Month of fasting & feasting, Ramzan begins today

The Islamic holy month of Ramzan begins on Tuesday for almost all sects, except for the Dawoodi Bohras who started celebrating it on Monday as they follow the Fatimid calendar. All other Muslim sects follow the lunar calendar and calculate the date according to the moon-sighting methodology.

"Moon-sighting is done. After the prayers tomorrow, the month of Ramazan will begin," Maulana Hakim Mehmood Dariyabadi, member of the moon-sighting committee, said on Monday.

Talking about the month of Ramzan, Islamic scholar Dr Zeenat Shaukat Ali explained, "The month of Ramzan is celebrated because 1,400 years ago, during the last ten days of this month of the lunar calendar, the Quran was revealed to Prophet Mohammad."

Muslims, who maintain complete abstinence during this month, are supposed to start their day with a breakfast called Saheri at 4 am. Through the day, they don't eat anything until sunset. Only after the evening prayers, they break their fast (iftaar).

"We often have a breakfast, a diet that includes fruits, juices and khichdi – things that keep us healthy and fit during the day. We end the Roza after sunset prayer with a pinch of salt and dates, traditionally. During the last 10 days, we dedicate ourselves even more to prayers," said Zeenat.