Fasting existed in religions before Islam and Ramadan is the fasting month in Islam. Fasting became a duty in Islam on February 2, 624 A.D., that is, 1422 years before. The aims of Ramadan are worship, working hard, self-refinement and nobility of character. It means to refrain from eating, drinking and mating from sunrise to sunset. Ramadan is either 29 or 30 days. It begins and ends by seeing the new moon. Muslims perform more good deeds than in other months throughout the year. The fasters eat less food and drink more liquids, then they go to mosques to perform nightly prayers which are 4 and 20 prostrations. The are called in Arabic "Taraweeh , which means prayers that wipe sins away. Again, they pray the late night prayers. It is offered at any time between evening and dawn prayers. It is on the last ten days of Ramadan. They return into a mosque during the last ten days of Ramadan for the purpose of worship. They give anything in charity to the poor and needy people. They pay alms at the end of Ramadan for each family member to the poor. They prepare dining tables at mosques for poor people, students and Islamic communities. There are some customs in Ramadan, like firing cannons at the same time in different places to indicate the beginning of the fast at dawn and the end of fasting at sunset. There are lots of Ramadan drummers in towns. They beat small drums to awaken people to have the dawn meal. In the afternoon, before sunset, the city streets are full of people who want to buy pleasant delicious foods and sweets. There are may competitions and quizzes at mosques, Islamic libraries and schools for educational benefits and amusement. Also, there are lots of gifts and presents to be given to the winners and there are games, and candies for children.
