Ramadhan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is widely known as a month of fasting, spiritual revival, and giving to those in need. Muslims across the globe observe the daily fast, cultivate their connection with God, and engage in communal acts of worship and supplication.

From glowing lanterns set up in Muslim households in North America, to trays ladened with dates and sweets in the mosques of West Asia, to calligraphy paintings on stones in the war-torn streets of Gaza, Ramadhan symbolizes a revival of the heart, and a testament to God’s mercy and blessings for humanity.

1. Fasting is Prescribed in the Quran

The holy Quran has prescribed fasting as a timeless quest for righteousness. 

“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.” [Quran 2:183] 

While Muslims must strive for righteousness at all times, the month of Ramadhan represents the culmination of perfecting moral qualities. During this month, Muslims prioritize doing good deeds and engaging in acts of worship to attain proximity to God. 

Muslims are also highly encouraged to recite and learn the Quran during the month of Ramadhan. Mosques and Islamic centers all over the world organize special programs for the recitation of the Qur’an.

These programs emphasize the gathering of believers to engage in acts of worship communally, a testament to the value Islam places on Muslim unity. 

2. The Quran was Revealed in Ramadhan 

According to Islamic tradition, the holy Quran was revealed in its entirety to Prophet Muhammad in the month of Ramadhan, during Laylatul Qadr, or “the Night of Power.” The holy Prophet would receive verses of the Quran throughout his prophethood as revealed by Angel Jibra’eel (Gabriel) on God’s command. In the month of Ramadhan, however, the Quran in its complete form was revealed to him. 

It is for this reason that the recitation of the Quran is a cornerstone of Ramadhan, as it is God’s message to humanity, revealed to the Prophet of Islam during his prophethood. In this way, Muslims’ emphasis on learning and engaging in communal Quranic recitation is a way to revive their connection with God and His teachings. 

3. Ramadhan Promotes Physical Health 

Over the centuries, fasting has become known as a practice that cleanses the human body and has been practiced since the beginning of civilization.  

Since the 5th century BC, influential figures in the history of medicine, such as Hippocrates, Galen, and Paracelsus, promoted fasting as a healing practice. According to Paracelsus,  “Fasting is the greatest remedy—the physician within.”

Ibn Sina, also known as Avicenna, noted that fasting and food reduction are useful for the treatment of illness, including fevers and some types of headaches.

Dr. Otto Buchinger, a German doctor known to document the therapeutic effects of fasting on certain diseases, described fasting as a way to improve mobility and reduce pain. He believed that fasting activates the body’s self-healing powers.

He explained that, “Fasting is, without doubt, the most effective biological method of treatment.”

Dr. Buchinger added that “when the body fasts, the soul is hungry; when the body becomes lighter, the soul also craves relief.”

4. Fasting and Spiritual Wellbeing Come Hand in Hand

Muslims believe that God created mankind powerful and complete, and with a soul. As such, spiritual wellbeing is highly emphasized in Islam. A successful human being is seen as one who can cultivate his soul and purify it through acts like prayer and fasting, which discipline the body and provide for opportunities to elevate the spiritual dimension of the being. 

The month of Ramadan serves as an annual training program for Muslims to sharpen their soul and spirit, and to rejuvenate themselves spiritually by strengthening their willpower. Refraining from food and water from dawn to dusk is known to bring the powers of anger and desire in control of one’s reason.

For a month, Muslims practice limiting their physical human needs to train their mind, body, and soul. In doing so, they practice a disciplinary method that strengthens their spiritual selves, and seeks to elevate every aspect of a human’s connection to God.

5. Islam Mandated Fasting as a Reminder of Global Suffering

When Muslims observe fasting, they relate more to the suffering of the hungry and the destitute around the world. The religion of Islam encourages its adherents to reflect on the plight of the poor and needy, and teaches that every individual has a social responsibility to those around them. 

It is for this reason that charity and giving are at an all-time high during Ramadhan. Muslims consciously engage more in helping those in need through efforts like food drives, giving to charities that provide for war-torn areas, and sponsoring orphans around the world. 

At the end of the month, Muslims pay a mandatory tax on Eid ul-Fitr, called “Zakat al-Fitr,“ that is meant to help the poor and needy. It is also a reminder that while celebrations are in order to mark the end of a month of fasting, Muslims’ social responsibility toward their brothers and sisters around the world remains a priority.

Ramadan in Gaza

According to a United Nations report in September 2024, over 1.8 million Palestinians in Gaza are suffering from “extremely critical” levels of hunger. Israel’s genocide in Gaza has destroyed 70 percent of crop fields as famine looms over the population.

Figures from the global IPC food security initiative revealed that 133,000 people – or 6 percent of Gaza’s population – were already experiencing Phase 5 or “catastrophic” food insecurity.

Despite living under one of the worst humanitarian disasters in modern history, Palestinians welcome the month of Ramadhan every year, showcasing resilience in the face of crisis. 

This year, they have prepared for Ramadhan by decorating their neighborhoods, drawing calligraphy paintings on stones amid rubbles, and celebrating a month of fasting despite their harsh living conditions.

This is while Israeli attacks have destroyed 79 percent of Gaza’s mosques. Despite the circumstances, Palestinians continue to hold communal prayers out in the open, often inside the ruins of their mosques.