Restraint

There are some things that people need to remember all the time,

so Muslims do some things every day throughout the day, to give themselves a gentle regular reminder.

Then there are other things which are also important to learn, but take more time.

There are some truths that take a whole month to really understand how they work,

and Muslims have one whole month each year like that.

The Muslim months are different to the months that are used in the Christian calendar,

which mostly have names given to them by the Ancient Romans,

with some named after Gods,

some named after Emperors,

and some just named after their numbers in the calendar.

But the Muslim months have different names,

and come at different times of the year,

and there are some things that Muslims do each year in certain months

to remind themselves of what is true and good for people.

One of those special months is called by the Arabic word, "Ramadhan",

During this special month, all grown up Muslims who are fit and healthy go without food and drink during the daytime.

Going without food and drink in this way is known as Fasting, which in Arabic is called Saum.

During this month every year, Muslims remember how their bodies are never separate from the world that surrounds them.

Without all the things that God provides in the world to feed us, our lives quickly fade away.

Food is fuel for the life in our bodies,

so our bodies regularly let our minds know when they haven't been fed for a while.

And they encourage us to eat by making it feel good, and taste good.

But our bodies like to take on a little extra,

in case the next meal doesn't quite arrive in time.

So for those who have lots of food available,

the temptation is to always eat more than the body really needs.

It keeps feeling good and tasting good,

even when the extra food is actually doing your body harm.

Our minds always have to try to keep our bodies under control,

but with food that is really difficult.

So in the month of Ramadhan, Muslims make sure that their minds still know how to keep control of their stomachs.

At the end of the month of Ramadhan, when the month of fasting is over, the Muslims have a great celebration.

This day is called Eid ul Fitr.

On Eid-ul-Fitr everyone bathes and dresses in their best clothes for the special Eid-ul-Fitr prayer,

when they thank God for providing the food they eat each day.

For there are many people in the world who have very little to eat.

Yet if we all shared with each other, there would be plenty to go round.

So on Eid-ul-Fitr, as Muslims share their celebration food with their family, friends and neighbours,

they remember what it felt like to be hungry each day,

like others less fortunate than themselves.