Ramadan 2013 Begins This Week

This article was originally written and reported by Patch intern Kirsten Petersen.

The holiest month of the year has begun for more than 20 percent of the world’s population.

Ramadan, a month of fasting practiced every year by Muslims, begins this week. 

According to the Pew Charitable Trust, 1.6 billion people identify as Muslims worldwide and about 3.5 million of those are Americans. 

There were 1,116 Muslims in Anne Arundel County in 2010, according to a report.

Islam follows a lunar calendar and the new crescent moon, called the hilal, determines when fasting begins. Fasting began July 10 at dawn.

Many will celebrate this holiday, dedicated to renewal and cleanliness.

Each day of Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink from dawn to sunset. The fasting ritual, called Sawm, also requires Muslims to abstain from smoking or sexual intercourse during the day.

Before dawn, Muslims share a meal called the Suhur and end the day of fasting with a meal called the Iftar. Ramadan continues for 29 or 30 days and concludes with the holiday of Eid ul-Fitr, a day of morning prayers and feasting.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is the holiest month of the year. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam.

Muslims practice Ramadan to purify themselves of thoughts and actions that go against Islam. Fasting is mandated in the Quran and all Muslims who have reached puberty should participate.

Although children are not required to fast, many practice fasting with their family. The Miami Herald profiled some of these children in an article last weekend.

In addition to fasting, Muslims read from the Quran and volunteer in the community during Ramadan. Individuals practicing Ramadan can find daily prayer times using the IslamiCity website.

Non-Muslims are encouraged to participate in Ramadan with practicing Muslim friends by fasting or simply greeting them with Ramadan mubarak ("have a blessed Ramadan") or Ramadan kareem ("have a generous Ramadan").