasting, selfless actions, and praying—like this Palestinian man praying at the Great Mosque of Gaza. The mosque, once the largest and oldest in the Gaza Strip, was destroyed by an airstrike in December 2023.

HISTORY & CULTURE

Why Ramadan is the most sacred month in Islamic culture

The sighting of a new crescent moon marks the start of Ramadan, a time for piety and self-reflection.

Every year, Muslims around the world anticipate the sighting of the new crescent moon that signifies the official first day of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and the most sacred month in Islamic culture.

The start of Ramadan fluctuates each year because the lunar Islamic calendar follows the phases of the moon. It begins the day after the new crescent moon, which can be tricky since it’s quite faint and can be seen for only about 20 minutes. If the moon isn’t visible to the naked eye because of haze or clouds, lunar calculations are used to predict whether it’s in the sky.

This year Ramadan will likely begin with the new moon (a special, super new moon ) on March 10, and end after sunset on April 10 with Eid al-Fitr celebrations.

See the most exquisite mosques around the world

Sultan Ahmed Mosque, or Blue Mosque, in Istanbul, Turkey

Origin of Ramadan

Ramadan, one of the months in the Islamic calendar, was also part of ancient Arabs’ calendars. The naming of Ramadan stems from the Arabic root “ar-ramad,” which means scorching heat. Muslims believe that in A.D. 610, the angel Gabriel appeared to Prophet Muhammad and revealed to him the Quran, the Islamic holy book. That revelation, Laylat Al Qadar —or the “Night of Power”—is believed to have occurred during Ramadan. Muslims fast during that month as a way to commemorate the revelation of the Quran. ( Read how Muslims, although often misunderstood, are thriving in America . )

The Quran consists of 114 chapters and is taken to be the direct words of God , or Allah. The hadith , or accounts by the companions of Prophet Muhammad’s thoughts and deeds, supplement the Quran. Together they form the religious texts of Islam.

Fasting is a shield, so the one who fasts should avoid obscene speech and ignorant behavior. If someone abuses him or starts to fight with him, he should reply by saying: ‘I am fasting. I am fasting’. Saheeh Al-Bukhari

How Ramadan is observed

During Ramadan, Muslims aim to grow spiritually and build stronger relationships with Allah. They do this by praying and reciting the Quran, making their actions intentional and selfless, and abstaining from gossiping, lying, and fighting. ( See how American Muslims celebrate Ramadan. )

muslims praying outside near the Dome of the Rock.

Muslim worshippers pray near the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan.

Throughout the month, fasting between sunrise and sunset is obligatory for all Muslims, except for the ill, pregnant, traveling, elderly, or menstruating. Days missed fasting can be made up throughout the rest of the year, either all at once or one day here and there. ( Read about Ramadan with your kids. )

Meals are opportunities for Muslims to gather with others in the community and break their fast together. Pre-dawn breakfast, or suhoor , usually occurs at 4:00 a.m. before the first prayer of the day, fajr . The evening meal, iftar , can begin once the sunset prayer, Maghreb , is finished—normally around 7:30. Since the Prophet Mohammad broke his fast with dates and a glass of water, Muslims eat dates at both suhoor and iftar. A staple of the Middle East, dates are rich in nutrients, easy to digest, and provide the body with sugar after a long day of fasting.

After the last day of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate its ending with Eid al-Fitr—the “festival of breaking the fast”—which begins with communal prayers at daybreak. During these three days of festivities, participants gather to pray, eat, exchange gifts, and pay their respects to deceased relatives. Some cities host carnivals and large prayer gatherings, too.

But no matter what observers have planned for their traditional suhoor and iftar gatherings this year, the spirit of this centuries-old tradition will remain the same as a time for piety and self-reflection.

The Five Pillars of Islam

These guidelines are fundamental to the lives of Muslims.

Sawm : fasting from dawn until dusk during Ramadan

Shahadah : believing there is no deity but God and prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) as his messenger

Zakat : giving to charity

Salah : praying five times a day

Hajj : making the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once if able.

These 5 destinations are among the holiest sites in Islam

These Religions Celebrate the Most Holidays

Why are there four heads of John the Baptist?

How do we know when Ramadan starts and ends? It’s up to the moon.

See how Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr around the world

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All About Ramadan, Islam's Holy Month

Fasting, dates, history, customs, and more

Tabitazn / Getty Images

M.Ed., Loyola University–Maryland
B.S., Child Development, Oregon State University

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar , observed by practicing Muslims as a month of fasting, reflection, and prayer. It commemorates the first revelation of Muhammed and, as such, observance of the month is considered one of the five pillars of Islam.

When Is Ramadan?

As part of the Islamic lunar calendar, Ramadan's dates vary according to the lunar cycle. In 2021, Ramadan begins on the evening of Monday, April 12 and ends at sundown on Tuesday, May 11. The observance of the new crescent moon marks the official start of Ramadan.

Ramadan lasts 29 or 30 days, depending on the year. The holiday of Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the next lunar month.

Ramadan History

Ramadan celebrates the date in 610 CE when, according to Islamic tradition, the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. During the month, Muslims the world over are called upon to renew their spiritual commitment through daily fasting, prayer, and acts of charity. Although the fasting elements are perhaps the most noticeable parts of observation, Ramadan is much more than abstaining from food and drink. It is a time to purify the soul, refocus attention on God, and practice self-discipline and self-sacrifice.

Fasting during the month of Ramadan, called the sawm , is considered one of the five pillars of Islam that shape a Muslim's life. The Arabic word for fasting means "to refrain," not only from food and drink but also from evil actions, thoughts, or words.

The physical fast takes place on a daily basis from sunrise to sunset. Before dawn, those observing Ramadan will gather for a pre-fast meal called the suhoor ; at dusk, the fast will be broken with a meal called the iftar . Both meals may be communal, but the iftar is an especially social affair when extended families gather to eat and mosques welcome the needy with food.

Ramadan Worship and Prayer

During Ramadan, prayer is an important element for much of the Muslim faithful. Muslims are encouraged to pray and attend a mosque for special services. Nightly prayers called tarawill are common, as is rereading the Quran over the course of the month, often in the form of an epic prayer. At the end of Ramadan, before the final fast is broken, Muslims also recite a prayer called the takbeer , which gives praise to Allah and acknowledges his supremacy.

The practice of charity or zakat is another of Islam's five pillars. Muslims are encouraged to give regularly as part of their faith (zakat), or they may make a sadaqah , an additional charitable gift. During Ramadan, some Muslims choose to make particularly generous sadaqahs as a demonstration of their faithfulness.

Eid Al-Fitr

The end of Ramadan is marked by the Islamic holy day of Eid Al-Fitr , sometimes just called Eid. Eid begins on the first day of the Islamic lunar month of Shawwal, and the celebration may last as long as three days.

According to custom, observant Muslims must rise before dawn and begin the day with a special prayer called the Salatul Fajr. After that, they must brush their teeth, shower, and put on their best clothes and perfume or cologne. It's traditional to greet passersby by saying " Eid Mubarak " ("Blessed Eid") or "Eid Sain" ("Happy Eid"). As with Ramadan, acts of charity are encouraged during Eid, as is the recitation of special prayers at a mosque.

More About Ramadan

Regional variations on how Ramadan is observed are common. In Indonesia, for example, Ramadan celebrations are frequently observed with music. The length of the fast also varies, depending on where you are on the planet. Most places have 11 to 16 hours of daylight during Ramadan. Unlike some other Islamic observances, Ramadan is held in equal reverence by Sunni and Shiite Muslims.

Important Information About Ramadan, the Islamic Holy Month
Ramadan Mubarak and Other Ramadan Greetings
How Is Eid al-Fitr Celebrated in Islam?
What Is Iftar During Ramadan?
The Major Holidays Celebrated by Muslims
The Benefit of the Ramadan Fast for Muslims
The Sadaqa Al-Fitr Food Contribution for Ramadan
Do Muslim Children Observe the Fasting Month of Ramadan?
Zakat: the Charitable Practice of Islamic Almsgiving
Ramadan Books for Children
Can Muslims Make Up for Missed Fasting Days During Ramadan?
Top Ramadan: Books for Adults
Ramadan To-Do List
Leyla al-Qadr: The Night of Power
The Stages of Hajj, the Islamic Pilgrimage to Mecca (Makkah)
The 5 Prayers of Islam

Celebrating Ramadan

Learn about this sacred month in the religion of Islam.

Lights blink on in homes as night falls on a community. The scent of food begins to waft into the evening air. It smells extra delicious to the people in the homes, who haven’t eaten all day. They’re observing Ramadan, a sacred month in the religion of Islam. And the darkened sky is a signal that it’s time to feast!

Ramadan is the ninth month on the Islamic calendar, which marks important holidays and events for Muslims (people who practice Islam). During Ramadan people fast, or refrain from eating and drinking, while it’s light outside. Once the sun sets, families meet for big meals that may include stew, rice, dates, lentils, and more. People also have a morning meal before the sun rises.

For the hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world who observe Ramadan, the month is a time to focus on their faith and also perform generous acts . People raise money and donate supplies to help others in need. And many fast to remind themselves about those in the world who don’t have enough to eat.

After the last day of Ramadan, a three-day festival is held. Families and friends gather together to celebrate. They sometimes decorate homes with lights and exchange gifts. As for food, people eat all sorts of things including candies and pastries—and during this time, fasting is not allowed.

( Learn about Ramadan at National Geographic .)

Celebrations

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Preparations for the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Jerusalem's Old City

Mohammad Hassan Khalil, The Conversation Mohammad Hassan Khalil, The Conversation

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Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/how-muslims-mark-ramadan-and-what-makes-it-a-holy-month

How Muslims mark Ramadan, and what makes it a holy month

Mohammad Hassan Khalil, professor of religious studies and director of the Muslim Studies Program at Michigan State University, answers six questions about the significance of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting.

Why is Ramadan called Ramadan?

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and lasts either 29 or 30 days, depending on when the new crescent moon is, or should be, visible.

Members of Pakistan's moon sighting committee gather to look for the new moon that will mark the start of Ramadan, in Char...

A member of Pakistan’s moon sighting committee check weather as they gather to look for the new moon that will mark the start of Ramadan, from the office of the administrator Auqaf building in Charsadda, March 22, 2023. Fayaz Aziz/Reuters

The Arabic term Ramadan connotes intense heat . It seems that in pre-Islamic Arabia, Ramadan was the name of a scorching hot summer month. In the Islamic calendar, however, the timing of Ramadan varies from year to year. This year Ramadan will begin at sunset on March 22, give or take a day depending on when the new moon is sighted . An Islamic year is roughly 11 days shorter than a Gregorian year.

What is the significance of Ramadan?

Ramadan is a period of fasting and spiritual growth and is one of the five “pillars of Islam” – the others being the declaration of faith, daily prayer, alms-giving and the pilgrimage to Mecca. Able-bodied Muslims are expected to abstain from eating, drinking and sexual relations from dawn to sunset each day of the month. Many practicing Muslims also perform additional prayers, especially at night, and attempt to recite the entire Quran. The prevailing belief among Muslims is that it was in the final 10 nights of Ramadan that the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad .

What is the connection between soul and body that the observance of Ramadan seeks to explain?

The Quran states that fasting was prescribed for believers so that they may be conscious of God . By abstaining from things that people tend to take for granted (such as water), it is believed, one may be moved to reflect on the purpose of life and grow closer to the creator and sustainer of all existence. As such, engaging in wrongdoing effectively undermines the fast . Many Muslims also maintain that fasting allows them to get a feeling of poverty and this may foster feelings of empathy.

Can Muslims skip fasting under certain conditions? If so, do they make up missed days?

All those who are physically limited (for example, because of an illness or old age) are exempt from the obligation to fast; the same is true for anyone who is traveling. Those who are able to do so are expected to make up the missed days at a later time. One could potentially make up all of the missed days in the month immediately following Ramadan, the month of Shawwal. Those unable to fast at all, if they are financially able, are expected to provide meals to the needy as an alternative course of action.

What is the significance of 29 or 30 days of fasting?

By fasting over an extended period of time, practicing Muslims aim to foster certain attitudes and values that they would be able to cultivate over the course of an entire year. Ramadan is often likened to a spiritual training camp .

People shop at a souk ahead of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Sidon, Lebanon, March 22, 2023. Aziz Taher/Reuters

Besides experiencing feelings of hunger and thirst, believers often have to deal with fatigue because of late-night prayers and pre-dawn meals. This is especially true during the final 10 nights of the month. In addition to being the period in which the Quran was believed to have been first revealed, this is a time when divine rewards are believed to be multiplied. Many Muslims will offer additional prayers during this period.

Do Muslims celebrate the completion of Ramadan?

The end of Ramadan marks the beginning of one of two major Islamic holidays Eid al-Fitr , the “festival of the breaking of the fast.” On this day, many Muslims attend a religious service, visit relatives and friends and exchange gifts.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article .

Mohammad Hassan Khalil is a professor of religious studies and director of the Muslim Studies Program at Michigan State University.

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Essay Database >
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Essay on Middle East

Ramadan Essay Example

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Middle East , Muslim , Islam , Ramadan , Church , World , Israel , Religion

Words: 1300

Published: 07/15/2021

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The Western world continues to have misunderstandings and misgivings about the religion of Islam. Marred by increasingly violent global politics against Islamic extremist groups and nativist fears against Islam at home, the world have increasingly viewed even Islam’s benign activities through a lens of trepidation. While it is hard to argue that Islamic terrorism should be viewed negative, even more typical Muslim activities, such as the celebration of Ramadan can be met with mixed reactions. The following essay will look at what aspects of Ramadan major news carriers focus on and how they present Islam’s holy month.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is observed as holy by Muslims around the world. It is considered one of the “Five Pillars of Islam” and is used to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran experienced by Muhammad. The celebration month can last anywhere from 29-30 days depending on when the sight of the crescent moon is first experienced. One really important aspect of celebrating the month is that they must fast from until sunset for the duration of the month, which includes no liquids, food, smoking or sexual relations. It is a very important and holy Muslim occasion and is covered in depth every year by many media outlets.

One way that the media covers Ramadan is by drawing links between the Muslim holy month and the ongoing terrorist epidemic throughout the Middle East. In an article entitled “ISIS enforces Ramadan fast by crucifying two children,” in Syria, the title itself provocatively forges links between the holy month and the most feared group by westerners. According to the article the children were caught doing the rather petty “crime” of eating and were then executed by militants. The technique of the lead sentence of the headline makes sure that the reader is struck by provocative details of the story. Those being killed are none other than children, an innocent class of people, and their crime is eating. They were executed, according to the story, on the streets because they failed to obey a law of Islam. The story says that this is not an isolated incident and links it to other times that ISIS has crucified people for failing to obey Islamic law. They then transition into other egregious acts of ISIS saying that they “urged its followers to escalate attacks on Christians,” and notes that the group is continuing to gain followers in places like Iraq.

The publication of the above article is the Jerusalem Post. It is easy to see how they would have a vested interest in not only making Islam a fear worth being afraid of in the Middle East, but also in expanding it to Christians to make sure that it hits home for the western world. The state of Israel continues to fight against Muslim groups in the Gaza strip and therefore would be well served to have the Western world, its major ally, to stay invested and worried about the spread of Islamic groups. While the facts of the case of ISIS executing children may very well be true and should rightfully be rallied against, its linking of it to Christianity and the spread of ISIS is not immediately related to the content of the story itself and would have obvious intentions in spreading the fear of Islam.

In a more critical tone toward Israel and groups against Islam, The New York Times contained an article entitled “Israel cancels Gaza residents’ access to Al Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan.” In this article it says that Israel has cancelled previously granted permission of Muslims to enter a Mosque in Jerusalem. It includes quotes from critics that it is likened to a punishment and another example of how Israeli authorities were trying to limit the freedom and movement of Palestinians. It does also quote Israeli rationale that the decision was made after rockets had been fired into Gaza recently and it was done as a safety measure. It says that ISIS had taken credit for the rocket launches, but that Israel pronounced it was done by Hamas, the democratically elected party in Palestine. It says that the Palestinians who have family in Gaza will still be allowed to visit them. It finally ends with a quote on how this is another example of the unprecedented control that Israeli authorities have over the lives of Palestinians in being able to block their movements during their most holy holiday.

Overall, this article is very balanced compared to the one written by the Jerusalem Post. It gives both sides, how it affects and hurts the Palestinians, but also the rationale by the Israeli authorities that were doing it not out of just wanting to control Palestinians but because there were recent activities that made them think the area was in danger. However, it should be noted they include a part of the story that the recent dangerous activities against Israel were done by ISIS and not Hamas, and that this had been admitted in the open. Israel still punished Hamas, though, by going against the Palestinian people. This is sort of implying that Israel is using the recent attacks as an excuse to tighten its security group on forces it sees in its midst and shows how Ramadan can become entangled in the messy politics of the Middle East.

Finally, since Ramadan happens all over the Muslim world, another article in Al-arabiya, shows that Ramadan is much more than just a religious holiday and they focus on how it affects and is intertwined with economics. The article entitled, “Saudi Arabia, Egypt stocks slip as Ramadan thins trade,” focuses on how Ramadan affects the global economics. According to the article the stock markets in both Saudi Arabia and Egypt dipped because many investors had left their positions at the market to follow Ramadan. They then give the economic statistics and how much the month had cause the dip. The article is generally pretty terse and gives only the economic facts. In this way, it is not necessarily promoting any one view or another by saying that it is a good or bad thing but rather just showing that Ramadan has great and lasting affects throughout the world. It also implies the diligence and dedication of those involved that they are moving away from basic activities like money making in order to pursue greater, more spiritual ends. As a Middle Eastern based publication they would not be as adamant about drawing any sensationalist claims about what is happening surrounding Ramadan. It is not interested in showing how its related to ISIS or how it can be implied to be a danger to Christians as the first article based in Jerusalem shows.

In all, it can be seen that even benign holidays can be wrapped up in the greater context of the issues of terrorism and international politics. Rather than just reporting on the many people peacefully practicing the holiday as they do every year, many mainstream media wings still tend emphasize the negative aspects and focus on how the holiday is part of the greater conversation on the role of Islam and terrorism in world politics.

Works Cited

"Saudi Arabia, Egypt Stocks Slip as Ramadan Thins Trade." June 22, 2015. Accessed June 24, 2015. http://english.alarabiya.net/en/business/economy/2015/06/22/Saudi-Arabia-Egypt-stocks-slip-as-Ramadan-thins-trade.html. Hadid, Diaa. "Israel Cancels Some Gazans’ Access to Al Aqsa Mosque During Ramadan." The New York Times. June 24, 2015. Accessed June 24, 2015. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/25/world/middleeast/israel-palestinians-gaza-ramadan.html?_r=0. "'ISIS Enforces Ramadan Fast by Crucifying Two Children'" The Jerusalem Post. June 23, 2015. Accessed June 24, 2015. http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/ISIS-enforces-Ramadan-fast-by-crucifying-two-children-406876.

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Fasting for Ramadan While Gaza Goes Hungry

By Zaina Arafat

A large group of people seated at a table among rubble.

On the evening of February 28th, thousands of people gathered on Al-Rashid Street, in Gaza City, in hopes that a convoy of aid trucks would bring them desperately needed food. The trucks arrived early the next morning, at around a quarter to five. When a large crowd encircled them in an effort to obtain food, Israeli forces, who were standing by, opened fire. More than a hundred people were killed, and hundreds more were injured. Later, the Israeli Army said that its troops had felt threatened, and that some Palestinians died in a stampede . The day has become known as the “flour massacre.”

After I saw the news, I called my father to check on him. I’m in New York and he lives in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., but much of our family is in Gaza and the West Bank. He’d heard about what had happened but didn’t know many details. “I can hardly stand to watch the news anymore,” he told me.

I pointed out that in ten days many Muslims would start fasting for Ramadan. I was struggling to imagine the holy month in Gaza, where the World Food Program has been warning of mass starvation.

“Do you think people will still fast?”

“Of course they will still fast,” my father said. “They are fasting already.”

He forwarded me a WhatsApp voice message from my cousin Jinan, in northern Gaza. In December, Israeli forces attacked the U.N. school where Jinan was taking shelter with her husband and two children. A blast broke her jaw, and she could no longer eat solid food. Her daughter, Nouran, who loved to draw anime, lost her right eye, part of her cheek, and the use of both hands. They waited three days for the Palestinian Red Crescent to take them to Al-Shifa hospital, and have been there ever since, waiting for surgeries. Lately, Al-Shifa has also been treating survivors of the flour massacre.

I was amazed to hear levity and humility in Jinan’s voice. “Our situation is better than many others,” she said. “But what can we do—this is our fate written by God. All we have is the Day of Judgment.”

I messaged Jinan to ask how she was doing, and what she was planning for Ramadan. A day passed before she was able to respond. “Do you believe that we haven’t tasted eggs or chicken for months,” she wrote back. She has been surviving on pre-cooked rice, sometimes with lentils, hummus, and fava beans. Her family can’t find fresh fruits or vegetables. “As for Ramadan, we’re going to fast as we can . . . Inshallah we will manage.”

Lately, images from Gaza have been filling my Instagram feed. I keep seeing photographs of Yazan al-Kafarneh, one of at least sixteen children who have reportedly died from malnutrition or dehydration in Gaza. In old photos of him, he looks like a ten-year-old boy. In more recent photos, his skin appears wrinkled and yellow, his open eyes look hollow, and his skeleton is clearly visible. I feel sick and sad and scared. How could anyone allow this to happen to a child? In another post, I see a photo of a refugee tent decorated with Ramadan lanterns.

As I read the news from Gaza, I think about the special cruelty of killing hungry people. Death ends their misery, but forever denies them the relief that they were seeking. Part of Ramadan’s joy is the act of looking forward: to iftar, the meal that breaks the fast every evening; to Laylat al-Qadr, the night when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad; to the feast of Eid, which marks the end of daily sacrifice. How do you celebrate the holy month when you fear the suffering will not end?

My parents grew up in the West Bank, and their entire city, Nablus, transformed for Ramadan: you could arrive late to work, businesses closed early, and shops and restaurants reopened in the evenings for souq nazel, a nightly descent into the Old Town market. My father, ten years older than my mother, remembers the days before the Israeli occupation. At his grandfather’s house, his family made dough and then brought it to a public oven, to bake it into bread. Homemade lentil soup and fattoush salad were always on the table, along with qamar al-deen , a juice made from dried apricot. They waited to eat until they heard the call to prayer from the local mosque. At night, in the Old Town, he and his friends sang, walked, flirted, smoked argileh , and poured cups of mint tea or sous , a licorice drink, from copper pitchers. Sometimes people would stay out until suhoor , the predawn meal, and only then head home to sleep.

My mother was a child when the Israeli occupation began. Not all of her four siblings fasted, and she found it too difficult. But she loved the evening rituals. One of the kids would carry a plate to the local market, ten minutes away, and spend a shilling, or about five cents, on hummus. If there hadn’t been any incidents with Israeli forces that day, they could go to the playground, but outings were often cut short by curfews. Each morning, before sunrise, someone walked through the neighborhood banging a drum, to let people know it was time to get up for the morning meal. On Laylat al-Qadr, when the late-night sky is said to open for God to answer all prayers, and angels are said to descend to earth, she and her siblings would sit on their balcony and ask for money, clothes, or toys.

When the crescent-shaped moon appeared in the sky, Eid arrived. “We’ve put a man on the moon, we used to say,” my mom told me, laughing, “but we still can’t tell when Eid will be until the day before.” In preparation, she laid her outfit on her bed as her mother chased one of her younger brothers around the house, trying to wrangle him into his Eid clothes. My father’s Eid was different: he’d wake up early for morning prayer, then head to the cemetery to read verses from the Quran at family graves. They’d give meals and sweets—often date-filled ma’mool or cheesy, syrupy knafeh —to people who couldn’t afford it, or who had lost spouses or parents. (According to the Hadith—the teachings of the Prophet—anyone who supports an orphan goes to Heaven.) After breakfast, they visited family; children kissed the hands of elders and received a few coins. In my dad’s memories, Christian and Jewish neighbors were the first to come over to wish them happy Eid.

My parents did their best to hand down these traditions to my brother and me. In the D.C. suburbs, Ramadan was one of my favorite times of the year. When I was old enough to fast, my father started waking me up for suhoor with a bowl of cinnamon Life cereal, which I slurped down before falling back asleep. At school, I couldn’t eat or drink, so I dipped cafeteria French fries in ketchup and fed them to my friends. At birthday parties, I took a piece of cake home with me to enjoy after dark. We watched Al Jazeera’s recorded broadcast from the Kaaba, in Mecca, until the sun went down. The certainty that Ramadan would end, and so would the hunger, made the days easier. So did the iftars we spent with friends, which sometimes doubled as fund-raisers for Palestinians in need.

I always loved to eat—as a baby, I once scampered off my changing table to snatch a falafel sandwich from my mother’s friend—but food never tasted more delicious than after a day of longing. My favorite dish was bazella : chopped carrots, green peas, tomato sauce, and cubes of lamb served over basmati rice. For dessert, we ate atayief —little pancakes that were folded over sweet cheese or walnuts, and then fried and doused in syrup—and watched Syrian sitcoms on TV.

I believed in God and loved Islam, but my fasting was less about religion than about ritual. In the diaspora, with its handed-down stories and its longing to be elsewhere, Ramadan helped us connect with our heritage. It offered belonging. The act of sacrifice taught me to appreciate whatever I had—itself a Palestinian tradition, given how much the vagaries of history had shaped our lives. So much depended on when and where you were born: were you Forty-eighters or Sixty-seveners? Displaced or occupied? I could endure the hunger because I was part of something, and we were together.

One aspect of Ramadan, for my parents, is remembering better days. Even as a child, my mother wished that she could have celebrated like her mother did before the occupation. My father misses Ramadan during his college days, in Egypt, when the Nile glowed with lights and theatres played movies from the fifties, Cairo’s golden age of cinema. Too often, these stories are followed by talk of how much has changed. Two years ago, my mother and her brother drove through a town near Nablus on their way to an iftar. Israeli soldiers seemed to be everywhere, carrying guns. “I’m scared,” she told him.

“Why?” he said. “It’s always like this now.”

It’s difficult to imagine Ramadan in Gaza this year. I want to imagine that, even at a time of devastation and deprivation, a personal act of sacrifice can still lend purpose to senselessness. Maybe it can give powerless people a small sense of control. When you fast, you can think, I chose this hunger; it was not forced on me. But maybe that’s wishful thinking. Hunger is painful. It is one of our most primal desires, and the most human; inflicting it on someone else can seem inhuman. The only antidote is to eat. And in the same way that food brings people together I wonder whether its absence keeps us apart. Hunger makes us weak, and not only physically. It cuts us off from the strength that comes from being together.

In Islam, Ramadan is the month during which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity. God prescribes fasting as a means of self-discipline, a way to show Muslims what they’re capable of and to protect themselves from hellfire. But He is merciful; not everyone is called on to fast, especially if doing so causes harm. The Quran grants exceptions to those who are pregnant, breast-feeding, or menstruating, and to people who are travelling, elderly, or ill. Starvation or P.T.S.D. would count as illnesses; fleeing your home would count as travel. These exemptions seem almost absurd, and maybe they won’t matter. Some will choose to fast regardless. Sometimes the best way to forget one pain is to focus on another.

I stopped fasting in college, mostly because I was away from home, but I went to iftars hosted by my classmates, and I often returned to D.C. for Eid. My uncle, the one who hated Eid clothes, always brings his five kids to brunch at the Silver Diner, in Tysons, Virginia, and we order pancakes for dessert. In the afternoon, we visit my mother’s cousin and his wife, where we eat more. My uncle plays the piano, and my mother’s cousin sings on the guitar.

In November, 2022, I gave birth to my first daughter, Nour. Motherhood has made Ramadan more important to me. I want to give Nour what I had—a heritage that’s being erased, and one that’s become increasingly dangerous to inhabit, both here and in Palestine. During Nour’s first-ever Ramadan, my mother came to visit and spent many mornings playing Arabic songs for her, particularly one by the legendary Egyptian singer Abdel Halim Hafez. During Nour’s tummy time, my mother told her that she’s not only American but also Palestinian. And when Eid came, a couple weeks later, my wife and I took Nour to a Moroccan restaurant, and then to the bucket swings at the playground. I missed the Silver Diner, but there was something special about forming our own Ramadan traditions.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about mothers in Gaza. I read in the news that, at one Gaza clinic, one in five pregnant women are malnourished, which makes it difficult to produce breast milk; eighty per cent of mothers have been skipping meals to feed their children. Jinan told me that mothers have been feeding their children green leaves cooked with tomato paste and a pinch of rice. Others try to quiet their desperately hungry children by giving them chewing gum. These stories make me think of my pregnancy, when I often woke up ravenous—not only for myself but for Nour. After she was born, her most painful and guttural cries came when she was hungry. I cannot imagine hearing them with nothing to offer her.

This year, my mother will spend the last week of Ramadan with us in Brooklyn. If all goes well, a few days before Eid, my wife will give birth to our second child—one more reason to try to celebrate. I sometimes think about how I will explain their first Ramadans to them when they’re older: how important it was to find slivers of joy in times of grief and despair, especially as a parent; how sometimes, for Palestinians, the only thing that keeps you going is the hope that things will get better.

The other day, I sent a Facebook voice note to my uncle’s wife, Reda. She lives in Jordan, but she spent most of her life in Gaza, and her immediate family is still there. In December, her brother walked ten miles with his eight-month-old daughter on his back, breathing in dust and keeping his arms in the air, in hopes that soldiers would not shoot him. “I don’t know what Ramadan in Gaza will be like this year, during the war,” Reda wrote to me in Arabic. “But I can tell you how it used to be.”

She sent me an Instagram reel, which was filmed during Ramadan in 2023. I could hardly believe that I was looking at Gaza. A lantern, decorated with a moon and star, was hanging in a store with fully stocked shelves. Outside, lights had been dangled over the street and wrapped around trees. I saw plastic bins of pickled vegetables, buckets of candy, and barrels that practically spilled over with fruit. Cars drove through the streets; young people hung out at a lit café. She also sent the photograph I’d seen earlier, of the refugee tent strung with lights. The juxtaposition said what she perhaps couldn’t.

I watched the video while sitting on my bed. I felt heartbroken, and also proud of what Gaza was, of who Gazans are, of what Palestine means. My wife put her hand on my shoulder. Then I played it again, trying to remember better days. ♦

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Essay on Ramadan in English – Find out some sample essays of 100, 200 words as well as long essays here!

Essay on ramadan in English: Ramadan is a holy month in the Islamic calendar, which is observed by Muslims around the world as a time of fasting, prayer, and spiritual reflection. The word Ramadan comes from the Arabic root word ‘ramida’, which means scorching heat or dryness. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, abstaining from food, drink, smoking, and other physical needs. Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is seen as a way of purifying the soul and demonstrating devotion to God. In addition to fasting, Muslims also increase their prayers during Ramadan and spend time reading the Quran. It is believed that the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad during the month of Ramadan.

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100-Word Essay on Ramadan in English

Ramadan is the Islamic calendar’s ninth month. Ramadan is the Islamic fasting month, during which Muslims refrain from eating or drinking from dawn to sunset. Ramadan was the name of the ninth month in Arabian culture even before Islam arrived. Fasting has been written down (as necessary) upon you, as it was upon those before you,” according to the Qur’an, referring to the Jewish practise of fasting on Yom Kippur. Fasting is intended to instill in Muslims patience, modesty, and spirituality.

For the sake of God, Muslims fast during Ramadan and pray more frequently than usual. Muslims seek forgiveness for previous transgressions throughout Ramadan, pray for direction and assistance in avoiding common vices, and work to purify oneself via self-control and charitable gestures.

200-Word Essay on Ramadan in English

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is considered a holy month by Muslims around the world. It is a time of fasting, prayer, and spiritual reflection. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, abstaining from food, drink, smoking, and other physical needs. Fasting is a way of purifying the soul, demonstrating devotion to God, and focusing on acts of charity and kindness.

Muslims also increase their prayer and worship during Ramadan and spend time reading the Quran. It is believed that the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad during the month of Ramadan. The end of Ramadan is marked by the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which is a time of celebration, feasting, and generosity.

Ramadan is a time for self-discipline and self-reflection, as well as a time to strengthen one’s faith and connection with God. It is an important part of Islamic culture and is celebrated by millions of Muslims around the world. The observance of Ramadan encourages Muslims to focus on the principles of charity, compassion, and humility, and to strive towards being the best versions of themselves.

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Long Essay on Ramadan in English

Ramadan is a month-long observance in the Islamic faith that holds great significance to Muslims around the world. The month of Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and is considered a time for fasting, prayer, and spiritual reflection. The word Ramadan is derived from the Arabic root word “ramida,” which means “scorching heat” or “dryness.”

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, along with the declaration of faith, prayer, charity, and the pilgrimage to Mecca. Fasting during Ramadan involves abstaining from food, drink, smoking, and other physical needs from dawn until sunset. Muslims are encouraged to use the time they would usually spend eating and drinking to focus on prayer, worship, and reflection on their faith.

In addition to fasting, Muslims also increase their prayer and worship during Ramadan. Many mosques offer extended prayers called Taraweeh, which are performed every night during the month of Ramadan. Muslims also spend time reading the Quran, which is believed to be the word of God revealed to Prophet Muhammad over 1,400 years ago. The Quran teaches Muslims about their faith, spirituality, and morality.

The major goals of Ramadan are to strengthen one’s faith, develop morally, analyse one’s own way of life, comprehend one’s own priorities, and reorder these priorities. In order to reflect on true essential values, assess one’s life, and unwind, a person has the option to escape city life and retreat to a quiet, warm spot. Humans are sinners, and Ramadan gives people a chance to examine their lives and misdeeds, draw some conclusions, and make some changes in their way of living.

Ramadan is also a time for charity and kindness. Muslims are encouraged to be generous during Ramadan and to give to those in need. Many Muslims give Zakat, which is a form of charity given to those in need. In addition, Muslims are encouraged to perform acts of kindness, such as volunteering at food banks or helping their neighbors.

The end of Ramadan is marked by the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which is a time of celebration and feasting with family and friends. Muslims wear new clothes, give gifts, and prepare special meals to mark the end of the month-long fast. Eid al-Fitr is a time for generosity, forgiveness, and happiness.

FAQs on Essay on Ramadan in English

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community.

Ramadan is a time for Muslims to deepen their faith, strengthen their relationships with God, and cultivate self-discipline and empathy for others. It is believed to be the month in which the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

Muslims observe Ramadan by abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs from dawn until sunset, performing extra prayers and charitable acts, and seeking forgiveness and guidance through spiritual reflection and reading of the Quran.

Ramadan typically lasts 29-30 days, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon marking the start of the new lunar month.

Children will learn more about Ramadan from the essay, which will help them understand and appreciate India’s various cultural customs. They will learn about the various customs that individuals observe through this.

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Ramadan Essay Examples

Exploring the main facts and importance of ramadan month.

Here Ramadan, in this essay, presented as the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, observed by millions of Muslims worldwide. During this month, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs, in a practice known as sawm. Ramadan is...

How I Spent My Ramadan: Reflections on Spiritual Renewal

Ramadan, a sacred month in the Islamic calendar, is a time of spiritual reflection, self-discipline, and devotion. This essay recounts how I spent my Ramadan, embracing the rituals and practices that define this holiest of months. It sheds light on the personal growth, inner reflections,...

Islam and Christianity: a Comparison of Faith and Practice

This is similarities between Islam and Christianity essay in which this topic is considered. within the concept of fasting. Both Islam and Christianity share in practices of fasting and self-denial as guided by sacred texts in order to gain spiritual progression. Islamic tradition holds a...

Ramadan During Visiting Dubai in May

Dubai weather is on the rise and so is the excitement for summer vacations. But, the most important month for Muslims, Ramadan is also starting. Those who were planning in visiting Dubai in May would be coinciding with the most sacred month for Muslims. This...

Examination of Rituals of the Ramadan in Muslim's Culture

Rituals are a traditional ceremony or an action that are performed in a particular way according to a specific religion (Goldburg et al.,2010). There are two main types of rituals; life cycle rituals and calendrical rituals. Calendrical rituals mark passages of time following the natural...

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