World’s Fasting Religions in 90 Seconds: Islam

The world's fasting faiths and 90s Islam, founded by the Prophet Muhammad in the early seventh century. Islam quickly became the dominant religion of the Arabic region. Its influence soon spread throughout Asia and North Africa. Islam is considered to be the fastest growing of all the major religions. There are two major branches of Islam. The majority of Muslims are adherents of Sunni Islam, while Shia Islam accounts for 10 to 20% of the believers.

Islam is a strictly monotheistic religion, holding that Allah is transcendent and eternal. Like Judaism and Christianity, the religion has its roots in the Abrahamic tradition and shares many of their prophets. Muhammad is the last of the line of prophets, and his final message is recorded verbatim in the Koran. Fasting is the fourth of the Five Pillars of Islam and is considered a means of spiritual purification, as well as a way of instilling in Muslims the virtues of self-control, obedience, and an awareness of the plight of the needy.

The most important period of fasting is during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. For the whole of this month, all Muslims who are physically able are obliged to refrain from eating, drinking, sexual activity, and smoking from sunrise to sunset, and to spend the day in contemplation and devotion, including reciting a prayer only used during Ramadan.

Breaking the fast is one of the high points of the Islamic year. Islam is a fasting religion not to be feared, but to be celebrated for its devotion to Allah and to humanity.