The holy month is above all a time for good deeds and avoiding anything that displeases God. It is a time to purify the soul and ask for forgiveness to those one wronged. The gates of Jannah (Paradise) are open and those of Jahannum (hell) are shut. It is also the time to thank Allah for his blessings and give charity to the less fortunate. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon calls for a month of truce in Syria. Everyone above puberty who is mentally and physically fit must fast, but if they cook, they can taste food for salt and spices.

Beirut (AsiaNews) - At dawn tomorrow, much of the Muslim world will start Ramadan, the holy month in which the faithful fast, pray, perform works of charity and forgive. The start is not the same everywhere, but depends on the crescent moon on the first day of the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The celebration is set to begin tomorrow in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Malaysia, Australia, Singapore, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Palestine. It will probably be the same in Iran, but local authorities have not yet announced it.

As the month of prayer, Ramadan is also a time for peace. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon yesterday called on the parties fighting in Syria to observe a month of truce. Rebels had already made a similar proposal, which was rejected by the government in Damascus.

In a spirit of forgiveness, the UAE is set to release a total of 1,598 prisoners, their debts and financial obligations settled by the authorities.

At Ramadan, Muslims commemorate Allah's revelation of the first verses of the Qur'an to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel.

Every person above puberty who is mentally and physically fit must fast. However, when preparing food for sundown, people can taste the food to see if they are correctly salted or spiced.

Ramadan begins by tradition when the muezzin calls on the faithful to perform the dawn (Al-Fajr) prayer. Fasting ends when he calls for the sunset (al-Magrib) prayer, which also announces the iftar dinner that is shared with the whole family.

Fasting is one of the crucial aspects of Ramadan and is one of the five pillars (duties) of Islam. Its establishment dates from the second year of 'hijra' (622 AD).

The period corresponds to the flight of Mohammed from Makkah to the oasis of Yathrib renamed Medina (Madinat al Nabi, the city of the prophet), to escape the hostility of the tribes who saw the leader and his followers a threat to their interests.

He instituted the fast among his followers to nourish their spirit and morale, to remind them of those who have nothing to eat. For this reason, during Ramadan, in addition to fasting and prayer, the people carry out acts of charity towards the poor and the sick.

People with psychological problems, children under the age of puberty, the elderly, the sick, travellers, pregnant women, nursing mothers, or women who have just begun the menstrual cycle are exempt from fasting. However, as an exercise, many parents make their children observe a mini-fast (half day).

Above all, the holy month is a time for good deeds and avoiding anything that displeases God; a time to purify the soul and ask for forgiveness to those one wronged; a time to thank Allah for his blessings and give charity to the less fortunate.

During the month of Ramadan, the gates of Jannah (Paradise) are open and the gates of Jahannum (Hell) are shut.

Francis Pope referred to this spiritual aspect yesterday when, during the Mass celebrated in Lampedusa, he addressed a thought "To the dear, Muslim immigrants who today, this evening, are beginning the fast of Ramadan, with wishes for abundant spiritual fruit." Exchanging greetings at Ramadan is traditional among Muslims.

In the United States, a major Muslim organisation called on Muslim groups to invite their neighbours whatever their beliefs to join an 'iftar'.

During this month, many Muslims travel to Makkah for Umrah, pilgrimage. In view of this, Saudi Arabia announced new security measures to avoid stampedes around the Grand Mosque. In recent years, the huge influx of people has in fact caused accidents with deaths and injuries.

Ramadan has an impact on social media. A study has shown that during this month, the use of Facebook and Twitter increases by one third, with many of the messages having a spiritual content.

A devout Muslim, Egyptian-born Ōsunaarashi Kintarō is conscious of the spiritual importance of Ramadan. The 21-year-old is the first African and third non-Japanese athlete to join the sumo elite, reaching the sekitori level.  Even when he is fasting, he will have "a greater fighting spirit".

• islam
• ramadan
• preparations
• fasting