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Ramadan marks the month during which the Qur'an started to be revealed. There are a few important points/events to Ramadan. First I will hit on fasting.

"fasting": To abstain from food, drink, and sex from dawn until sunset.

Fasting the month of Ramadan specifically is one of the 5 Pillars of Islam:
1. Testifying that there is no god but Allah and Muħammad is his messenger
2. Prayer
3. Alms-giving
4. Fasting Ramadan
5. The pilgrimage to Makkah for those able to.

Every year, during the month of Ramadan, those Muslims physically able to fast do so as described previously. This is an obligatory fast.

In addition, there are also recommended additional days such as:
1. Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays
2. Fasting the 10th day of the month of Muħarram (commemorates a number of events, including the Exodus, and Noah's Ark resting on dry land... etc.)


In any case, there are a number of purposes behind fasting. I don't know all of them. However, here are a few.

Fasting is the only form of worship I know of in Islam where one isn't supposed to "do" something, but rather "abstain from doing" something.

Fasting is a way for the individual to show devotion by abstaining from things that are normally necessary to maintain life.

When one fasts, one experiences thirst and hunger, which might be a good reminder of what poor people go through every so often. Think of it as walking a mile in someone's shoes.

Fasting can coach the individual to become more disciplined: Just because one might be very thirsty, hungry or aroused, one does not necessarily need to give in to their natural urges. One example would be when some people give away their own food to others who might be in more need for it.

Another important point of Ramadan is prayer and Qur'an reading. During Ramadan prayers are held every night, during which a section of the Qur'an is to be read. By the end of the month the whole Qur'an should be completed. Alot of people also choose to pay their Zakaat (alms) at this time.


Important day in Ramadan:

Laylat al-Qadr occurs during the last third of the month. It commemorates the revelation of the first verses of the Qur'an; it is considered the most holy night in the year (better than a thousand months [Qur'an 97:1-3]).

Eid ul-Fitr occurs at the end of Ramadan and signals the end of the fast. It's marked by prayer, feasting and giving food to the poor.

During Ramadan, Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam and to avoid obscene and irreligious sights and sounds.

Purity of both thought and action is important. The fast is intended to be an exacting act of deep personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised level of closeness to God. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. Properly observing the fast is supposed to induce a comfortable feeling of peace and calm. It also allows Muslims to practice self-discipline, sacrifice, and sympathy for those who are less fortunate, intended to make Muslims more generous and charitable. Muslims can eat after the sun has set. Pregnant women, the elderly, the ill and children less than 12 years of age are all exempt from fasting as lack of food could damage health.

السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

in Catholicism if you have a certain medical condition...you can be exempt from fasting. Does that happen in Islam too?

Just because you can does not always mean you should. You can exist with minimal sustenance, but you would be unable to fully devote yourself to anything if you fasted all year every year. This way you can practice an expression of faith without hurting yourself. Also don't assume that not necessary means bad, thats usually not the case.

well .. i didn't say that fasting ONLY does that!! i said other things too .. that's why we fast not for that certain reason it's for the other reasons like feeling with the less fortunate and some others
well that's true , and i believe it's there problem and they r gonna face it with ALLAH!! and of course there is a punishment for them
& that saying (that in the month of Ramadan the doors of HEAVEN are open while doors of HELL are closed..!!! ) it is said for the ppl who Does actually fast and don't do any sins , ( al mo'menon ) .

I think its because he said himself that Ramadan is as it should be (in its current form). I mean you can do more if you want, but it isn't mandated.

You mean Imam Ali, Commander of the Faithful (PBUH). 3nodding I think everything else you questioned was answered, just wanted to correct you. xD