Is Idul Fitri after Ramadan? Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr What is Ramadan? During the month of Ramadan, Muslims won’t eat or drink during the hours of daylight. This is called fasting. Children are not expected to fast until they reach puberty, usually around the age of 14. Ramadan remembers the month the Qur’an (the Muslim holy book) was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. The actual night that the Qur’an was revealed is a night known as Lailut ul-Qadr (‘The Night of Power’). When is Ramadan? Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The exact dates of Ramadan change every year. This is because Islam uses a calendar based on the cycles of the Moon. In the UK, Ramadan will begin in April and will end in May. Ramadan starts when the new Moon first appears in the night sky. Full moon marks the middle of Ramadan. As the moon wanes to the other side, Ramadan finishes. How is Ramadan celebrated? Most Muslims fast between dawn and sunset. Fasting allows Muslims to devote themselves to their faith. It is thought to teach self-discipline and reminds them of the suffering of the poor. However, children, pregnant women, elderly people and those who are ill or travelling don’t have to fast. During Ramadan, it is common to have one meal (known as the suhoor), just before sunrise and another (known as the iftar), directly after sunset. A family share iftar. A meal that is eaten after the Sun has gone down during the month of Ramadan. Almost all Muslims try to give up bad habits during Ramadan. It is a time for prayer and good deeds. They will try to spend time with family and friends and help people in need. Many Muslims will attempt to read the whole of the Qur’an at least once during Ramadan. They will also attend special services in Mosques during which the Qur’an is read. Eid ul-Fitr The end of Ramadan is marked by a big celebration called ‘Eid ul-Fitr’ (the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast). Muslims are not only celebrating the end of fasting, but thanking Allah for the strength he gave them throughout the previous month. Mosques hold special services and a special meal is eaten during daytime (the first daytime meal for a month). During Eid ul-Fitr Muslims dress in their finest clothes, give gifts to children and spend time with their friends and family. Muslims will also give money to charity at Eid. Fire Safety during Ramadan and Eid ul-Fitr The risk of fire can increase during major religious festivals like Ramadan and Eid ul-Fitr and there may be extra risks that you should also be aware of. Cooking and eating form important parts of these events so kitchen safety is particularly important during these celebrations, don’t forget to follow our fire safety advice. Cooking fires are the biggest cause of accidental house fires in the home but for those observing Ramadan, cooking for large groups of people at unusual times, especially when combined with fatigue, can be extra challenging. We want to wish all members of the Muslim community well during this very important time but we want to take the opportunity to stress the need to remain vigilant to the fire risks in the home during this time, particularly when it comes to cooking in loose fitting clothing. This is a really important time in the Islamic calendar, we want to ensure that people stay safe from the risk of fire, and take into consideration the safety and wellbeing of both themselves and other members of their family. Ramadan and Eid ul-Fitr – Fire Safety Tips Ensure you have smoke alarms on every floor of your home – test them weekly to make sure they work. We urge women to be extra careful that their clothing is kept well away from naked flames stay alert while cooking and remain vigilant to the fire risks particularly when it comes to cooking in loose fitting clothing. Never fill more than one third of your cooking pan with oil If the oil starts to smoke, turn off the heat and leave it to cool Never leave your cooking pans unattended with the heat switched on If a fire does start don’t try to fight it yourself. Get out stay out, and call 999 A few fire safety essentials to keep in mind during Ramadan include: Cooking– Half of all house fires start in the kitchen, so take extra care when cooking, particularly with hot oil – it sets alight easily. Oversized pots – they can be handy when cooking for large groups of people, but using several oversized pots on a gas cooker can cause a build-up of carbon monoxide, which can be deadly. Karrai dishes – avoid filling them more than 1/3 full with oil. When cooking with hot oil be vigilant. If the oil starts to smoke, do not add food. Turn the burner off and allow it to cool. Never throw water on a burning pan– in the event of a fire get out, stay out and call 999. Keep loose clothing tied back. Clothing ignites easier than you may realise, so ensure scarves or long sleeves are a safe distance away from the hob. You should also ensure tea towels, cloths or electrical leads are a safe distance away from hobs also. Have a working smoke alarm on every floor of your home– test them weekly to make sure they work. Do you have one? Is it working? Do you know what to do if it goes off? Does the rest of your family or friends know what to do? Having a working smoke alarm is a great start to being fire safety conscious in the home but it is vital everyone who is staying with you knows what to do if it goes off too. Plan your escape route Practise your escape routes and make sure you share it, so that in the event the worst happens everyone knows what to do Road Safety During Ramadan & Eid Road safety is always a major concern across North Wales and this is no different during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, the festival that follows the fast. We would like to take this opportunity to reiterate some key road safety messages. In the UK, there has been an increasing trend amongst young Asian drivers being involved in road traffic collisions during Ramadan and Eid. The combination of inexperienced drivers, distractions and excitement of friends coming together to break the fast has resulted in serious injuries and deaths from road collisions in the past. Despite the good beliefs of spending time with the ones close to you, this causes a lot of traffic. Fasting; especially during warmer weather we can experience this time of the year. Warm weather and working condition can advance dehydration, cause low blood sugar, exhaustion, over-steering, and increased levels of impatience, resulting in low attention span, blurred vision, increased reaction times, and overall, reckless driving. Please take care when driving, especially inexperienced drivers who may not have driven a vehicle whilst fasting previously. If you are planning to hire a vehicle, be mindful of engines that are much more powerful than those you are accustomed to. As always, please continue to: Be aware of your own limitations and follow all speed limits. Respect road laws, including wearing your seatbelt. Always avoid distractions such as mobile phones. Keep a sufficient distance between their vehicle and don’t tailgate. Plan your schedule properly and leave early to avoid the need for rushing and speeding. Always wear your seatbelt – Ramadan is a good time to start this habit Stay off the roads at sundown, if you can avoid it Use your lights during dawn. Use public transport or taxis where possible.