The holy month of Ramadan begins for Muslims in Delaware

Ramadan, the holy month of Islam, begins Wednesday, March 22, at sundown for Delaware's Muslim community.

Here's what to know about the most important month of one of the largest and fastest-growing religions in the world.

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is a monthlong observance dedicated to the celebration of the Quran and the strengthening of Muslims' relationship with God. In the Islamic faith, it is believed that during the holy month of Ramadan, the Prophet Muhammad was given the Quran, the holy book of Islam, and was revealed as a prophet to spread the messages and teachings of God.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Since the calendar is connected to the lunar cycles, the beginning of Ramadan is celebrated around 10 to 12 days earlier every year. Ramadan ends with the holy holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which will fall on April 21.

It is predicted that in 2030 there will be two Ramadans, which hasn't occurred since 1997.

How is Ramadan celebrated?

Throughout the month Muslim individuals fast from sunup to sundown, abstaining from eating, drinking and other indulgences. A breaking of the fast occurs twice daily during Ramadan.

Dr. Naveed Baqir, executive director of the Delaware Council on Global and Muslim Affairs, spoke about what the practice of fasting means for those who celebrate Ramadan. According to Baqir, a major part of fasting is understanding the struggle of those who are less fortunate while also attaining righteousness as a community.

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"It creates a sense of elevated consciousness that allows us to become more conscious about our actions, how we deal with people and attempt to create an improvement," Baqir said.

Suhoor is the meal eaten before sunrise and iftar is eaten after sundown. Usually, the meals shared during this time are halal, meaning they don't contain certain ingredients that are not permissible under Islamic law such as pork products or alcohol.

It is not just food or drink that is abstained from during Ramadan. Any action that could be considered indulgent or harmful such as cursing or smoking is typically avoided during this time.

Nightly prayers, called Tarawih, are also a part of Ramadan celebrations. A portion of the Quran is recited in prayer each night, with the idea that by the end of the holy month, the practicing individual will have recited the entire holy book.

Meals and prayers are typically held in communal settings. In a post-pandemic world, this means even more to Baqir.

"In this day and age when we have issues with isolation, having daily iftar dinners with a community ... is a welcome break from all of that," Baqir said.

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Ramadan ends with the holy day of Eid al-Fitr, which translates to "the feast of the breaking of the fast.”

During Eid, Muslims are advised to wear their nicest clothes and engage in morning prayer, which is usually held outdoors; the giving of gifts; and spending time with loved ones.

Islam is the second-largest and fastest-growing religion with almost 2 billion followers worldwide. According to the World Population Review, the United States has a total of around 3.5 million practicing Muslims. Delaware has one of the highest populations of Muslim people in the country, with an estimated 793 Muslims per 100,000 residents.

School districts around Delaware are implementing ways to acknowledge and celebrate Ramadan into their classrooms and curriculums. Recently, Christina School District began offering halal meal options for Muslim students and Ramadan accommodations. Eid al-Fitr will also be celebrated as a holiday for the entire school district starting next year.

Contact Molly McVety at mmcvety@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @mollymcvety.