Ramadan is a Muslim religious time of the year and it takes place in the ninth month of the Hijri year, its a Lunar based year and therefore its a 6 days shorter than the gregorian year.
Ramadan lasts one lunar month. Muslims follow a calendar that is set by the moon. This is called a lunar calendar. Each month is the lunar calendar starts with a new moon. The ninth new moon of the year appears at the start of Ramadan. Ramadan ends when the next new moon appears in the sky.
Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection, self-improvement, and heightened devotion and worship. Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam. The fast (sawm) begins at dawn and ends at sunset. In addition to abstaining from eating and drinking during this time, Muslims abstain from sexual relations and sinful speech and behaviour during Ramadan fasting or month. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the soul by freeing it from harmful impurities. Muslims believe that Ramadan teaches them to practice self-discipline, self-control, sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate, thus encouraging actions of generosity and compulsory charity (zakat).
Muslims also believe that for the poor people who don't have enough food they should fast so that the poor can get food to eat. This would also make them realize how poor feel when they remain hungry. The aim of fasting now seems to be being compassionate towards the poor people.
Exemptions to fasting include travel, menstruation, severe illness, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. However, many Muslims with medical conditions[vague][who?] insist on fasting to satisfy their spiritual needs, although it is not recommended by hadith. Those unable to fast are obligated make up the missed days later.
Muslims are not supposed to avoid work or school or any other normal duties during the day just because we are fasting. In many Muslim countries, however, businesses and schools may reduce their hours during the day or close entirely. For the most part, though, Muslims go about their daily business as we normally would, despite not being able to eat or drink anything the whole day.
In some Muslim countries such as Azerbaijan, Iran, India, Pakistan and Turkey, it is pronounced to as Ramazan or Ramzan, as well as Romzan in Bangladesh, because the Arabic letter ض (Ḍād) is pronounced as /z/
The more common of the greetings during the holy month is "Ramadan Mubarak", which translates from the Arabic word meaning "blessed" - the phrase, therefore, means "Blessed Ramadan", often used in the same way as wishing somebody a "Happy Ramadan".
"Ramadan Kareem" is less commonly used, but translates as "Generous Ramadan" - while the phrase can be used as a greeting in a similar way to "Ramadan Mubarak", it can also describe Ramadan in another context.
There is some debate around whether using "Ramadan Kareem" is appropriate, given that the expectation of generosity can be considered against the principles of fasting and prayer central to observing the holy month.
However, others argue that the greeting can appropriately refer to the generosity of acts towards others. Khaled Boudemagh, described by Gulf News as a Dubai-based language expert, said: "Ramadan is a month of generosity, therefore wish Kareem."
Both "Mubarak" and "Kareem" are also given names in Arabic, which carry the same meanings as bestowed in the Ramadan greetings.