Muslim’s in Birmingham will begin 30 days of fasting next week to celebrate Ramadan.
From Monday, mosques across the city will also be holding special prayers, known as Tarawih, which sees Muslims reciting a section of the Quran every night over the 30 days until they have completed the whole scripture.
Mohammed Yasin, assistant general secretary of the Jamia Masjid & Madrassa Faiz ul Quran Ghousia Mosque, in Albert Road, Stechford, Birmingham, said billions of Muslims across the world will be celebrating Ramadan.
It is known as the month of blessing and is marked by prayer, fasting and charity work.
“Muslims believe that during the month of Ramadan, Allah revealed the first verses of the Quran, the holy book of Islam,” said Mr Yasin.
“In around 610AD, the prophet Muhammad used to go out to the desert near Mecca to think about faith, society and God.
“One night a voice called to him from the night sky. It was the angel Gabriel, who told Muhammad he had been chosen to receive the word of Allah.
“In the days that followed, Muhammad found himself speaking the verses that would be transcribed as the Quran.”
He explained that Muslims fast for the entire month, a tradition known as Sawm, which is one of the five ‘pillars’ or duties of Islam.
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