Dome of the Rock.

Ramadan, pronounced ram uh DHAN, is an Islamic holy month when Muslims may not eat or drink from morning until night. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic year. Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, Ramadan falls at different times of the year. Muslims celebrate Ramadan as the month during which the prophet Muhammad received the first of the revelations that make up the Quran, the holy book of Islam. Fasting during Ramadan is the fourth of the five Pillars of Faith, the chief religious duties of a Muslim. All Muslims must fast if they have reached puberty and are of sound mind. Exceptions are made for some groups. Those who are able, however, must make up the missed fast days at a later time. A Muslim who deliberately breaks the fast must atone by fasting for two continuous months or feeding the poor. Fasting begins at dawn and lasts until sunset. During this time, Muslims cannot take food or drink, inhale tobacco smoke or perfume, or engage in sexual activity. Believers may not even swallow their own saliva. The daily fast is broken by a light meal called the iftar, followed by the evening prayer. The preferred food for the iftar is dates and water. Ramadan is also a time for other religious activities. The nights are often devoted to special prayers and to recitations from the Quran. During the last 10 days, some Muslims seclude themselves in a mosque to give full time to religious contemplation. The end of Ramadan is celebrated by a great festival.

Muslims honor Muhammad's Birthday.

All Muslims celebrate two major holidays, the Feast of Fast-Breaking and the Feast of Sacrifice. The first is held on the day following Ramadan and marks the end of the monthlong fast. The feast is a joyous occasion in which families gather for a rich meal and children receive sweets. The Feast of Sacrifice is held on the 10th day of Dhul-Hijja, the month of the hajj. On this day, many Muslims sacrifice an animal, such as a goat or sheep. A small portion of the meat is prepared for family and friends, and the rest is given to the poor. In some countries, Muslims celebrate the birthday of Muhammad on the 12th day of the third Islamic month. Muslims spend the day praying, reading the Quran, and reciting poems and stories written in honor of the Prophet. Muslims celebrate their New Year at the beginning of the first month of the Islamic calendar. On the 10th day of the month, members of the Shiite division hold a celebration called Ashura that marks the massacre in 680 of Husayn, a grandson of Muhammad. Muslims from Iran, Afghanistan, and central Asian countries follow an ancient solar calendar along with the Islamic lunar calendar. They often celebrate another New Year called Nawruz (pronounced naw ROOZ) on the first day of spring.