THERE are 200,000 members of the Muslim community in East Lancashire. And in the coming weeks they will be celebrating Ramadan. Here, Councillor SALIM MULLA, secretary of Lancashire Council of Mosques, explains what Ramadan means to Muslims. . .

RAMADAN is a special month of the year for over one billion Muslims throughout the world. It is a time for inner reflection, devotion to God, and self-control.

Muslims think of it as a kind of tune-up for their spiritual lives. The third "pillar" or religious obligation of Islam - fasting - has many special benefits.

Most importantly it is a means of learning self-control and attaining piety.

Due to the lack of preoccupation with the satisfaction of bodily appetites during the daylight hours of fasting, a measure of ascendancy is given to one's spiritual nature, which becomes a means of coming closer to God.

Ramadan is also a time of intensive worship, reading of the Quran, giving charity, purifying one's behavior, and doing good deeds.

As a secondary goal, fasting is a way of experiencing hunger and developing sympathy for the less fortunate, and learning thankfulness and appreciation for all of God's bounties.

Fasting is also beneficial to the health and provides a break in the cycle of rigid habits or overindulgence.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim Lunar calendar.

The Month of Ramadan is also when it is believed the Holy Quran "was sent down from heaven, a guidance unto men, a declaration of direction, and a means of Salvation".

It is during this month that Muslims fast. It is called the Fast of Ramadan and lasts the entire month. Ramadan is a time when Muslims concentrate on their faith and spend less time on the concerns of their everyday lives. It is a time of worship and contemplation .

During the Fast of Ramadan strict restraints are placed on the daily lives of Muslims.

They are not allowed to eat or drink during the daylight hours. Smoking and sexual relations are also forbidden during fasting.

At the end of the day the fast is broken with prayer and a meal called the iftar. The fast is resumed the next morning.

But the good that is acquired through the fast can be destroyed by such things as the telling of a lie, slander, or greed.

During Ramadan, it is common for Muslims to go to the Masjid (Mosque) and spend several hours praying and studying the Quran.

In addition to the five daily prayers, during Ramadan Muslims recite a special prayer called the Taraweeh prayer (Night Prayer).

The length of this prayer is usually two or three times as long as the daily prayers.

Some Muslims spend the entire night in prayer.

In the last ten nights of this month, Muslims search for a special night called Laylat-al-Qadr (the Night of Power).

It is believed that on this night Muhammad first received the revelation of the Holy Quran. And according to the Quran, this is when God determines the course of the world for the following year.

When the month of fasting ends (the first day of the new month, called Shawwal) it is celebrated as a "holiday" called Id-al-Fitr (the Feast of Fast Breaking).

Friends and family gather to pray in congregation. Meals are prepared and family and friends have a joyous day.

The fast of Ramadan did not become a religious obligation for Muslims until the year 624. The obligation to fast is explained in the second chapter of the Quran.

In many ways, fasting becomes easy as the inculcation of fasting is ingrained from a young age. In fact , it is awaited by young and old with renewed enthusiasm every year.

In Muslim countries, most people are observing the fast, so there are fewer temptations such as luncheon meetings, daytime celebrations and offers of food from friends.

Fasting is compulsory for all Muslims who are mentally and physically fit, past the age of puberty, in a settled situation (not travelling), and are sure that fasting is unlikely to cause real physical or mental injury.

Employers, co-workers and teachers can help by understanding the significance of Ramadan and by showing a willingness to make minor allowances for its physical demands. Special consideration can be given to such things as requests for holiday time, the need for flexible early morning or evening work schedules and lighter homework assignments.

It is also very important that Muslim workers and students be given time to attend Eid prayers at the end of Ramadan.

Eid is as important to Muslims as Christmas and Yom Kippur are to Christians and Jews.