CULTURAL
The word Ramadan comes from the Arabic root ramiḍa or ar-ramaḍ, which
means scorching heat or dryness. Fasting is fard(obligatory) for adult
Muslims, except those who are suffering from an illness, travelling, are
elderly, pregnant, breastfeeding, diabetic, chronically ill or menstruating. Fasting the month of Ramadan
was made obligatory (wājib) during the month of Sha'ban,
in the second year after the Muslims migrated from Mecca to Medina. Fatwas have been
issued declaring that Muslims who live in regions with a natural phenomenon
such as the midnight sun or polar night should
follow the timetable of Mecca, but the more commonly accepted opinion is that
Muslims in those areas should follow the timetable of the closest country to
them in which night can be distinguished from day.
