A month of reflection

Ramadan is a month of reflection, heightened spirituality, and community for Muslims around the world.

Observed as the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, Ramadan commemorates the first revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad, according to Islamic belief. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and lasts 29 or 30 days, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon.

During the month, most adult Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, abstaining from food and drink. Exemptions apply to those who are ill, pregnant, breastfeeding, diabetic, or travelling. Children are not required to fast until puberty, though some begin earlier in preparation. Fasting is accompanied by increased prayer, acts of charity, and reflection. Many Muslims begin the day with a pre-dawn meal known as _suhoor_, and gather with family and friends at sunset for _iftar_, the meal that breaks the fast.

In Hong Kong, the Muslim population numbers around 300,000 and includes communities from South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and China. According to Chief Imam and Mufti Muhammad Arshad, around 12,000 Muslim families are locally rooted, descended from early South Asian Muslim immigrants who married local Chinese women and raised their children as Muslims.

There are currently six principal mosques in Hong Kong used for daily prayers. A seventh, the Sheung Shui Mosque in the New Territories, is under construction.