Ramadan is a holy month in the Islamic Hijri calendar where Muslims fast to purify their hearts and souls. This year Ramadan begins the evening of Friday, February 28 and ends on Saturday, March 29. Those participating in the fast abstain from food and drink between sunrise and sunset for the entire month. Muslims around the world use this time to increase their worship and connection to Allah. Muslims commonly refer to God as Allah, the Arabic word for God. The act of fasting encourages Muslims to remember those less fortunate than them and thank Allah for the blessings in their life.
Throughout Ramadan, many Muslims attend a nightly prayer called Taraweeh at the mosque which involves reading long portions of the Quran. During Taraweeh, the entirety of the Quran is recited over the course of the month. Eid al-Fitr is a celebration that marks the end of Ramadan. During this day, Muslims all over the world celebrate by giving charity, having feasts with friends and family and being thankful to God. It is tradition to give gifts and to wear new clothes for the celebration.
We've brought together a variety of resources to help you celebrate and learn more about Ramadan!
Kitchener Public Library Resources
Upcoming Programs
Taraweeh Totes
Saturday, March 15 at 2 p.m. at Forest Heights Library
Curated Reading Lists
Discover Muslim voices and stories in Kitchener Public Library's collection. Learn more about Islam, explore Ramadan cookbooks and more on the adult reading list. Looking for books to read with your kids? Find picture books, early readers and informative books about Ramadan on the children's reading list.
Virtual Library Resources
Did you know that you can use your library card to access a variety of digital resources? Check out the Virtual Library to browse our streaming services, apps and other resources. We've put together some Ramadan Virtual Library resources for you to explore!
- TumbleBooks is a resource with read-along books and videos for children. Check out the Ramadan books available in TumbleBooks!
- Learn more about Canada's first mosque, Al Rashid Mosque, and take the Islamic History in Canada Quiz using the Canadian Encyclopedia.
- Learn Arabic (Egyptian) on Mango Languages, our language learning app!