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Abilene Muslims begin annual Ramadan observance

Loretta Fulton
Special to the Reporter-News

Muslims in Abilene will join those worldwide in observing a month of fasting and other rituals when Ramadan begins Sunday evening.

The annual  observance will end on the evening of June 4.

For a month, Muslims will observe strict fasting rules and other abstinences. Fasting during Ramadan is the fourth pillar of the Five Pillars of Islam.

Fasting is required of adults who are able from pre-dawn to sunset. The month is seen as a time for self-reflection and spiritual improvement. In cities with large Muslim populations, people gather to break the fast together and meet for prayers in a mosque.

A typical family routine during Ramadan includes rising before dawn to eat a modest breakfast called “suhur.” Fasting lasts until sunset when “iftar,” a light meal of dates, fruit, and water is eaten. After sunset prayers, the family eats a traditional dinner, often with friends.

Night prayers, including a special prayer for Ramadan called “taraweeh,” follow.

Ramadan ends with a major holiday called Eid al-Fitr or the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast. Children traditionally receive new clothes, money, or gifts from parents, relatives, and friends. A special prayer and sermon are delivered in the evening, followed by a community celebration.

What to know about Ramadan


Ramadan is a month of intense spiritual rejuvenation with a heightened focus on devotion, during which Muslims spend extra time reading the Qur’an and performing special prayers. Those unable to fast, such as pregnant or nursing women, the sick, or elderly people and children, are exempt from fasting.

When does Ramadan take place?

Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, which is based on a 12 month lunar year of approximately 354 days. Because the lunar year is 11 days shorter than the solar year, each lunar month moves 11 days earlier each year. It takes 33 solar years for the lunar months to complete a full cycle and return to the same season. This year, the month long fast of Ramadan is set to begin on May 6th, 2019.

The Length and Purpose of Fasting

Muslims fast from pre-dawn to sunset, a fast of between 11-16 hours depending on the time of year for a period of 29-30 days. The fast of Ramadan entails forgoing food and drink, and if married, abstaining from sex during the fasting hours. For Muslims, Ramadan is a time to train themselves both physically and spiritually by avoiding any negative acts such as gossiping, backbiting, lying or arguing. Muslims welcome Ramadan as an opportunity for self-reflection, and spiritual improvement. Ramadan is also a highly social time as Muslims invite each other to break fast together and meet for prayers at the mosque.

► Who Fasts

All Muslims who have reached puberty are obliged to fast. However, for people in situations where fasting would be a hardship, they are exempted from fasting. This includes anyone who is sick or traveling; women who are pregnant, nursing, or on their menses; or older people who are too weak or ill to fast.


While children are not required to fast until they reach puberty, it is customary for children beginning around seven years of age to perform limited or symbolic fasting such as fasting half days or on weekends.

► Family Routines

A Muslim family usually rises about 5:00 a.m. before the first of dawn and eats a modest, breakfast-like meal called suhur. After the meal, the family performs the morning prayer, and depending on the circumstances, the family goes back to bed or begins the day. Particularly during the long summer months, people often take a nap in the late afternoon after work or school. At sunset, family members break the fast with a few dates and water, and depending on the culture, other light foods such as soup, appetizers or fruit. This is referred to as iftar which means “breaking the fast.” After performing the sunset prayers, the family eats dinner. Inviting guests to break the fast or going to someone else’s house for iftar is very common in Ramadan. Many families then go to the mosque for the night prayer and a special Ramadan prayer called taraweeh. After completing their prayers, the families return home around 11:45 p.m. (All of these times vary depending on the time of year, with shorter days in the winter and longer days in the summer.)

► Special Activities

Many mosques host daily community dinners where Muslims can break their fast together. This is a great service for students, the poor and anyone who desires a break from cooking. Almost all mosques also host a community dinner on the weekends.

► Special Foods


► Benefits of Fasting


►Eid al-Fitr

At the end of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate one of their major holidays called Eid al-Fitr or the “Festival of the Breaking of the Fast.” This year, it will be held on June 4th, 2019. Children traditionally receive new clothes, money or gifts from parents, relatives and friends. A special prayer and sermon are held the morning of Eid day, followed by a community celebration usually in a park or large hall. Food, games and presents for children are important parts of the festivities, as friends and family spend the day socializing, eating and reuniting with old acquaintances

Source: Islamic Networks Group,