The Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins April 12, depending on the sighting of the moon. For a month, Muslims across the world will abstain from both water and food from dawn to sunset.

This annual observance is regarded as one of the five pillars of Islam. Muslims will wake up around 4 a.m. or 5 a.m. to eat and drink ahead of their daylong fast. This meal is known as "suhur" or "sehri." The fast is broken at sunset and the meal is known as "iftar."

Below are 10 quotes about fasting to share with your friends and family, courtesy Brainy Quote and Good Reads.

1. "Fasting is, first and foremost, an exercise for identifying and managing adversity in all its forms. With faith, in full conscience, fasting calls women and men to an extra degree of self-awareness." —Tariq Ramadan, professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies at Oxford University

2. "Prayer is reaching out after the unseen; fasting is letting go of all that is seen and temporal. Fasting helps express, deepen, confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God." — Andrew Murra

3. "By fasting, the body learns to obey the soul; by praying the soul learns to command the body." — William Secker

4. "Fasting men and fasting women, God has prepared forgiveness and a splendid wage." – Quran-AlAhzab(35)

5. "Praise belongs to God who appointed among those roads His month, the month of Ramadan, the month of fasting, the month of submission, the month of purity, the month of putting to test, the month of standing in prayer, in which the Quran was sent down as guidance to the people, and as clear signs of the Guidance and the Separator." ― Imam Zayn Al 'Abidin Al-Sahifat Al-Sajjadiyya, The Psalms Of Islam – English version

6. "In His infinite mercy, Allah has sent the light of Ramadan to erase the night. He has sent the month of the Qur’an so that He might elevate us and bring us from our isolation to His nearness." ― Yasmine Mogahed

7. "As long as your heart is beating, you have a purpose. God is intentional, so He does not keep anyone on Earth that doesn't have to be here; if we are blessed with more life, it is because someone in the world needs us. If we are alive, it means that what we were sent to this Earth to create has not yet been accomplished." ― A. Helwa, Secrets of Divine Love: A Spiritual Journey into the Heart of Islam

8. "Fasting, coupled with mighty prayer, is powerful. We observe that in the scriptures, fasting almost always is linked with prayer. Without prayer, fasting is not complete fasting; it's simply going hungry." —Joseph B. Wirthlin

9. "Through prayer, fasting, and studying, God will answer." – Monica Johnson

10. "Ramadan is a BOOT CAMP for the Muslim body and soul. In this Holy month, make everyday count." ― Ibn Jeem

Muslims across the world celebrated a muted end of the holy month of Ramadan, with social distancing in place in some communities
Muslims across the world celebrated a muted end of the holy month of Ramadan, with social distancing in place in some communities AFP / Nipah Dennis
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