Friday, February 28 marked the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The tradition is observed by praying during the night time and abstaining from eating, drinking, and sexual acts from sunrise to sunset. The Ramadan fast is one of the five pillars of Islam.
The ninth month in the Islamic calendar, Ramadan is the month in which the prophet Mohammed received the first of the revelations that make up the Quran.
Ramadan’s weeks of spiritual introspection build toward Laylat al-Qadr, or the “Night of Power,” believed to be the holiest night of the year. The Quran describes this singular evening of worship as “better than a thousand months.”