Islam's fasting month of Ramadan began this week. Muslims are required to abstain from food, drink and sex from dawn to dusk as life slips into a lower gear during the day.

Activity during Ramadan peaks between iftar, the breaking of the fast at sunset, and suhur, the last meal of the day before sunrise.

But while fasting and iftar are the most well-known elements of the holy month in the popular mind, this ninth month of the Muslim calendar is meant to be deeply prayerful.

Since Ramadan includes the day on which Muslim's believe God gave their holy book to Prophet Mohammed, many pious Muslims will endeavour to read the entire Koran, or attend the nightly readings at a mosque that accomplish the same end.

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