Some make phone calls to Makkah, and in some countries it is announced over the radio. In Muslim countries a cannon is sometimes fired to mark the beginning of the fast, or some other public signal is performed.
The fast of Ramadan is the time for inner reflection and a time for Muslims to concentrate on their faith and devotion to God, rather than on the concerns of everyday life. It is also a time for Muslims to focus on their self-control. During this time, it is common for Muslims to spend a lot of time at the mosque, reading and listening to the recitation of the Qu"ran. During Ramadan Muslims still pray five times a day, these prayers show their submission to Allah as it shows their commitment and devotion to their creator. This special prayer is called the "Taraweeh" prayer, meaning the "Night prayer". It is usually 2-3 times as long as the daily prayers. Some Muslims spend the whole night in prayer. The following is the correct procedure in which to carry out each of the five daily prayers, this process is repeated each time a Muslim prays. It is known as "The Rak"as".
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Each stages of "The Rak"ahs" is important in its own way, without any one of them, the prayer is not complete.
At sunset, Muslims break their fast with "Iftar". It is a common practice for Muslims to break their fast at sunset with dates. This is followed by the sunset prayer, which is followed by a more substantial meal. It is customary for Muslims to go out and visit friends after dinner. The fast is resumed at first dawn. The fast starts very early in the day, an extra meal called "Suhoor" may be eaten before first light. One may eat and drink at any time during the night until you can plainly distinguish a white thread from a black thread by the daylight: then keep the fast until night.
The fast of any day of Ramadan becomes void by intentional eating, drinking, smoking or indulgence in any intimate intercourse and by allowing anything to enter through the mouth and nose into the interior parts of the body.