"It's a month of activity," communities in the West Midlands prepare for Ramadan
It sees Muslims around the world enjoy a month of fasting, praying and community
Communities across the West Midlands are preparing for the holy month of Ramadan, which is expected to start tonight.
The religious festival sees Muslims around the world enjoy a month of fasting, prayer and community.
We've been speaking to Habib Mohammed from the Islamic charity ISRA-UK - he told us more about how the festival is observed.
"We abstain from food and other physical desires throughout the day.
"Then we break the fast during the evening at sunset.
"We increase our prayers and we do a lot more charity during the month. It's a month of activity."
Habib also told us about the symbolism behind the festival.
"All year long, the light you got from the last Ramadan diminishes, and over the 12 months it gets darker and darker," he said.
"And then suddenly that light is switch back on. Your spiritual light is switched back on."
ISRA-UK is also running its annual Ramadan appeal, which raises money so Muslims in poorer parts of the world can enjoy the festival.
"It's an opportunity for us to share good quality food and even give somebody a month's supply of food to ensure they have some decent food to break their fast with," Habib said.
It also sends clothes and toys to children outside the UK.
"Children in the west normally get new clothes and toys, a bit like Christmas.
"Children in the third world don't get these presents. So we also have an appeal for clothes and toys so children elsewhere can experience what we have in the UK," Habib told us.
"Ramadan is a time where everybody just gives that little bit more."
Finally he said one of the most important messages of Ramadan is a strong sense of togetherness, which stretches beyond the Muslim community.
"We include everyone in Ramadan. When we feed, we like to feed people from all backgrounds - not just Muslims.
"We want people to come together - we want people to be neighbourly," he said.
Ramadan's due to finish on 30 March.
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