This year Ramadan begins on Thursday, April 23 and ends on Saturday, May 23. They will celebrate Eid Al-Fitr after that.
今年的穆斯林齋戒月（Ramadan）從4月23日開始，將持續30天，直到5月23日為止，然後就舉行開齋節（Eid Al-Fitr).
Ramadan is an annual event for Muslim believers. There are 1.6 billion Muslim believers in the world, and it is one of the three major religions in the world. This means that there is one Muslim out of 5 people.
齋戒月是穆斯林信眾年度盛事，全球有16億穆斯林信眾，為世界三大宗教之一，這意味著5個人之中就有一個穆斯林。
The following 9 things about Ramadan that you should know:
以下關於齋戒月9件小知識報你知：
1. What are being practiced? 這個月穆斯林會做什麼？
Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. During this time, Muslims do not let any food or drink pass their lips during daylight hours.
齋戒月（Ramadan）是伊斯蘭曆法第9個月，在這個月裡穆斯林信眾從日出到日落之間不可進食.
2. Who do not have to fast? 什麼人不需要守齋？
Pregnant women, travellers, elderly people, patients, breastfeeding mothers, menstrual women and young children do not have to fast.
孕婦、旅人、老人、病人、餵母乳的母親、月經期女性及幼童可以不用守齋。
3. What cannot be done during this period? 這段時間不能夠做什麼？
During the month of Ramadan, believers are not allowed to smoke, drink alcohol, lie, fast, abstain from intimate behavior, and prohibit all disputes and wars.
齋戒月裡白天信眾不可抽煙、禁飲酒、禁說謊、禁食，戒親密行為，也禁止一切紛爭與戰爭。
4. Any special circumstance / exception? 是否有任何特殊狀況？
If you are unable to fast for special reasons during Ramadan, you can come back every other day. You must finish it within one month after the end of Ramadan.
若齋戒月裡因特殊原因無法禁食，可以隔日重來，最晚必須齋月結束後一個月內完成。
5. Why Fasting? 為什麼要有齋月？
“Fasting” is one of the “five merits” in Islamic teachings, including recitation, rites, fasting, lessons, and dynasties. They are chanting the mantra, praying 5 times a day, fasting during the month of Ramadan, fasting from sunrise to sunset, charitable donations and praying to Mecca at least once in a lifetime.
「齋戒」是伊斯蘭教義裡「五功」之一，包含唸、禮、齋、課、朝。分別是念清真言、一日祈禱5次、在齋戒月，從日出到日落間禁食、慈善捐贈及一生至少到麥加朝拜一次。
Those who have completed the five functions in their lifetime can be identified with the name “Ha only” in front of their names, meaning “pilgrimage”
而有生之年裡完成五功者，可在其名前冠以「哈只」表明身份，意為「朝覲者」
6. What if it’s not being practiced? 不遵守會如何？
In some Muslim countries, eating in public during the fasting month may result in penalties.
在一些穆斯林國家，齋戒月裡白天在公共場合進食可能導致處罰。
7. What are the meanings of Ramadan? 開齋月的意義在哪裡？
The purpose of Ramadan is to reflect, rebirth, and return to purity. Through Ramadan, we rethink the relationship between the individual and God, sympathize with the poor and those in need, volunteer to do good, and read the Quran.
齋戒月的用意在於反省、重生並回歸純淨，透過齋戒月重新省思個人與神之間的關係，對需要幫助的窮人與有需要的人感到同情，自願行善，並多讀古蘭經。
8. Can they work during fasting? 禁食期間可以工作嗎？
Believers still work as usual during fasting, and will not eat until the evening prayer is finished.
禁食期間信徒仍然照常工作，直到日落行完晚禱才會進食。
9. What happens after Ramadan? 封齋結束後有慶祝嗎？
Eid al-Fitr is the celebration of the end of the fasting month. This festival day marks the first day of the next month called Shawwal. Eid al-Fitr is marked with a big feast, the exchanging of gifts and celebrations and is also known as the Festival of Breaking Fast.
在30天的封齋結束後隔天便是「開齋節（Eid al-Fitr）」，連續進行三天，信徒與朋友家人聚集一起吃大餐。
The importance of Eid al-Fitr is equivalent to the Chinese New Year. If you meet Muslim friends, do n’t forget to wish them a “Eid Mubarak (Happy Eid Mubarak!)” During Eid al-Fitr.
開齋節受重視的程度相當於華人的過年。如果你遇到了穆斯林的朋友，在開齋節這幾日，別忘了祝福他們一聲「Eid Mubarak（開齋節愉快！）」
Reference:
1. https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/1272942/eid-2020-when-is-eid-al-fitr-this-year-eid-greeting-happy-eid-Mubarak
2. https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/ch/news/3431049
About the Author 關於作者
Isaac Kow is the Founder and CEO of GoBuddy, a cloud-software company incubated by Cyberport Hong Kong. Born and raised in Malaysia, he has been immersed in diversified culture and experience Ramadan during his school time (in particular) with his teachers and classmates.
GoBuddy Blog 