Daytime seems at a standstill, restaurants close, business in a slow down, many people in a state of inactivity. Nighttime perks up with activities: Nocturnal worship in mosques, fiesta-like eating with the sweet smell of Moro native dishes in the air, animated conversations up to the wee hours of the morning.

Kitchens are alive sometimes as early as 1 a.m. – which to a non-Muslim neighbor may seem strange – to prepare Ramadan’s early breakfast called “shuhoor.”

Unmistakably it is the month of Ramadan, Islam’s season of Godconsciousness, sacrifice, patience, discipline, charity, generosity and mercy.

Islamic clerics say that during Ramadan, “the gates of Heaven are opened and the gates of Hell shut, and the shayaateen (devils) are tied up and the reward for good deeds, acts of charity and acts of worship are multiplied.”

In 2009 Ramadan was from August 22 to September 20. As in previous years, local Muslims will have to sight the crescent to determine the first day of Ramadan this year.

The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) headed by Secretary Bai Omera D. Dianalan-Lucman has created a National Moon-sighting Committee which will spread out in strategic locations around the country to look for the crescent on the evening of Tuesday, August 10.

It works like this: Based on the reports of the moon-sighters the Darul Iftah (House of Opinion) in Cotabato City composed of the ulama (Islamic clerics) will declare through a “fatwa” (opinion) the advent of Ramadan. If the crescent is sighted, fasting starts on August 11; if not seen then Ramadan begins August 12 (meaning Sha'ban, the month before Ramadan, is 30 days).

Hijrah, the Islamic calendar, is based on the moon cycle, thus the need to sight the crescent as practiced by the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Allaihi Wassalam.

Compared to the Gregorian year, Islamic year is shorter by 11 or 12 days.

Ramadan, ninth in the Hijrah calendar, is the month in which Allah revealed the Qur’an as guidance for mankind.

The holy month’s last 10 days set up the vigil for the Lailatul Qadr (the Night of Power), Ramadan’s “crowning glory.”

“We have indeed revealed this (message) in the Night of Power: And what will explain to you what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the Angels and the Spirit (Jibraeel) by Allah’s permission, on every errand: Peace! This until the rise of Morn!” (Chapter 97, Al-Qadr) Islamic fast – abstaining from food, drinks, smoking, and other sensual pleasures – starts with the pre-dawn breakfast and ends with a dinner (iftar) at sunset to break the fast. In between, neither a nibble of food; a sip of water; nor a puff of smoke should enter the mouth, or else one’s fast is invalid.

It is a commandment from God, whom Muslims call Allah, from His Holy Book, the Qur’an ul-Kareem: “O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, so that ye may (learn) self-restraint.” Chapter 2 (Surah Al-Baqarah), Verse 183

Ramadan fast is obligatory to adult men and women. Many children hardly 10-years-old, also fast, sometimes for a half-day, sort of a novelty to them. Women who are pregnant, breast-feeding, and having their monthly period are exempted; but they have to replace their missed fasting days before the next Ramadan. Also exempted are the sick and those traveling. They also have to perform replacement fast.

Moros who for years now live and have been doing the fast in Metro Manila fondly remember and yearn for the sleepy daytime and festive nighttime in their hometowns.