This year Ramadan is happening from the evening of Sunday 10 March and ends on Tuesday 9 April. The Islamic Calendar follows the movement of the moon, so the dates can change from year to year.

It is important for me to celebrate Ramadan because it puts me in the position of people who do not have food and water every day. Muslims will fast – which means you don’t eat or drink water – during Ramadan from sunrise until sunset. We do this for the whole month.

Muslims also perform the usual 5 prayers a day and a special Ramadan prayer that is called Taraweeh. They also give charity, for example helping give money for water tanks, food packages, clothes and much more.

A typical day for me during Ramadhan is quite tiring. I get up at 3am to have food before the sun rises after I do my first prayer. I then go back to sleep and wake up again 7am to go to work.  

While at work I won’t eat or drink during the day, and I will pray twice during the day. At around 6pm when the sun goes down, I will break the fast and have food and water.  

At this time I will do the 4th prayer of the day I normally don't do much in the evening until my fifth prayer around 7.45pm I then do the special Ramadhan prayer which lasts for about 4 hours. After that I go to bed. 

As a Muslim, fasting helps teach me about faith, become closer to God (Allah) and his blessings, it is a means of seeking forgiveness of sins, and is a reminder of those who do not have consistent food, water, or shelter.

I take my religion seriously, and always try to follow the teachings of Islam, Allah and the example that the Prophet Mohammed set– things like giving to charity, having patience, to be a good person really.

Ramadan is not only about fasting - it’s about taking a step outside of your daily life and spending time thinking about what is important. My faith is very important to me. I believe God has created me, given me all the possibilities to do the things that I have done.

The day after the end of Ramadan is a religious holiday called Eid-al-Fitr where we have family round a have a feast, where we will have a lot of food and celebrate with a party.

I’m really grateful for the things I have – a job, a home, a family, my health – and so I feel it’s my responsibility to be true to my beliefs.

My faith is like a guide to me, and gives me responsibility in life for the decisions I make and how I think and act. It helps me be clear minded and able to focus on what really matters in life - respect, values , and getting on with people.