During Ramadan Muslims fast from dawn to sunset every day. Those who are fasting must not eat, drink, or smoke during the daylight hours. The fasting person is also expected to maintain self control and discipline, refraining from anger, using harsh language or insults and to tolerate, forgive and respect others. Married couples may not engage in marital relations during fasting. Young children, pregnant and nursing women, the elderly and the sick are exempted from fasting. Fasting is performed to help the participants learn discipline, self-restraint and generosity as they obey God's commandments. Fasting, along with declaration of faith, daily prayers, charity and pilgrimage to Mecca (the holy city of Islam), is one of the five pillars of Islam.
Muslims usually eat 2 main meals each day during Ramadan. The souhoor begins each day before dawn and the aftar breaks the fast after sunset. Morning Ramadan treats include the mshath, a flat oval bread with sesame seeds that is often spread with yogurt or cheese and the kalaj, a pastry of thin sheets of dough that are dipped in milk, stuffed with a heavy cream, deep-fried and sprinkled with sugar or drizzled with honey.
In the evening after the sun has set, Muslims usually break their fast with a few dates (called iftar) and water or an apricot beverage. According to a recent article in the Detroit News, eating dates is a tradition that began with the prophet Mohammed, who always broke his fast in this manner.
 |
