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(NewsNation) — As Ramadan begins this year on the evening of Feb. 28, Muslims around the country and the globe will mark the holy month with fasting, prayer and community life. 

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan commemorates the first revelations of the Quran, the central religious text in Islam, to the Prophet Muhammad by the angel Gabriel, according to Islamic tradition. Believers are required to abstain from food, drink (including water), smoking and sexual relations during daylight hours for the duration of the month. All able-bodied, healthy Muslims who are adults are required to fast during Ramadan.

The purpose of fasting from dawn to dusk is to grow closer to God and to restore the centrality of God in one’s life, according to the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research, a nonprofit based in Texas.

What is the purpose of Ramadan?

Ramadan is a time of deep reflection, self-improvement and heightened devotion to God. In addition to praying five times a day, Muslims pray extra nightly prayers. Muslims are also encouraged to study and recite the Quran and perform acts of charity.

A common way to greet Muslims during the holy month is to say, “Ramadan mubarak.” On Eid al-Fitr, the last day of fasting, which is March 30 this year, non-Muslims can wish their Muslim neighbors “Eid mubarak” or “blessed Eid.”

According to the 2020 United States Religious Census, there are about 4,453,908 Muslim Americans in the United States, making up 1.34% of the population.