The Islamic observance of Ramadan, a month-long fast, garners significant attention in contemporary media each year. During this period, Muslims abstain from food, drink, and sexual relations from dawn until dusk, breaking their fast with communal meals known as iftar after sunset. Western dignitaries occasionally participate in these nightly feasts, highlighting Ramadan’s cultural prominence. In contrast to diurnal eating patterns, the fasting Muslim shifts sustenance to the nocturnal hours, consuming substantial meals throughout the night until the pre-dawn meal, suhoor. The Qur’an further mandates abstinence from food, drink, sexual relations, and idle speech during this period, framing fasting as a holistic act of devotion (Qur’an 2:183–187). Ramadan commences with the sighting of the new crescent moon and concludes when the subsequent crescent appears, culminating in the celebratory feast of Eid al-Fitr. This prompts a critical question: what are the historical origins of this fasting practice?

The Qur’an repeats the mythology in vogue at the time of Mohammed.  His thoughts reflect ancient teachings about the earth, the sun and the creation.  These teachings can be traced in the well-known mythology of the people of the middle and Far East.

This is taken from Dr. Amari's book, Islam in light of History