RAMADAN

Ramadan, which began this morning for Muslims, is the holiest period on the Islamic calendar. It calls for daytime fasting for 29 days. Traditionally, followers of Islam wait for the first sighting of the crescent moon to declare the start of Ramadan, but many major mosques in Southern California now declare the start according to calculations of the phases of the moon.

TRADITION: Ramadan is the month on the lunar calendar of Islam when the Prophet Mohammed (570-632) was said to have received the first revelations of the Koran, the holy book of the religion. Fasting is one of the pillars, or obligations, of the faith.

OBSERVANCES: Faithful Muslims are expected to neither eat nor drink between daybreak and dark during Ramadan with exceptions made for the very young and old, the sick, pregnant women and those with physical problems. If necessary, the fasting period may be made up at another time. Ramadan brings together families and friends for evening dinners and Koran reading and prayer. Humility and compassion are emphasized.