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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
World
Jamie Greer

What you can and can’t do during Ramadan from swimming to smoking

Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar and involves fasting during daylight hours.

The fast is broken at sunset. Ramadan is based on the sun rising and falling, which means the times of fasting vary across the world.

Ramadan is due to begin tomorrow morning in the UK. During Ramadan, as well as fasting, Muslims try and focus generally on their faith.

READ MORE: What is Ramadan, why is it celebrated, and why is it so important

They spend more time praying, reading the holy book - the Quran - and it's also a time to give to charity. As well as fasting, there are other less known rules Muslims should follow during Ramadan.

Here is a run down of things you can and can’t do during the month of Ramadan.

Things you can do

  • You are allowed to brush your teeth, providing you don't swallow the water when you rinse your mouth out.

  • It's fine to swim, bathe or shower, again, as long as you don't swallow any water.

Things you can’t do

  • The main rule of fasting is that you must not eat or drink anything from dawn until sunset. After sunset, Muslims eat a meal known as iftar.

  • Sexual relations between married couples are banned during the daylight hours of fasting. A main part of fasting is about controlling your desires.

  • You should refrain from bad habits including swearing, gossiping, arguing, fighting or being disrespectful, cruel or selfish. These are things Muslims should avoid at any point of the year, but even more so during the holy month.

  • Smoking is another bad habit people should not do while fasting. Most Muslims believe smoking shouldn't be done at any time because it harms the body. It isn't specifically prohibited in the same way alcohol is, but is thought to be forbidden as it involves putting yourself in danger and harming your health.

  • Taking medicine orally (through the mouth) is considered something that would invalidate the fast. People are asked to consider if they should be fasting at all if they need medication as having an illness exempts you from having to fast. Those who are exempt can still take part in Ramadan by donating to charity.

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