Why does it have to be in summer? Is it safe? What happens if you cheat? A handy list of questions you’re too embarrassed to ask your colleague.
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Ramadan is actually the ninth month in the Islamic calendar (which is the Hijri calendar). It's believed to be the most holy month in the calendar for Muslims as they believe their holy book, the Qur'an, was revealed in this month.
That's right. During Ramadan anyone who's hit puberty (said to be be around 10 for women and 15 for men) is meant to not consume any food or liquid between dawn and sunset. No, not even water.
It is safe as only those who are healthy and fit are meant to fast. This excludes children, the elderly, pregnant women and anyone who is ill. If you're ill or have a job that requires you to exert a lot of energy (if you work in manual labour, for example), it's generally considered OK to not fast that day. Instead you're meant to "make up" the fast at a later date.
This means the Muslim football players in Brazil, like France's Karim Benzema or Germany's Mesut Ozil, don't have to fast when they're playing intense games of football and should instead carry out the fasts later in the year by way of compensation.
Charles Platiau / Reuters
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