Ramadan begins for millions of Muslims The holy month of Ramadan is underway for millions of Mulsims around the world. The traditional fasting from dawn til dusk will be particularly hard this year. That is because it falls in the middle of the summer, when the days are long and hot. Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and therefore a requirement for practicing Muslims. But exceptions are made for the elderly and the sick for example. Many countries, such as Afghanistan, are in the grip of internal strife. That brings with it the added complications of shortages of food, water and electricity. More about: Islam, Ramadan, Religion