India, March 11 -- The answer lies in geography, theology and modern science

Most Muslims in India and the subcontinent will begin fasting for the holy month of Ramadan (or Ramzan in South Asia) on March 12, 2024. Fasting or Sawm is one of the five pillars of Islam. The other four being Tawhid (Oneness of God), Salat (Prayer), Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah) and Zakaat (Charity or almsgiving to the poor).

Muslims usually fast from dawn to dusk ( Sehri and Iftari ) during Ramadan. They usually partake a meal at dawn ( Sehr ) and then forgo food and water till dusk, when the fast is broken with.dates in most parts of the Muslim World and areas home to large Muslim populations.

But why dates? The simple answer could be geography.

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