Madrid (EFE).- This Thursday begins the month of Ramadan for the more than 2.2 million Muslims in Spain, a celebration that will last until April 21, as reported by the Islamic Commission of Spain (CIE). .
It is the second year that Muslims celebrate this holiday, the most important in the Islamic calendar, without the restrictions caused by the pandemic.
This Thursday, March 23, corresponds to the first day of Ramadan in 1444, which is celebrated coinciding with the ninth lunar month and begins with the appearance of the crescent moon on the last day of Sha’ban (eighth month in the Islamic lunar calendar). .
This festivity recalls the first revelation of the Koran to Muhammad and has a special religious significance for the Muslim faithful.
A month of reflection and coexistence
Beyond abstaining from drinking, eating, smoking and having sexual relations during daylight hours, Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, it serves as spiritual and physical purification, it is a month of reflection and also of coexistence.
During this month, five daily prayers are celebrated, starting with the prayer that coincides with the morning dawn (“Fajr”), followed by the sunset prayer (“Maghrib”), in which dates and milk are taken to break the fast, and even the night prayer (“Isha”).
Sick people, pregnant or menstruating women, the elderly or children who have not yet reached puberty, among others, are exempt from fasting.
The Muslim population in Spain represents approximately 4% of the total population. 42% of Muslims are Spanish while 58% are immigrants (38% Moroccan and 20% of another nationality).