Ramadan Timetable UK and Ireland 2014 Ramadan Timetable UK and Ireland 2014

Ramadan is the holiest month in Islam which Muslims fast for 30 days and nights. Fasting or 'Sawm' as it is pronounced in Arabic, is the third pillar of Islam and is the duty of all Muslims who are of age and in good health to perform this act.

In the Qur'an it says:

"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (The pious)".
- Qur'an chapter 2:183

The messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:

"The gates of Hell are closed, the gates of Paradise are opened, and the devils are in chains. An angel calls out: 'O you who intend to do good deeds, have glad tidings. O you who intend to do evil, refrain, until Ramadan is completed."

Ramadan is the month in which Allah had revealed the last and final testament to mankind, The Qur'an to his last and final messenger, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

We know how important it is to drink plenty of water during Ramadan. Keeping yourself hydrated is crucial especially if you are fasting. Each year Ramadan is shifting backward by 8 to 12 days, as for this year, Ramadan 2011 is on par with the British summer and it will continue to do so for the next 4 to 5 years. Then again the British summer is hardly 'summer' but only miserable cold weather and tropical flash storms with the odd heat wave now and again.

Fasting or not if you're exposed to the sun for long periods of time it is only natural for our bodies to dehydrate and lose water. Typically you would top up by getting yourself something to drink if you're feeling hot, but what if you're fasting? The simple answer to that is you can't; you can't drink anything unless you feel your life is going to be at risk.

So how can we prevent ourselves from dehydrating very quickly? You're always making sure you drink enough water before Suhoor to keep you hydrated for the rest of the day, but is that enough? Sometimes do you get the feeling even after having drank a lot of water for Suhoor you still feel thirsty and weak during the day? Your mouth begins to dry up and you slowly begin to develop a headache, those are symptoms of mild dehydration. What more could you have done to prevent yourself from dehydrating? If the weathers going to be like it has been here in the UK with temperatures soaring up to 30 degrees Celsius last week, then you need to take up a new strategy if things are to improve.