Ramadan is an important date in the calendar for Muslims across the world as it remembers the month the Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
To mark the occasion, Muslims won’t eat or drink during the hours of daylight from Wednesday, March 22 to Friday, April 21, Birmingham Live reports.
Fasting during Ramadan also involves abstaining from intimacy in order to focus the mind and body on spiritual reflection, religious study and doing good deeds for others.
Once fasting finishes for the day, things that are considered haram in the daylight hours are once again allowed to resume - until fasting returns the following day.
But what exactly are the rules around intimacy and relationships at this time in the Islamic calendar? Here’s everything you need to know.
Relationships and marriage during Ramadan
Intimate activity is not allowed during the hours of fasting on each day. This means couples can kiss, hug and have sex in the hours before and after the fast, as long as they are husband and wife.
In Islam, premarital sex and sex outside of marriage are forbidden, nor does it permit any kissing in public.
Muslim scholars say that during Ramadan, unmarried couples should be apart and only spend time with their own families, in order to avoid any temptations to be affectionate or sexual that could arise from being in other's company.
Experts recommend that unmarried couples, who are still having an intimate relationship, avoid being physical with each other during the hours of fasting.
Couples can get married during Ramadan but there are no special rules for newlyweds, so they won’t be able to have celebratory food, drink and sex from dawn to dusk during the 30 days.
For those who are single, conversations with other people are permitted but flirting with someone isn't allowed because it could lead to being more intimate.
It is advised that people do not go on dates or attend parties during Ramadan, and they should also dress and act modestly.
What happens if I break the rules?
If someone breaks any fasts during the holy month without a valid reason, they will be punished for each day fasting is not properly executed.
This penalty is called kaffarah and means an individual must fast continuously for 60 days. If they are unable to do so, they must feed 60 poor people at a rate of £5 per person - the cost of an average meal in the UK.
As a result, this amounts to £300 for each missed or intentionally broken fast. The cash can be donated via charities such as Islamic Relief.
