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Ramadan has always been a holy month to the Arabs. People would retreat to private areas and they would meditate and just be in touch with the Spirit. In fact, it was one of these retreats that Muhammad recieved the first portion of the Quran in a cave called Hira in the Jabbal ul Nur(Mountain of Light.)
So, we fast during Ramadan. But fast from what? The following Quranic verse explains;
From the above verse, we learned that we abstain from the following, during the day; Sex, Eating, And drinking.
In the Muslim World, Ramadan is very special time. Muslims are the most peaceful during this time. They say to each other: Ramadan Kareem or Blessed Ramadan. Every night, Muslims have a holy dinner called Iftar which is the breaking of the fast. Many Muslims will eat little by little throughout the earlier part of the night. However, most Muslims, and especially men, will go to the mosque to offer the special prayer called Taraweeh which is a series of prayers that lasts from dusk to midnight. While this special prayer has no direct commandment in the Quran, it encourages; during one of the Quran's refference as to who are the "servants of the Beneficent God," the Quran says; And those who pass the night prostrating themselves before their LORD and standing[25.64]
Wether sleeping or being at the mosque praying all night, Muslims have El Sahur or the Morning Meal. This meal is valid and can be eaten until the whiteness of the day becomes distinct from the blackness of the night at dawn or the first Adhan. It is said that the morning meal is the holiest of all meals because it sustains the body of the fasting soul throughout the day.
The following are the start of Ramadan for 2002 through 2005:
2002: November 5Th
Muslims in North America always joke about how "easy" they have it because Ramadan "always" falls onto Winter time. However, observing the pattern, Ramadan goes around all the seaons different times throughout the years.
Ramadan comes from the `Arabic word ramada'a which means; Intense Heat. It is the Ninth Month of the Muslim Calender. The Month in which the Quran was reveiled, as God says:
The month of Ramadan is that in which the Quran was revealed, a guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and the distinction; therefore whoever of you is present in the month, he shall fast therein, and whoever is sick or upon a journey, then (he shall fast) a (like) number of other days; God desires ease for you, and He does not desire for you difficulty, and (He desires) that you should complete the number and that you should exalt the greatness of Allah for His having guided you and that you may give thanks. Surrat ul Baqarah, 2:185
It is made lawful to you to go into your women on the night of the fast; they are clothing for you and you are clothing for them; God knew that you acted unfaithfully to yourselves, so He has turned to you (mercifully) and removed from you (this burden); so now be in contact with them and seek what God has ordained for you, and eat and drink until the whiteness of the day becomes distinct from the blackness of the night at dawn, then complete the fast till night, and have not contact with them while you keep to the mosques; these are the limits of God, so do not go near them. Thus does God make clear His communications for men that they may guard (against evil). Surrat ul Baqarah, 2:187
2003: October 26Th
2004: October 14Th
2005: October 4Th