| Often,
after the afternoon prayer at the mosque, religious lectures
are held here. Prayer services are also held here each night
during the month of Ramzan. A small portion of the Koran is
read during each service, so that the entire book is complete
by the end of the month.
Ramzan is similar to Lent, in the sense that it is a period
of abstinence and self restraint. It also entails fasting
from dawn to dusk, and every Muslim, except those who are
unwell, too old, or unable to fast due to other health or
circumstantial reasons such as travel, pregnancy or nursing,
keeps the fast. So does that mean no eating for a month? No.
It does however mean no food, drink or tobacco from dawn to
dusk during this period. Children who have not yet attained
puberty are not expected to fast, but many parents like to
make older children around the age of eight fast for a few
hours a day during this period, just so they get accustomed
to the rituals of self-restraint and build up their will power,
so it is easier for them to fast later on.
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