齋戒月（Ramadan）是全球約二十億穆斯林一年中最重要的時刻之一。在這一集節目中，Miss Y 要跟你介紹什麼是Ramadan、什麼是iftar（開齋餐）以及Eid al-Fitr（開齋節）。你也會了解穆斯林每天從黎明到日落禁食的生活節奏，以及不同國家為什麼會有不同的齋戒時間。此外，我分享一些人的真實經驗，包括運動員、學生，以及嘗試齋戒的非穆斯林。
In this episode, we introduce Ramadan for English learners. You will learn what Ramadan, iftar, and Eid al-Fitr are, how Muslims observe the holy month, and why fasting hours differ around the world. Miss Y also shares people's personal experiences, from athletes, students, and a non-Muslim who tried fasting.
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Hey guys, I’m your English teacher, Miss Y! Welcome to the podcast made for intermediate English learners who want to listen to English, and learn about different topics in a fun and easy way.
Around this time of the year, many people around the world are observing Ramadan. If you have Muslim friends, (Muslim 穆斯林; 回教徒) classmates, or coworkers, you might notice something different in their daily routine. They may not be eating lunch during the day, or they may feel a little more tired than usual. If you live in a Muslim-majority country, you might also notice a special Ramadan atmosphere. Restaurants may open later in the evening, streets become lively at night, and families gather together for evening meals. Ramadan is a very important time for Muslims around the world. In today’s episode, we will talk about what Ramadan is, where people celebrate Ramadan, what a typical day during Ramadan looks like, why fasting hours are different around the world, and finally, we will hear some real personal experiences from people who practice Ramadan. Let’s begin. So what is Ramadan? It is a holy month in Islam. Islam is one of the major religions in the world. (伊斯蘭教; 回教) Muslims believe that during Ramadan, the holy book called the Qur’an (可蘭經) was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (先知 穆罕默德). During this month, many Muslims practice fasting. Fasting means not eating or drinking during the daytime. (fasting 齋戒; 節食, 動詞就是fast) Muslims begin fasting at dawn, which is the time when the sun first starts to rise (dawn, 黎明, 破曉的時候). They continue fasting until sunset. That means no food and no water during the day. But Ramadan is not only about food. It is also a time for spiritual reflection (自省) and prayer (祈禱), and a time to help others and improve your character. Many people also try to be more patient and kinder during this time. During Ramadan, people fast all day. But at sunset, they finally break the fast. (打破齋戒) The meal that breaks the fast is called iftar. Iftar happens every evening during Ramadan. Traditionally, many Muslims first break the fast with dates (棗子;椰棗) and water. After that, they may pray and then eat a full meal. Iftar is often a social event. Families eat together. Friends visit each other. Some mosques (清真寺) or community centers organize large meals for many people. In some cities, thousands of people gather for public iftar meals. For many people, iftar is one of the happiest parts of Ramadan because it brings people together. Ramadan lasts about 29 or 30 days. After Ramadan ends, Muslims celebrate a festival called Eid al-Fitr. Eid al-Fitr means “the festival of breaking the fast.” On this day, Muslims usually attend a special morning prayer and wear new or special clothes. They also visit family and friends and give gifts to children. Sometimes they share special foods and sweets. Many people also give money or food to people in need so that everyone can celebrate. It is pretty much like the Lunar New Year celebration in Chinese-speaking communities. Eid is a joyful day and marks the end of a month of fasting and reflection. Ramadan is practiced by Muslims around the world. Today there are about 2 billion Muslims globally. That means roughly one out of every four people in the world is Muslim. Many Muslim-majority countries celebrate Ramadan widely. Some examples include Indonesia (印尼), Pakistan (巴基斯坦), Bangladesh (孟加拉), Turkey (土耳其), Saudi Arabia (沙烏地阿拉伯), and Egypt (埃及). But Ramadan is not limited to these countries. Muslims also live in Europe, North America, East Asia, and many other regions. So Ramadan is truly a global tradition. No matter where they live, Muslims follow the same basic rule: fast from dawn to sunset. Let’s look at what a typical day during Ramadan might look like. First, people wake up very early in the morning, before sunrise. They eat a meal called suhoor, which is the pre-dawn meal. This meal is important because it gives people energy for the long day ahead. After eating, they perform the dawn prayer (清晨的禱告), and the fast begins. During the day, people continue their normal activities. They still go to work, attend school, exercise, or take care of family responsibilities. However, they do all these things without eating or drinking. Many people also spend extra time reading the Qur’an or praying. Then, finally, the sun begins to set. When sunset arrives, the fast ends. People gather for iftar, the evening meal. After eating, many people attend special night prayers (夜晚的禱告) at the mosque. These prayers can last one or two hours. After that, people may relax, spend time with family, and sleep before waking up early again for the next day of fasting. This daily cycle continues for the entire month. One interesting fact about Ramadan is that fasting hours are not the same everywhere. Why? Because Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, and the length of daylight changes depending on where you live. Near the equator (赤道), day and night are almost the same length all year. In countries like Malaysia or Indonesia, fasting usually lasts about 12 to 13 hours. But in countries farther north, the days can be much longer during certain seasons. For example, in northern parts of Europe, fasting may last 18 to 20 hours. Cities in countries such as Norway, Sweden, or Iceland sometimes experience extremely long daylight during the summer. This happens because the Earth is tilted (傾斜的), which affects how long the sun stays above the horizon. In some very northern places, the sun may barely go down at all. In these situations, Muslims may follow the fasting times of another city with normal sunrise and sunset. So depending on location, fasting hours around the world can be quite different. Now I want to share some real experiences from people who have observed Ramadan. These stories show what Ramadan feels like in everyday life. Some people who convert (改變信仰; 開始信奉) to Islam describe their first Ramadan as very memorable. At first, they say fasting can feel difficult. The first few days may include hunger, thirst, and headaches. But after a short time, the body begins to adjust (適應). Many people say they start to feel calmer and more focused. They also enjoy the strong sense of community during Ramadan. community (社區;社群); sense of community (屬於某種群體的感覺; 一種對群體的歸屬感) People pray together, eat together, and support each other. Many Muslims continue their normal work or school schedule during Ramadan. One person shared an experience online about working while fasting. He said that after a few days, the body adapts to the routine. He explained that it helps to eat healthy food before dawn and rest when possible. Even people with physically demanding jobs (要求體力的) sometimes fast during Ramadan. For them, the experience requires discipline (紀律) and patience (耐心). Some athletes (運動員) also fast during Ramadan. One example is a college basketball player in the United States. During Ramadan, he still attended classes, practiced with his team, and played games. However, he could not drink water during the daytime. Can you imagine? To prepare, he woke up around five in the morning to eat before sunrise. Then he trained and competed while fasting. His coach said this showed great dedication (專注;奉獻) and mental strength (心理的素質). For many athletes, Ramadan becomes both a physical and mental challenge. Some non-Muslims (非穆斯林 不是信奉伊斯蘭教的人) have also tried fasting during Ramadan to understand the experience. One student decided to try fasting for the entire month. At first, she thought she would only try it for one day. But she continued for the full month. She said the experience helped her understand her Muslim friends better. She also learned to appreciate simple things like food and water. Many people who try Ramadan say the most surprising part is how meaningful the evening meal feels after a long day of fasting. Before we finish today’s episode, let’s talk about something practical. If you have Muslim friends, classmates, or coworkers, you might wonder how you can be respectful during Ramadan. Here are a few tips. First, be understanding about fasting. During Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink from dawn until sunset, so they might feel a little more tired or thirsty during the day. Second, try to be supportive (支持). Some people like to say simple things such as “Ramadan Mubarak” or “Happy Ramadan.” This is a friendly way to show respect. Third, be thoughtful about food situations. You do not need to hide your food, but it is kind to be aware that your friend may be fasting. Finally, if you are invited to an iftar meal, it can be a wonderful opportunity to learn about another culture and share a special moment with your friends. Ramadan is not only about fasting. For many Muslims, it is a time of reflection, gratitude, discipline, and community. And now we have a question for you. After learning about Ramadan today, what do you think about this practice? Do you think fasting for a month would be difficult? What do you think people might learn from this experience? Take a moment to think about it.
Thank you for listening to today’s episode. I’m Miss Y, and I really hope you enjoyed learning English with me today. If you liked this episode, come back next time for another fun 15 to 20 minutes of simple, clear English and a brand-new topic to explore. Stay curious, and learn about the world in simple English.
