In 2012, the religious observance of Ramadan begins Thursday evening, July 19, and ends with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr marking the end of the holiest period in the Islamic lunar calendar, a time of fasting, prayer, and spiritual reflection.

For Muslims, Ramadan is the most important holy day of the year. With that in mind, here are Five Facts About Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr:

What is the Significance of Fasting During Ramadan? By refraining from eating or drinking during the day, Muslims have more time to put in the effort to follow the teachings of Islam, pray, study the Qur’an, and practice a deep, personal worship of Allah, as well as learn self-control and sacrifice.

When Does the Fasting Period of Ramadan End? From dawn to sunset, participating Muslims fast during the daylight hours from dawn to sunset. Once the sun goes down, family, friends, or neighbors gather to share Iftar, the fast-breaking meal. Ramadan continues for 29 or 30 days, and ends with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr.

What Do Muslims Do During Ramadan? Ramadan is considered a period of reflection and spiritual growth and cleansing. During this time, Muslims pray, study the Qur’an, and concentrate on their faith.

Why Is Ramadan Such a Special Month? According to Islamic belief, it was during the month of Ramadan that Allah revealed the Qur’an to the prophet, Muhammad. Ramadan is considered one of the five pillars of Islam, and has been practiced since the beginning.

What is Eid al-Fitr About? Also known as the Festival of Breaking the Fast, Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan with a celebration. Traditionally, people put on new clothes, donate to the poor, visit relatives, and join in feasts. In many Muslim households, children receive gifts as well.

The international community of artists at Greeting Card Universe have created many traditional and modern interpretations of Islamic designs for Ramadan cards and Eid al-Fitr cards with friends, family, neighbors, business contacts, and everyone else you want to wish, “Ramadan Mubarak!”

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