cnn
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Here's a look at Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.
In 2024, Ramadan is expected to begin at sunset on March 10 and end on April 9 (dates may vary slightly by country depending on the first sighting of the crescent moon).
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim year.
Ramadan begins with the sighting of the new moon, but the exact date often depends on the clerics of a particular nation.
Ramadan is celebrated as the month in which the prophet Muhammad received the first of the revelations that make up the Koran.
Ramadan is the Islamic holy month of fasting during which Muslims cannot eat or drink during daylight hours.
During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking (including water), and having sex from dawn to dusk.
Muslims are encouraged to eat before sunrise and then break the fast immediately after sunset.
The fast is traditionally broken by eating dates and drinking water.
The end of Ramadan, called Eid al-Fitr, is a day of celebration.
The fast of Ramadan is one of the five pillars or basic institutions of Islam:
Shahadah: Affirmation that there is no divinity other than God and Muhammad is his messenger.
Salty: Praying five times a day.
Zakat: Donate to charity.
sawdust: Fasting during the month of Ramadan.
Hajj: Make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in your life.
In 2015 there were almost 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide. The population is expected to increase to 3 billion by 2060.
In 2017, there were about 3.45 million Muslims in the United States.
